Home » Appetizer Recipes » Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs (+Video)

Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs (+Video)

These Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs are always a hit because they are so delicious so easy to make with only 3 ingredients!

DELICIOUSLY GLAZED PARTY MEATBALLS

What is it about meatballs that we love? Go to any potluck or party and if there is a Crock Pot of meatballs sitting out, you will usually find a group of folks standing around eating them as they talk. They draw us into their meaty goodness. This recipe is a blast from the past.

Crock Pot BBQ sauce, grape jelly meatballs shown in a wide white bowl with some fresh parsley in the background.

TIPS FOR MAKING CROCK POT GRAPE JELLY MEATBALLS:

  • The original recipe calls for using Heinz Chili sauce, which is tasty in it’s own right. However, a few years ago, I went to a party and the hostess made it with BBQ sauce and I was hooked! The BBQ sauce give these meatballs just a little more oomph. And speaking of BBQ sauce, I did a small informal poll on Facebook a couple of weeks ago. I asked everyone what their favorite bottled BBQ sauce was. The overwhelming winner? Sweet Baby Rays!
  • Don’t be thrown off by the grape jelly if you’ve never tried these before. I promise, you don’t taste the grape at all. It just adds a nice, lightly sweet background flavor and gives a nice consistency to the sauce. Try different types of jelly and jams – pineapple and cranberry are also really yummy with this!
  • If you want a homemade version of this recipe, click on this link: Crock Pot Homemade Grape Jelly Meatballs.
  • My favorite store-bought BBQ sauce is Sweet Baby Rays. However, you can make your own Homemade BBQ Sauce.
A toothpick holding up a grape jelly meatball.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • homestyle frozen meatballs
  • grape jelly
  • your favorite BBQ Sauce or Chili Sauce
frozen meatballs, grape jelly, bbq sauce.

HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT GRAPE JELLY MEATBALLS:

Combine the frozen meatballs, grape jelly and BBQ sauce into your slow cooker and stir well until combined.

frozen meatballs, grape jelly, bbq sauce in a crock pot.

Cook the mixture on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 2 – 2 ½ hours until completely warmed through (stirring occasionally.) Meatballs are already cooked so we’re basically just heating them up.

Easy crock pot glazed meatballs shown fully cooked in a round, black crock pot.

When they are ready, just set your crock pot to the “keep warm” setting and let guests serve themselves. 

closeup photo of cooked meatballs in a white bowl with fresh chopped parsley on top.

Just place small bowls and toothpicks next to the meatballs.

closeup photo of a toothpick holding up a meatball.

Cook’s Note: This also works really nicely with a package or two of lil’ smokies. Also, you can use many types of jelly flavors. I’ve used cranberry, apricot and pineapple before and all were very good!

a hand pushing a toothpick into a meatball that is at the top of a pile of other meatballs.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Originally published: February 2011
Updated & republished: April 2020

Crock Pot Glazed Party Meatballs

Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs (+Video)

These Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs are always a hit because they are so delicious so easy to make with only 3 ingredients!
4.97 from 28 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 32 ounce bag frozen homestyle meatballs
  • 18 ounce jar grape jelly
  • 18 ounce bottle of your favorite BBQ Sauce (or Chili Sauce)

Instructions

  • Pour the meatballs, grape jelly and BBQ sauce into a crock pot and stir until well combined.
  • Cook the mixture on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 2 – 2 ½ hours until completely cooked through (stirring occasionally)
  • Then serve! Keep slow cooker on warm with lid on so they stay warm while serving.

Video

YouTube video
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 24g | Sodium: 739mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 52g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




142 Comments

  1. I am going to try this with BBQ sauce. I made this tonight with the Heinz Chili Sauce, but the BBQ sounds more yummy. You do not taste the grape jelly -it cooks down. Also going to try the frozen meatballs. I did mine from scratch and they stayed together but were a bit dry.

  2. Well here it is Thanksgiving Day and I have a taste for meatballs. I came on here to see if there were any recipes and I found this one with the grape jelly and Rays BBQ sauce. I am going to use homemade grape jelly with this and see how it turns out. I always keep some Rays Sweet BBQ sauce and I had a 32oz. bag of store brand meatballs. They are in the crockpot now and I'll be sure to let you know how everyone liked them. Thanks for the help. Happy Thanksgiving to all the readers.

  3. I have been looking for this recipe. I did not know how much grape jelly to use..I have it in the pantry..going out to buy meatballs and Diana BBQ sauce now!
    Thanks!

    June

  4. I love these but changed it up for some senior citizens who had blood sugar issues. I used premade meatballs also, a no brainer, and added fruit only cherry jam,1/2 cup no sugar added catsup, 1/4 cup Country Bob's Sauce, and small can of crushed pineapple in juice. Everyone loved it, not just diabetics, and those said it did not bother their blood sugar.There are no bad crockpot meatballs!

  5. I have used Grape jelly in a similar recipe using Cocktail Smokies and the addition of crushed pineapple and diced jalapenos. Will have to try this Meatball version, sounds delish!

  6. I've used this recipe for years! I make it a lot when we have a function at work because it's so easy and portable. I have in recent years though changed from meatballs to little weenies. I can fit a lot more into the crockpot and feed a lot more people.

  7. I just love these…There are never any left..They are ready in about 40 mins but the longer you cook them the more tender and tastier they get..love love love them..add some hot sauce to give them some zing…great turn over meals next night(if any left) put them over egg noodles or make a sandwich with them!

  8. We get these meatballs from Wal-Mart! They really are delicious! Thanks for the recipe. Sounds yummy!

  9. When I make these, I also go with the pre-made store brand. I add the grape jelly and BBQ sauce but I also add brown sugar and honey to taste.

  10. Anyone ever tried apple jelly or red pepper jelly? Just trying to use up what I've got on hand, to avoid going to the store today

  11. I used to make it this way all the time! Now I switch back and forth from this to

    Chili Sauce and a can of cranberries!

    Both are a delicious snack for football days!

  12. Just made these with turkey meatballs and sugar free grape jelly to make it slightly more healthy – still delicious! Give it a try!

  13. Thank you for taking the time to come back & let me know how it turned out for you! So glad you liked them!!

  14. I had these during the holidays and was amazed at how yummy they are. I'm glad I came cross the recipe so I can enjoy them more often. Great call in rue jelly. Really gives it a twist.

  15. I love a good meatball. I make cocktail weenies w/ ketchup and cranberry sauce, so this makes perfect sense to me! Thanks for sharing @ Church Supper!

  16. Grape jelly? That is brilliant, Brandie! I'd love if you'd consider sharing this recipe in the online Get Grillin' & summer bbq event I'm sponsoring (it's appetizer week right now).

  17. 5 stars
    OK, I had to take a look at this recipe too before signing off tonite. I know what you mean about this being a fav at pot lucks. I too am a Sweet Baby Rae's fan and never heard of trying these with BBQ sauce. Adding this to my list for sure! And how do you get your pics to look so absolutely YUMMY?

  18. No Party is complete without Meatballs and your recipe looks very good. I am so happy that you brought them to share with us at Full Plate Thursday and we look forward to seeing you next week!

  19. 5 stars
    I was just thinking that I needed to get rid of the frozen meatballs in my fridge, and this sounds so easy!