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Close up of grape jelly BBQ meatballs in the crock pot with a wooden spoon.

Easy BBQ Grape Jelly Meatballs

Samantha Erb
My meatballs with grape jelly and BBQ sauce are sweet, sour, and savory! And, they're only made with 3 ingredients, making them a perfect easy game day appetizer.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate ★
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Course Appetizers, Christmas Recipes, Thanksgiving Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 399 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups BBQ sauce
  • 18 ounces grape jelly without seeds
  • 2 pounds frozen meatballs

Instructions
 

Crockpot

  • Combine the BBQ sauce and grape jelly in the crockpot and stir them well.
  • Stir in the frozen meatballs until they're evenly coated.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 3 hours. Stir the meatballs a few times during the cooking time, until they’re warmed through.

Stovetop

  • In a large Dutch oven set over medium heat, combine the jelly and BBQ sauce. Cook it, stirring often, until it's bubbly.
  • Stir in the meatballs and coat them completely with the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook them for 25-30 minutes, until the meatballs are heated through. Stir the meatballs a few times to avoid scorching.

Notes

  • To thicken the sauce, let the meatballs cook uncovered for 20-30 minutes or add a 1:1 cornstarch and water mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time.
  • To thin the sauce, add 1/4 cup of water to the meatballs.
  • I prefer cooking BBQ jelly meatballs for 4-5 hours on low. I think they turn out juicier and a little more flavorful than cooking for 3 hours on high.
  • Stir the meatballs a few times throughout the cooking process just to make sure everything is cooking evenly.
  • When you're ready to serve, switch the CrockPot to warm so the meatballs stay nice and hot without drying out.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 13gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 547mgPotassium: 360mgFiber: 1gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 112IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

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