These Grape Jelly BBQ Meatballs are easy to make in the crock pot. This recipe only takes 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep! Doesn’t get better than that.
These meatballs are a tried and true appetizer recipe of mine. They literally couldn’t be easier to make and everyone always loves them. Other easy go-to’s are little smokies, meatball sliders and pigs in a blanket.
Table of Contents
The Perfect Appetizer
These crockpot BBQ grape jelly meatballs are one of my family’s favorite meatball recipes. They are seriously so good and the perfect appetizer for game day! They almost remind me of sweet and sour meatballs but taste better.
My Grandpa has been making these crockpot meatballs for years and we always loved them growing up. My sister even talked him into making them as an appetizer at her wedding. Everyone loved them! Now of course my family has their actual “homemade meatballs recipe,” which are just as amazing.
The best part about BBQ meatballs is that no one would ever know how simple they are to make. Turn them into a main dish and serve them over sticky rice like I do with honey garlic meatballs. YUM!
3 simple ingredients!
These slow cooker grape jelly meatballs are so easy to make. You just need the 3 ingredients below to get started:
- Meatballs: I love getting the frozen meatballs from Costco or Kroger. They taste the best in my opinion. Homemade meatballs taste great as well if you have the time.
- Grape jelly: I keep it simple and use Smucker’s grape jelly.
- BBQ Sauce: Sweet baby ray’s BBQ sauce is my personal favorite. :) You can also make a homemade BBQ sauce if preferred.
How to Make Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
- Add ingredients to crockpot. Pour grape jelly and BBQ sauce in the bottom of your crockpot. Add in the meatballs and stir until fully coated.
- Cook meatballs in crockpot. Cook frozen meatballs in crockpot for 2 to 3 hours on high, or until warm. Make sure to stir a few times throughout.
- Serve and enjoy! Garnish with sliced green onions if desired and serve as an appetizer or main dish.
Variations
There are plenty of ways to easily mix up the flavors in this recipe. Check out some other yummy variations below:
- Sub Heinz chili sauce for BBQ sauce for an extra kick, like I did with these chili sauce meatballs.
- Replace grape jelly with 16 ounces sliced or diced pineapple for Hawaiian meatballs.
- Use 1/4 cup honey instead of jelly for a a little healthier alternative (add more or less to to taste).
- Make cranberry meatballs with leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. Sub an equal amount of cranberry sauce for grape jelly.
- Use 2 packages of little smokies instead of meatballs.
FAQ
We love to serve them with coconut rice, green beans and fresh cut pineapple.
If you’d like to thicken your sauce, you can mix together a cornstarch slurry (about 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 Tablespoon of water) and stir it into the sauce and allow it to simmer.
This is the base of the sauce (which helps thicken it) and brings the best flavor. I promise you won’t taste the grape flavor.
More Easy Appetizers:
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- 4-Ingredient Cheese Ball
- Easy 7-Layer Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
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Crockpot Bbq Meatballs
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (18-ounce) jar jar grape jelly
- 1 (18-ounce) jar BBQ sauce
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen fully cooked meatballs (about 50)
Optional: Cooked rice, Sliced green onions
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or the base of a slow cooker, combine the grape jelly and BBQ sauce. Add meatballs and stir until coated in sauce.
- Cook on high 2 to 3 hours or low 3 to 4 hours. Turn the slow cooker to warm until ready to serve.
- Enjoy as an appetizer or serve over rice and top with green onions for a main dish.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Mini appetizers, Reader Favorites, Super Bowl
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Yes. We loved it. Will definitely make again.
I’m so glad to hear you loved it!
I bet these are so good! I make mine with chili sauce and jellied cranberry sauce. I’m going to have to try this recipe.
Hope you enjoy! They are a family favorite!
My family and friends absolutely love them ask me to make them for every party or get together.
I’m so glad they have been a hit! :)
Yes and loved it.
Hi! I love this recipe. Last time I made it in 3 hours on high, but can you do it on low for 6 hours?
Definitely! :)
This might be a crazy question but all I have is strawberry jam. has anyone ever tried that instead of the grape I’m wondering what it would be like.
Hi Suzi! I’ve seen similar recipes that use strawberry jam so I think it will be fine. I’ve only tried grape though!
Delicious. Way better than the cranberry BBQ meatballs I have done before. I used Sweet Baby Ray’s, Welch’s grape jelly, and Rosina Italian meatballs (just because that’s what I usually have on hand). So easy! Looking forward to trying other types of meatballs and healthier sauces/jams.
I made this today and it was phenomenal!!!!! Super easy and filled everyone up!!!!! Will be making this again.
Can I use thawed meat balls in crockpot instead of frozen for grape jelly and BQ recipe? How long on high or low?
Yes you can use thawed, if they are fully cooked, it should only take about an hour to heat.
Hi! Do you use the Italian or Homestyle meatballs?
I’ve used both, but my favorite are the Italian style from Costco! :)
These meatballs are the best! I have a recipe that I’ve used for years… Not anymore!
So glad you enjoyed them Linda!
My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I said I wanted to make meatballs with grape jelly, but we both ended up loving them! Very simple and delicious recipe.
So glad you enjoyed them :)
Absolutely marvelous. A big hit with my family. Thank you.
Does it matter if you use jam or jelly?
You can use jam or jelly :)
This is a great recipe.i get Alot of requests for this when I need to bring an appetizer to a gathering.
This is a great recipe!! My kids love these!! Thank you for sharing!!
Glad the kids enjoyed :)
I have been making meatballs with grape jelly, sweet baby rays BBQ for years. If I don’t bring to family events I get complaints!! But I add Tobasco for a little kick!!
Great idea! :)
Can you make your own meatballs if you couldn’t find bag ones and put them in the slow cooker with sauce and jelly will it still come out the same way
Yes, I would just precook your meatballs :)
I have made this recipe twice in 3 days! My coworkers and family both love it!!! I do a small variation of it too, I will put the meatballs on a frying pan, cover with water and boil them. Then I drain the water and fry the meatballs a little. At the same time, I mix the jelly and BBQ sauce in a saucepan to an almost boil. Then put both in the Crockpot to stay hot. It is a faster version and still loved.
Great idea!