APPETIZERS BEEF DINNER APPETIZERS DINNER: MAIN COURSE DISHES PARTY APPETIZERS
posted by Ashley on December 30, 2015
Crock Pot Grape Jelly BBQ co*cktail Meatballs are an awesome recipe for holiday entertaining, Super Bowl party, or pot luck made right in the slow cooker. They are so simple to make and extremely crowd-pleasing!
Once Christmas is over, New Year’s Eve comes creeping up on me. Do you need a killer appetizer idea? I made these Grape Jelly BBQ co*cktail Meatballs for a pot luck for my husband’s Christmas party at work.
Normally, I made a dessert for him to take but he told me he needed something “non-dessert” since so many people had signed up for the sweets already. I did what I know I do best- Italian meatballs!
Even though the yummy sauce that goes with the meatballs is not Italian and is more sweet, it still totally worked with this recipe. I heated them up the night before in my crock pot and sent him to work with it where he could just plug it in and let it go.
“Set it and forget it”, like my dad always used to say. I was getting texts from hubby during the day saying people loved these meatballs. I love it when something so easy gets rave reviews.
Can’t go wrong with these Slow Cooker Grape Jelly BBQ co*cktail Meatballs and the sauce is so simple. You will also love myCrock Pot Italian Meatballs. Theyhave a red Italian tomato sauce and are delicious!
I also am totally love these Crock Pot Honey Garlic Meatballs from my friend Erin. I did end up making my own meatballs in both of my crock pot meatball recipeswhich gave it an extra boost in flavor. Homemade meatballs are really the best as you’ll see in my famous Swedish Meatballs.
They really don’t take much time to make, but since most co*cktail meatball recipes begin with frozen meatballs, I froze my fresh ones first so that they didn’t get soggy in the slow cooker. Enjoy and Happy New Year!
5.0 from 11 reviews
Slow Cooker Grape Jelly BBQ co*cktail Meatballs
Author:Ashley
Recipe type:Appetizer
Cuisine:American
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves:about 60 meatballs
Crock Pot Grape Jelly BBQ co*cktail Meatballs are an awesome recipe for holiday entertaining, Super Bowl party, or pot luck made right in the slow cooker.
Ingredients
- 1 64oz bag frozen fully cooked beef meatballs (about 60) OR fully cooked homemade meatballs (using 2 pounds of ground beef, rolled small, freeze them before adding to crock pot)* ~cut recipe in half for a smaller group~
- 1 32 oz jar grape jelly
- 1 18-20oz jar of BBQ sauce
*I used this recipe, but used all ground beef and rolled them into small appetizer size meatballs
Instructions
- Pour sauces in your 6 quart crock pot and stir until completely combined.
- Add the frozen meatballs (homemade or store-bought) and stir until they are coated with the sauce.
- Cook on high for 3 hours and then turn to warm for the duration of the party/pot luck.
- You can serve these as an appetizer or serve over rice with a side of veggies for a main dish.
APPETIZERS BEEF DINNER APPETIZERS DINNER: MAIN COURSE DISHES PARTY APPETIZERS
posted by Ashley on December 30, 2015
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44 comments on “Slow Cooker Grape Jelly BBQ co*cktail Meatballs”
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Shashi at RunninSrilankan — December 30, 2015 @ 8:36 AM Reply
This is such a perfect appetizer – so simple and only 3 ingredients! Leaves so much time for hanging out instead of cooking! 🙂
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Ashley — December 30, 2015 @ 11:34 AM Reply
You’re so right! Thank you Shashi!
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Paula - bell'alimento — December 30, 2015 @ 12:27 PM Reply
It’s not a party until the meatballs come out!
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lauren Kelly Nutrition — December 30, 2015 @ 12:45 PM Reply
I love an easy appetizer! And I love it even more that you used the slow cooker! Happy new Year my friend! XO
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claire — December 30, 2015 @ 1:24 PM Reply
The ultimate New Years recipe!
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Martha @ A Family Feast — December 30, 2015 @ 2:37 PM Reply
I love how easy this recipe is to make! Always a crowd-pleaser!
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Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet — December 30, 2015 @ 4:17 PM Reply
So easy and so good! I could easily pop a dozen of these right now!
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Eva @ Eva Bakes — December 30, 2015 @ 10:05 PM Reply
Yum – these look awesome! I don’t think I have ever had grape jelly meatballs before but I need to soon!
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Renee - Kudos Kitchen — December 31, 2015 @ 8:50 AM Reply
I’ve had these grape jelly meatballs countless times. I love them!
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Becky L — December 31, 2015 @ 2:27 PM Reply
I made these with sugar free grape jelly to reduce the carbs ( we are diabetic).. came out good! then paired this up with cheese cubes and a vegetable and dip tray! Party on Garth!
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Ashley — December 31, 2015 @ 2:28 PM Reply
Becky, thanks to much for letting me know!! Glad you enjoyed them! Happy New Year 🙂
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Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen — December 31, 2015 @ 7:15 PM Reply
Grape jelly meatballs are another one of those things I’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t gotten around to yet. I love how simple they are…and anything in a crockpot this time of year is a win in my book.
