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Grape jelly meatballs garnished with fresh parsley on top. Toothpicks on the side.
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5 from 1 vote

Grape Jelly Meatballs (just 3 ingredients)

These Grape Jelly Meatballs are a slam dunk every time! Sweet, tangy, and made with only 3 ingredients in your Crock Pot, these are the easiest, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 5 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Grape Jelly Meatballs
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 360kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Equipment

  • 1 Crock Pot or Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds frozen meatballs (or homemade meatballs)
  • 2 cups barbecue Sauce (I like using Sweet Baby Ray's or Bull's Eye)
  • 1 cup grape Jelly

Instructions

  • Place meatballs in a Crock Pot or slow cooker.
    Frozen meatballs in a crockpot.
  • Pour barbecue sauce over meatballs.
    Frozen meatballs in a crockpot topped with Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce.
  • Spoon grape jelly over meatballs. Stir to combine.
    Crockpot with frozen meatballs, barbecue sauce and grape jelly.
  • Cover and slow cook on high heat for 2 hours or on low heat for 3-4 hours. Stir well before serving.
    Crockpot of grape jelly meatballs with a spoon and garnished with fresh parsley.

Video

Notes

  • Thicken: If needed, add 1–2 tsp cornstarch whisked into 1 Tbsp cold water during the last 30–60 minutes.
  • Swap-ins: Use chili sauce, ketchup, or teriyaki instead of BBQ; pepper jelly, cranberry sauce, or apple jelly instead of grape.
  • Heat/Savory: Add Sriracha or Frank’s for spice; soy sauce or Worcestershire for depth; a splash of cider vinegar for tang.
  • Fresh meatballs: Fully cook before adding to sauce to prevent breaking.
  • Alternate methods: Stovetop 20–30 min (low simmer); Oven 375°F 25–30 min covered + 10 min uncovered; Instant Pot High 5 min + 10-min natural release.
  • Warming: Keep on WARM up to 2–3 hours; stir occasionally.

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 542mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg