Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe (2024)

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Why this Recipe Works Ingredient Notes Easy Instructions Variations Recipe FAQs Can Grape Jelly Meatballs be a meal? Tips and Tricks More Meatball Recipes More Appetizer Recipes Grape Jelly Meatballs Ingredients Instructions Notes Nutrition FAQs References

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Posted by Aimee 29 comments
Published: Sep 18, 2019 Last Updated: Oct 31, 2023

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These co*cktail Meatballs (or Grape Jelly Meatballs) are exactly what your party needs, and they’re super easy to make! Homemade Meatballs with an easy, two ingredient sauce.

Love easy snacks? This 7 Layer Dip is a hit at every family gathering and game day party! Or whip up some Hanky Panky’s. My family is obsessed with these crispy bites of sausage and cheese!

Why this Recipe Works

Whether you are headed to a party, or just craving an easy snack, these co*cktail Meatballs are the perfect answer.

Tender, juicy meatballs in an easy sweet and sour sauce!

You’ll love the versatility of this meatball recipe. Whether you whip up a batch of homemade meatballs with the recipe below, or use turkey meatballs, or buy a bag of frozen meatballs, this recipe couldn’t get any easier!

Ingredient Notes

Meatballs. I usually make a double batch and freeze half for future use. You can also use store bought frozen meatballs for a quick time saver.
Grape Jelly
Chili Sauce – found in the ketchup aisle

That’s it. Whether you call these co*cktail meatballs or grape jelly meatballs, one thing is for certain, they won’t last long!

Easy Instructions

STEP 1: Start by making the meatballs. In a bowl, combine ground beef with egg, bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper and milk. Use your hands to mix thoroughly.

STEP 2: Shape beef mixture into small bite size balls. I use a 1 Tbsp scoop for this, as we prefer our appetizer meatballs to be smaller. You can totally make them bigger if you prefer. Arrange meatballs in a hot skillet over medium high heat, turning often until completely cooked.

PRO TIP: You can freeze cooled, cooked meatballs in a freezer safe airtight container for up to 3 months. So go ahead and double that recipe!

STEP 3: In the bottom of a crockpot or slow cooker, add equal parts of grape jelly and chili sauce. I use about 1 cup of each, but if you like them a little juicier or serving over rice, feel free to double that amount.

Whisk the jelly and chili sauce until combined. Add cooked meatballs (or frozen meatballs) to the crockpot. Turn on low for about 3 hours. Serve warm and enjoy!

Variations

Our family loves the standard grape jelly with chili sauce for these meatballs. But if you’re looking for a little variety, or your pantry is lacking in an ingredient, there are some tried and true substitutions you may like:

Sweet and Sour Meatballs: Pineapple preserves with BBQ Sauce
Ketchup and Grape Jelly
Cranberry Sauce (either the whole berry or jellied) with BBQ Sauce

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen meatballs in grape jelly meatballs?

Yes! Fresh or frozen meatballs can be used in this co*cktail meatball recipe. No need to thaw.

Can I make co*cktail Meatballs ahead of time?

You can make and freee your meatballs without sauce for up to three months. Or refrigerate for 2 days in advance.

Can I make grape jelly meatballs in oven?

In a large baking dish, combine the cooked meatballs with jelly and chili sauce. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 40 minutes, or until bubbly hot. Stir and serve.

Can Grape Jelly Meatballs be a meal?

Of course! Serve your grape jelly meatballs with a side of rice or a big green salad on the side.

Pair your crockpot meatballs with some baked mashed potatoes or hashbrown casserole for a filling dish!

Tips and Tricks

Mix the chili sauce and grape jelly together in the bottom of the slow cooker BEFORE adding the meatballs. This helps create an even distribution of sauce.
Double the sauce recipe if you’re looking to have a little extra on each meatball.
This is also a GREAT sauce (the grape jelly with chili sauce) to cook with co*cktail weenies (little smokies)!
Serve your grape jelly meatballs right out of the slow cooker or plate them with party toothpicks!

More Meatball Recipes

Greek Zucchini Meatballs
Zucchini Meatballs
Meatball Sub Recipe
Swedish Meatballs

More Appetizer Recipes

Hummus Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Pico de Gallo
Bang Bang Chicken
Artichoke Dip

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Grape Jelly Meatballs

4.78 from 18 votes

By: Aimee

These co*cktail Meatballs (or Grape Jelly Meatballs) are exactly what your party needs, and they're super easy to make! Homemade Meatballs with an easy, two ingredient sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 30 meatballs

Ingredients

▢ 1 pound ground beef
▢ 1 large egg
▢ ¾ cup plain bread crumbs
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic salt
▢ salt and pepper to taste
▢ 1 Tablespoon milk
▢ 1 cup grape jelly
▢ 1 cup chili sauce

Instructions

Mix beef, egg, bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper and milk in large bowl. Shape into small bite size balls. Cook in hot skillet, turning, until completely cooked.
At this point you can let them cool, and freeze them. Or you can toss them right into a crock pot with the jelly and chili sauce. Turn on low, heat for about 3 hours, serve, enjoy!

Notes

Frozen meatballs can be used in place of homemade meatballs.
Storage: You can also prepare the grape jelly and chili sauce with the meatballs and refrigerate together for up to 24 hours. Then heat and serve.
Freezing the meatballs with the jelly and chili sauce is also an option. Whether you prepare it in advance or want to freeze leftovers, store in airtight container for up to one month.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 223mg, Sugar: 5g

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

FAQs

Why do people put grape jelly in meatballs? ›

To make these sweet and tangy meatballs, you'll need: Grape jelly: For a sweetness that balances the chili sauce, and to provide a glossy finish to the sauce. Chili sauce: Tomato paste, spices, and garlic give this sauce its depth. Barbecue sauce: Thickens the sauce while complementing the jelly and chili sauce.

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Why are my grape jelly meatballs runny? ›

That's okay, it's easy to thicken the meatball sauce. To thicken runny grape jelly meatball sauce, mix up a teaspoon of cornstarch (or even two depending on how thick you want things) with an equal amount of water. Stir this into the bubbling meatball mixture during the last hour they're in the slow cooker.

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What is a substitute for grape jelly in meatballs? ›

Replace the Grape Jelly with apricot preserves, orange marmalade, canned cranberry sauce, raspberry preserves, or hot pepper jelly. Replace the Ketchup with Heinz chili sauce or barbecue sauce. If swapping the ketchup for chili sauce, it is not a spicy sauce.

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Why is it called baby shower meatballs? ›

Baby shower meatballs are just meatballs that people like to eat at baby showers. They're a yummy snack that's easy to eat with your fingers. They're not special meatballs, they just get called that because they're often served at baby showers.

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What's the difference between grape jelly and Concord grape jelly? ›

Welch's Natural Concord Grape Spread is absolutely bursting with concord grape flavor. And unlike most grape jelly, it isn't made with high fructose corn syrup. It's just concord grapes, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, and fruit pectin.

What makes meatballs stick together better? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

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Does Kraft make grape jelly? ›

SURE. JELL® Grape Jelly | Sure-Jell | Recipes - Kraft Heinz.

Does Welch's still make grape jelly? ›

For a bold fruit taste, there's Welch's 30 Oz. Grape Jelly.

Read The Full Story ›

What's the difference between Welch's grape jam and Welch's grape jelly? ›

Welch's Jelly is made from fruit juice and Welch's Jam is made from pureed fruit. So to put it simply, though we use the same ingredients, the texture of both products will be different.

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What is a grandma baby shower? ›

Put simply, a grandma shower is just like a baby shower with games, food and cake, except it celebrates the grandma-to-be versus the mom-to-be. If you've never heard of this type of event before, it's most certainly a thing.

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What is a German baby shower? ›

Baby showers are NOT held in Germany, out of a belief it is unlucky to celebrate the birth of a child before the child is actually born.

Get More Info Here ›

What do Italians call meatballs? ›

Called polpettes, Italian meatballs are often served sauceless and are much smaller than the meatballs you're probably used to. Traditional Italian meatballs typically contain equal portions of meat and soaked bread, and other additions such as egg and vegetables.