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Nutmeg Nanny — January 1, 2016 @ 10:15 AM Reply
Yes! I love these meatballs. My bff makes them for parties and they are always a huge hit.
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Rose | The Clean Dish — January 4, 2016 @ 4:37 PM Reply
I had to read the title three times to take in what’s going on here! Goodness!! Hand me a plate, please! These meatballs are to die for!
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Ashley — January 4, 2016 @ 5:05 PM Reply
Yeah, it’s pretty much the longest title ever LOL!! But I had it get it all in there 🙂
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Lise from Mom Loves Baking — January 5, 2016 @ 4:15 PM Reply
An oldie but goodie!
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Christie — January 6, 2016 @ 11:44 AM Reply
Easy, perfect appetizer for parties!
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Bonnie — January 6, 2016 @ 4:34 PM Reply
My family recipe is grape jelly and chili sauce…a little more texture than bbq sauce.
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Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet — January 8, 2016 @ 2:41 PM Reply
These will always remind me of high school open houses! Such a classic!
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Ashley — January 9, 2016 @ 7:17 AM Reply
What type in of BBQ sauce should I use? Does it matter?
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nick — January 9, 2016 @ 12:14 PM Reply
No just use your favorite!
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Christine — January 22, 2016 @ 9:13 PM Reply
Heinz Chili Sauce would be awesome as well.
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Sharron Hammer — April 21, 2016 @ 2:07 AM Reply
Yes . . . that is how I’ve always made it . . .with chili sauce and grape jelly. Really delicious!
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Shawna Haakenson — December 21, 2022 @ 12:15 PM Reply
I have also made the lil smokies with grape jelly and chili sauce. Equally as good!
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Sharron Hammer — April 21, 2016 @ 2:04 AM Reply
I have made these for years only in my electric skillet and with chili sauce not barbecue sauce.
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Alissa — December 31, 2017 @ 12:14 PM Reply
Made these twice. Easiest recipe! Everyone loves them especially my daughter who doesn’t like jelly so I had to keep that secret from her before she ate them but 7 meatballs later I decided to tell her and she requested that I make them tonight for a New Year’s Eve party that we are going to.
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stanley chmura — June 13, 2018 @ 4:47 PM Reply
Our family has a bit of spin on this great recipe for a sweet and sour version…follow the recipe as above…omit the BBQ sauce…add 1 bottle Heinz chili sauce, a can of whole berry and a can of jellied cranberry sauce and 1 16 oz. can of sauerkraut rinsed once…sweet meets sour…perhaps more for the adult palate…
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Barb — November 2, 2018 @ 4:59 AM Reply
I have made these for years using Grape Jelly and Heinz Chile Sauce, but I switch it up with ingredients every now and then. The last 2 times I’ve made them, I used Asian Sweet Chile Sauce, Ketchup and Grape Jelly, with Italian Meatballs. The combo came about by mistake, when my son in law accidentally picked up at the market, the wrong chile sauce. Instead of the Heinz Chile Sauce., he grabbed the Asian Sweet Chile sauce. It works and is very yummy! They are always a hit and get totally gobbled up by the party crowd!
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Sommer — November 19, 2018 @ 11:13 AM Reply
We’ve been eating these for years. So easy to make and SO delicious!
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Melissa Sperka — November 19, 2018 @ 11:27 AM Reply
I can’t remember a single holiday when we didn’t have these. Delish!
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Liz — November 19, 2018 @ 12:25 PM Reply
Perfect party food! My husband inhaled these!
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tanya — November 19, 2018 @ 5:01 PM Reply
My favorite party food!t
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Jennifer Farley — November 19, 2018 @ 8:28 PM Reply
So easy to make and they taste incredible!
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Joanne — November 19, 2018 @ 9:35 PM Reply
The grape jelly adds such an interesting flavor!
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Barbara Schieving — November 19, 2018 @ 10:31 PM Reply
Everyone seems to love these easy meatballs.
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Lori Lange — November 20, 2018 @ 12:54 AM Reply
I’ve been making these for years for all my parties- delicious and easy!
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Toni Dash — November 20, 2018 @ 5:44 AM Reply
This is such an amazing appetizer idea!
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Aysegul Sanford — November 20, 2018 @ 7:33 AM Reply
So easy and so SO good. Perfect party food for sure. 🙂
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Frank — February 3, 2019 @ 10:15 AM Reply
My wife and I have been married for thirty years and she has been making these for parties over those years. Always a big hit!
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William C Lobur — March 7, 2019 @ 12:20 PM Reply
What happens if I use jam instead of jelly ?
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Ashley — March 7, 2019 @ 4:05 PM Reply
That will work just fine!
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Karen Leighton — June 8, 2019 @ 2:37 PM Reply
I love making meatballs in the slow cooker. But I have always used chili sauce and grape jelly for mine. Just a bit tangier but still so tasty !
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Julie See — January 13, 2024 @ 12:42 PM Reply
Can you use frozen Italian meatballs in the bbq grape jelly sauce?
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Ashley — January 17, 2024 @ 7:16 PM Reply
Yes, you absolutely can do that!
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