Want an easy classic party appetizer that doesn’t disappoint? Try these 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs and you’ll be the hit of your next party or tailgater!
3 Ingredient Crockpot Meatballs
Do you have any of those easy, but delicious recipes everybody raves about in your recipe box? This is one of ours. 3-ingredient Crockpot Meatballs or as it’s often called – Grape Jelly Meatballs.
We make it for potlucks, game day or family get togethers because it feeds a crowd nicely.
It’s really so simple – throw the 3 ingredients in the crockpot, wait three hours, and they come out perfect every time!
Grape Jelly Meatballs
We took these meatballs to a Super Bowl party this year and everyone, kids and grown-ups, raved about how good these meatballs are. They were the first to go. Moist and juicy with the perfect combination of flavors.
Who needs a plate? I’ve been known to eat them right out of the serving dish!
They are tangy, yet sweet, so kids gobble them up and adults love ’em too! We’ve even served the leftovers for dinner the next day. Dinner was on the table in a flash 🙂
What Ingredients are in Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs?
This is seriously ONE EASY RECIPE!
There are only 3 ingredients!
- GRAPE JELLY – Any brand will do!
- CHILI SAUCE – Yep, chili sauce. The sweet and sour flavor combo is something special! See below for where to find it.
- MEATBALLS – The beauty of this recipe is that any type of meatball can be used. We find the big bag from Costco to be a good option because they’re delicious and ecumenical. You can also purchase a bag from the grocery store or make your own. Turkey meatballs work in the recipe as well!
How to Make Grape Jelly Meatballs – the classic party appetizer
Ready for the simple, yet oh, so good recipe??
Step 1
Combine grape jelly and chili sauce in a sauce pan over medium-high heat. Cook until warm, like 5-10 minutes. When in a real hurry, we’ve skipped this step and they still come out great!
Step 2
Place meatballs in your slow cooker (a 6-quart will do) and top with grape jelly mixture.
Step 3
Cook on low for 3-4 hours! Enjoy your delicious meatball recipe!
Tips for Making Grape Jelly Meatballs
- This recipe can also be made with BBQ sauce instead of chili sauce. If we make it that way, we always use Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce.
- You can serve your meatballs with toothpicks for an appetizer or over rice as a main meal!
- A reader recently told me this recipe is also great using kielbasa! Yum!
If you’ve tried these 3-Ingredient Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food, fun crafts + DIYs and what I’m up to on a daily basis!
3-Ingredient Crockpot Meatballs
Want an easy appetizer that doesn't disappoint? Try these 3 Ingredient Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs and you'll be the hit of your next party.
Ingredients
- 1 32 oz jar grape jelly
- 2 12 oz bottles tomato-based chili sauce (like Heinz)
- 5 pounds precooked cocktail size meatballs
Instructions
-
Combine grape jelly and chili sauce in a saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until warm, 5 to 10 minutes. (I've skipped this step and they still came out great!)
-
Place meatballs in crockpot and top with grape jelly mixture.
-
Cook on Low for 3 to 4 hours. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Since we are usually running from one kid activity to the next, it’s nice to be able to leave the crockpot and come back and have an appetizer ready to take to a friend’s house.
Crockpot Meatballs stay moist, so serving the next day, or the day after that, totally works!
These meatballs are really so simple and oh, so delish! I never thought grape jelly would be something that’d make such a great recipe, but it adds the right amount of sweetness without being over powering.
This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure policy here.
Where to find Chili Sauce
If you’re not sure where to find the chili sauce, try looking in the Ketchup isle at the grocery store. And Costco is a great place to get a big bag of tasty meatballs.
I promise if you serve these Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs at your next event, you’ll be the hit of the party!
What’s one of your signature recipes that everyone loves?
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Erin, this post is so timely. My little girl just brought me her plastic spaghetti and meatball toy meal from her play kitchen. We talked about how it would be fun to make meatballs. Awesome! Time to buy grape jelly. 🙂
I’ve seen these with ketchup, but not chili sauce! What a great idea. Trying these at my next party!!
These are so good. The chili sauce gives then a little tang!
OMG I’m obsessed with this! I can’t wait to try it out this weekend. I LOVE LOVE LOVE crockpot recipes! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Merry Monday!
This recipe is super easy and super good! I’m so glad you’re going to give it a try. Let me know how it goes, Lindsay.
I use grape jelly in my crock pot ribs! I bet it is wonderful with the meat balls! Pinned and shared. Thanks for linking up at #ThursdayFavoriteThings! I hope you will join me Monday at #OverTheMoon!
Added you to Recipe Sharing board and yummed! Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe at The Recipe Sharing Pin and Yum Party! I hope to see you next week. Pinned and Yummed.
Please visit Thursday Favorite Things for more sharing fun!
I’m always looking for simple dishes to make! Thanks for the great recipe!
Yes, this is definitely simple and easy. And the flavor is great. I hope you family enjoys them, Angela!
These look so good and easy! I have not ever put chili sauce in my meatballs, but I bet it makes them taste wonderful. My family would love them!
Yeah, I thought the ingredients were a little interesting the first time, but after that, I was hooked! Enjoy, Sherry!
Erin, I’ve never made these and if you would tell me about the ingredients and not show me the recipe I would thank you were messing with me. Grape jelly and chili sauce ketchup? You know I really have to try this now, cuz this sounds kind of amazing. Either that or this is an early April Fool’s Day post. LOL I used to work with a woman who would use orange marmalade in her meatballs, but I’ve never heard of using grape jelly.
I absolutely love my crockpot and I love quick and fast, so this is getting pinned and stumbled so that I remember to make this for our next get-together. I am really intrigued.
You’re so funny, Nikki! I thought the same thing…grape jelly, what?? But trust me it works and it’s g-o-o-d! It’s so simple, but tastes like a million bucks! Enjoy!
I can’t wait to try this the next time I have friends over. It looks so simple and tasty. Must be a real hit!
Thanks for sharing.
It’s a sure bet! It’s been the hit of every party/potluck we’ve taken it to. Thanks for stopping by, Marva.
Try it with kielbasa. It’s fantastic!!! I’ve been making this for 25 years ????
I love this idea, Julie!! Thanks for sharing it. I’m sure it is VERY delicious! Happy New Year!
These are absolutely delicious! We all love them at our house! So easy and yet so very good!!
I know!! We just love this recipe! Enjoy!