Grape Jelly Meatballs – These easy to make, traditional, grape jelly and chili sauce meatballs are perfect for parties and game day gatherings! Â They make a great family friendly dinner served over rice too!
Ok, you guys. Â Is it wrong that I’m already excited for comfort food season AND football season to be upon us?
Love summer, but, the kids are headed back to school, and Autumn is on my mind!
Well, mostly family football gatherings and the fact that I need even more quick and easy weeknight meals is what’s on my mind.
These three ingredient crockpot meatballs are perfect for either occasion.
I still always wonder where exactly this recipe came from.
Who came up with the idea to mix chili sauce and grape jelly together and then toss it over some meatballs?
Also, they’re obviously a genius, so let’s just get that out of the way.
I remember these being served at any and every single party I attended growing up.
Church gatherings, family potlucks, baby showers…..they’re everywhere!
But, if you haven’t had them or made them, and you’re like “what in the heck is chili sauce?” Â I’ll tell you.
It’s like ketchup, but better. Â You can find it in a glass bottle on the same aisle of the store as the ketchup.
Like I said, we have this for dinner pretty often. Â My kids go nuts for that tangy sauce. Â Really, really good over a bowl of rice!
My daughter, the grape jelly hater even loves these. Â Even after she figured out there was grape jelly in them. Â She said “I don’t even care because they’re so good!”
We have to keep her away from the crockpot when these are cooking so she doesn’t try to sneak them out!
It doesn’t get any simpler than this. Â I use frozen, beef meatballs to keep it even shorter and sweeter.
Whisk together the grape jelly and chili sauce, toss in the meatballs. Â Let them cook for a few hours.
And done!
If you’re looking for any other awesome crockpot dinner recipes, give my popular Crockpot Frito Chili Pie a try!
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Grape Jelly Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 32 Ounce Bag Fully Cooked Frozen Meatballs
- 2 12 Ounce Bottles Chili Sauce, I use Heinz
- 1 32 Ounce Jar Grape Jelly
Instructions
- Place the frozen meatballs in the bottom of your slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the chili sauce and grape jelly (the mixture will not be completely smooth at this point, that's fine it will melt down in the slow cooker.)
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs and cook on low heat for 3 hours. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer, or over rice as a main dish.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If using 2-26oz bags of meatballs, do you need to double the sauce recipe? Sounds like alot of sauce..
I think you’d still be fine to leave the sauce how it is 🙂
Could you use sugar free jelly in these?
I think that should work fine 🙂
Bc not everyone likes the heat I plan to make the meatballs without sauce and serve the sauce separately. What other sauce would you suggest I can make?
I’ve been making with Sweet Baby Rays bbq sauce in for a few years for a crowd at my bar. They love the favor.
Would it be possible to use homemade chili sauce, maybe just put it in blender?
I think that would work fine! 🙂
Always good! I tried jellied cranberry sauce once and it turned out great for a holiday party.
I love these “old fashioned” meatballs. I always add 1 or 2 big tablespoons of Dijon mustard, as well. Not to be fancy, just seems to add something deep, tangy and a tiny bit spicy.
Did the raspberry work out for you
Sadly, not for me. My husband loved it though so that was a plus.
Im attempting to make these with raspberry instead of grape… Fingers crossed for a good outcome…
Making these for Thanksgiving! First time using this recipe. Can’t wait to try!
thanks for sharing this recipe I hope after the make I will enjoy,
I love these!! Reminds me that I need to make some really soon!!
I hope you do! Old fashioned recipes are the best sometimes! 🙂