Description
Savory grape jelly meatballs combine sweet and tangy flavors in a crowd-pleasing dish that promises comfort and excitement. Tender meatballs glazed with a rich, glossy sauce will become your go-to recipe for gatherings and quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 32 ounces (907 grams) frozen fully cooked meatballs
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) grape jelly
- 1.5 cups (360 milliliters) barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chili garlic sauce
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley or chives, chopped
Instructions
- Place frozen meatballs in slow cooker, creating an even layer across the bottom.
- Pour grape jelly, barbecue sauce, and chili garlic sauce over meatballs, ensuring complete coverage.
- Thoroughly mix ingredients using a spatula until meatballs are evenly coated with sauce mixture.
- Cover slow cooker and set to low temperature, cooking for 3-4 hours for standard meatballs.
- Midway through cooking, gently stir meatballs to redistribute sauce and prevent sticking.
- Check internal temperature of meatballs to ensure they reach 165°F for food safety.
- Once cooking is complete, maintain warmth by switching slow cooker to warm setting.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or chives for added visual appeal and flavor complexity.
- Serve hot directly from slow cooker, allowing guests to scoop meatballs with sauce.
Notes
- Swap out frozen meatballs for homemade or plant-based alternatives to customize the recipe to your dietary needs.
- Adjust sauce sweetness by using low-sugar barbecue sauce or reducing grape jelly quantity for a less sweet version.
- For extra depth, add a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to enhance the umami flavor profile.
- Keep meatballs warm in the slow cooker on the “warm” setting for up to 2 hours without losing texture or taste quality.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg