Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs - Homemade Hooplah (2024)

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!

What do these meatballs taste like?

This recipe has a combination of grape jelly (sweet) and chili sauce (spicy), so the best comparison would probably be a meat dish with a sweet chili glaze. They’re a savory snack with a sweet kick.

I personally feel this recipe is more sweet than spicy, but if you’d like the sauce to have little more kick, just adjust the amount ofcayenne pepper until you have enough heat.

What’s in grape jelly meatballs?

Before you whip up a big slow cooker full of these grape jelly meatballs, you’ll need to gather the following ingredients:

• Meatballs: The star of the show! And while this recipe is easy to customize to whatever meatball you’d like, Italian or Swedish meatballs are recommended.
• Grape Jelly, Chili Sauce, and Cayenne Pepper: Blending the core ingredients of this sauce recipe for a sweet, fruity, and spicy flavor. If you’d like the meatballs to be more mild, skip the cayenne pepper.

How long are they good for?

Once prepared and cooled, this sweet and spicy appetizer can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to three to four days.

Can you freeze these meatballs?

Absolutely, you can!

For storing leftovers, let the meatballs and sauce cool down before placing them in a resealable bag or container.

If you’re prepping the meatballs for future meals, place the meatballs, either fresh or frozen, in a sealed container or freezer bag. Pour the prepared grape jelly sauce over them, seal the container, and store it in the freezer.

These grape jelly meatballs can be kept frozen for a maximum of three months.

When it’s time to enjoy them, defrost the meatballs in the fridge overnight and then reheat to your liking.

How to reheat meatballs

When you’re set to reheat the leftovers, let the meatballs sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before proceeding with one of the following reheating methods to restore the grape jelly meatballs to their original deliciousness:

Microwave Technique

• Put the meatballs in a dish that’s safe for microwave use.
• Cover the dish with a microwave-compatible lid, paper plate, or paper towel, making sure to leave a corner open for steam to escape.
• Microwave on medium setting for one to two minutes, stirring every 30 seconds to ensure uniform heating.

Oven Technique

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Arrange the meatballs in a baking dish, ideally in a single layer.
• Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until thoroughly heated. If the meatballs are frozen, you may need to extend the time.

Stovetop Technique

• Place the meatballs in a skillet or saucepan.
• If you have sauce, add it at this point to help rehydrate the meatballs and keep them from drying out.
• Cover and warm over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the meatballs are heated through, which usually takes around 10 minutes.

Slow Cooker Technique

• Place the meatballs, and sauce if available, into the slow cooker.
• Cover and set to the LOW setting, heating until the meatballs are warmed through, which can take between one to two hours.

What can you serve with this?

These co*cktail meatballs work great as a meal by themselves (either served right out of the slow cooker or on a serving tray with toothpicks or skewers), but you can also have them as a meal if you’d like.

When serving, I’d recommend pairing grape jelly meatballs with:

• Any type of mild-flavored rice dish, suchas cilantro rice, fried rice, etc.
• Cooked greens, such as asparagus, green beans, or carrots (but ideally not sweet carrots – the meatballs bring enough sweetness on their own).
• Easy side dishes like coleslaw or broccoli salad.
• Classic breads like cheesy garlic bread or buttermilk cornbread.
• Fresh and leafy salads.

Notes & tips for grape jelly meatballs

• This recipe is great for making larger batches. I’ve doubled and tripled the recipe with great success.
• If serving these as an appetizer, be sure you have toothpicks for easy handling and eating!
• Any type of meatball should work in this recipe, but Italian or Swedish is recommended.
• If you’re a frequent slow cooker user, consider a model that offers multiple cooking sizes. The Choose-A-Crock Programmable Slow Cooker, for example, comes with pots in 2.5 Quart, 4 Quart, and 6 Quart options, allowing you to select the right size for your needs. This feature can also simplify the cleaning process, especially if one pot needs a bit more attention before you’re set to prepare your next dish. Having a single appliance that’s versatile enough for both main courses and appetizers can be quite convenient.

Step 1 – In a medium bowl, whisk together grape jelly, chili sauce, and cayenne pepper. Do your best to get the sauce smooth, but it’s okay if you’re having trouble breaking up the grape jelly; the heat from the slow cooker will melt them.

Step 2 – Toss the frozen meatballs into a slow cooker, then drizzle the grape jelly sauce on top. Use a spoon or spatula to quickly toss the meatballs to coat them.

Tender meatballs slow cooked in a sweet sauce made with grape jelly and chili sauce. Makes for a fun changeup of traditional co*cktail meatballs for parties!

Author: Chrisy