Crockpot Appetizer Meatballs with Grape Jelly

Easy Crockpot appetizer meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce are always a party food hit. Make Crockpot frozen meatballs with turkey or ground beef and your favorite sauce but this sweet and savory mixture is our fave. Now you can make them for your next party too.

These Crockpot grape jelly meatballs are killer when you’re hosting a party, or just as a fun dinner idea. Using bottled or this homemade sweet and savory sauce they are always a hit with kids and adults. One of the easy Crockpot recipes we have on our site. (affiliate links present)

Grape Jelly Meatballs in Crockpot

Yes we have made Instant Pot frozen meatballs before low and slow is better for larger functions when people are going to be snacking for a few hours. Once tender you can turn your cooker on the warm function and let everyone enjoy them throughout the get together.

They kinda’ get better as they sit too…..if I’m being really honest…. The sweet slow cooker bbq meatballs sauce really soaks into the meat and OMG I can taste them already.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

How Long to Cook Crockpot Meatballs

You are just going to need about 5 hours or so, but a bit longer is better if you have the time to soak up the sauce. Most are going to use a bag right out of the freezer. If you chose to use homemade, but still rock hard and cold the timing wouldn’t really change. The biggest factor to this is size but 6 hours will work for almost all.

What is the best sauce to cook meatballs in?

The possibilities for these are really endless. You can use bottled barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce, teriyaki or this combo for a really EASY throw together potluck. We will include a homemade sauce that turns out incredibly well and is quite simple. I only use “normal ingredients” you probably have in your cupboards already here on my blog.

This is what was used to create these little bites of heaven. It is great to throw these in a few hours before your get together and then turn it to warm and let them sit. Have a cup of cocktail forks or toothpicks next to them so people can snack the whole time they’re at your house. Great Super bowl appetizer I tell you.

Grape Jelly Crock pot Meatballs

For a heartier meal you could use hoagie rolls, fill with these and a slice of mozzarella cheese! Want a sweeter party appetizer. Whisk together a container of chili sauce + grape jelly for the sauce and cook on high for the same time. Some like 6 oz. of bbq in that too for bbq grape jelly meatballs. Garnish with diced green onions and enjoy.

Ingredients

1. A 16 oz jar of grape jelly
2. 18 oz of chili sauce or barbecue sauce can be a substitute
3. 1-2 pounds of frozen fully-cooked meatballs
   • you can also use homemade cooked meatballs but they may fall apart a bit more

with homemade meatballs

So if you wanted to start from scratch you could. You would need to brown the outsides first in a skillet so they are halfway cooked which will help them stay together in the sauce. Or this is how long to bake meatballs in the oven which is a bit more hands off, then throw them into the pot, fold to coat and cook for a few hours.

with Swedish Meatball sauce

If you instead wanted something creamy and delish I would suggest making our Swedish meatball sauce with sour cream for another starter idea or to make a full meal with noodles with these poured over the top. Remember that sauces with dairy may separate so defrost meat before adding so it’s only in there for 2 hours or so.

Directions

• Follow directions on back of frozen meatball package to defrost them.
  • Usually just takes a few minutes in the microwave to make them tender.
• Add all of your other ingredients into your slow cooker and whisk together. Pour in warm defrosted meatballs and stir gently so each is coated well with the sauce.
• Cover and cook on high heat for 3 hours. Then serve! If leaving in pot for several hours change to keep warm setting and leave lid on. Provide toothpicks on the side for people to enjoy throughout the next few hours.

Use this same sauce to make slow cooker cocktail smokies too if you need lots of options for bite size goodies for your next get together.

How long can I keep meatballs in the Crockpot?

Once they are tender and cooked through you can turn it down to warm and keep them inside for up to 2 hours beyond that. Keep in mind that unless you turn it off they will continue to get softer. You don’t want them so soft that you can’t even grab them with a fork.

Other go-to appetizers that’s are always requested for

If you want more appetizer recipes like this one because a bunch of friends are coming over, we have tons! Give a few of our other appetizers a whirl. Our air fryer frozen chicken wings are on the top of that list for sure. For a faster option you can try our Instant Pot meatballs coated with your favorite yum.

Frozen meatballs in air fryer is also a possibility. Now you have no reason why you can’t make these. Starting off as rock hard or thawed beforehand, either way they turn out great.

How do you reheat cooked meatballs?

There are several options. In my mind it depends on whether they were sauced beforehand or not. If they have sauce I prefer to heat in a saucepan on low until warmed, or faster just stick in the microwave for about a minute. For best results keep extra sauce on the side and add more before reheating so they are as moist as possible.

You can then cook fresh noodles and serve spaghetti and meatballs the next day with your leftovers. I hate wasting food so you shouldn’t either. If they are plain you can dice them up and make our Crockpot lasagna casserole the next night! Served with a batch of slow cooker rolls without yeast, it is a meal everyone here just loves.

A printable recipe card is below with nutrition information. Keep in mind that each brand will be slightly different when it comes to calories, fat, etc….