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Our sweet & savory crockpot bbq meatballs recipe are a hit at every party and only require 5 minutes of prep.
Easy
We love to host and ALWAYS have easy appetizers, like today’s Crockpot BBQ meatballs, out and ready for guests when they arrive.
These crock pot bbq meatballs are such a simple appetizer and require just 4 ingredients. They are smothered in a sweet and savory sauce that gets its zippy flavor from the combination of BBQ sauce and grape jelly.
If we’re serving this as an appetizer, we either leave them in the crockpot and set a spoon out or if we’re being fancy, we plate them with toothpicks sticking out.
For more great meatballs, try our Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Grape Jelly Meatballs, and Asian Meatballs for more meatball favorites!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- For every occasion. These crockpot BBQ meatballs are an easy appetizer or simple meal.
- An easy shortcut. We make it super easy by using frozen meatballs, homemade meatballs can be used if you want to go the extra mile.
- Make it a meal. For a main dish, we serve it with a side of rice. Either way, these are yummy!!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 5 minutes COOK TIME: 6 hours
- 1 (40-ounce) bag frozen meatballs – Or make Homemade Meatballs using lean ground beef and ground pork. Brown before adding them to the crock pot or the meatballs will fall apart.
- 1 (10-ounce) jar grape jelly – name-brand or generic jelly. Just use your favorite.
- 2½ cups BBQ sauce – Sweet Baby Rays is one of my favorite brands. Use your favorite sauce or even make Homemade BBQ Sauce.
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce
- orange zest from one orange – see How to Zest a Lemon
- optional salt and pepper – to taste
How to Make BBQ Meatballs
- COMBINE. Add 10 ounces grape jelly, 2½ cups BBQ sauce, 1 cup sweet chili sauce, and orange zest to a bowl and mix well.
- Add 1 bag of frozen meatballs to a greased slow cooker and pour over the sauce. Stir to coat.
- COOK. Cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours. Garnish with green onions, if desired.
- SERVE. Eat them alone, pair them with other foods like Mashed Potatoes or rice, or make a meatball sub sandwich.
Alternative Cooking Methods
- Stovetop. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Brown the frozen meatballs on all sides. Add the BBQ sauce and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened.
- Oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the frozen meatballs in a baking dish and pour on the BBQ. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the crockpot BBQ meatballs are heated through and the sauce is bubbly.
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Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 (40-ounce) bag frozen meatballs, fully cooked
- 1 (10-ounce) jar grape jelly
- 2½ cups BBQ sauce
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce
- orange zest, (from one orange)
Instructions
- Add the grape jelly, BBQ sauce, sweet chili sauce, and orange zest to a bowl and mix well.
- Add the meatballs to a greased slow cooker and pour over the sauce. Stir to coat.
- Cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
To make ahead of time or store leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw if needed and reheat in the microwave, in a saucepan on the stovetop, or in a slow cooker.
Has anyone every tried this with a spicy jelly? I’m looking to add a little spice to take away some of the sweetness.
I haven’t, but I bet it would be delicious still! You’ll have to let us know how it tastes if you use a spicy jelly.
These are the easiest meatballs! And love the flavor of these! Super delicious! Perfect for parties & brunches!
SO GOOD. We love this as an appetizer, but sometimes we’ll have it for dinner served over rice – it’s a fave in our house!
I love a good easy recipe. This was great, thank you.
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I recently came across your homemade BBQ recipe and I’m in the hunt to use it in other recipes. I love grape jelly meatballs and this is the perfect recipe for it.
An easy meal or appetizer that goes into the crockpot with easy ingredients.
You should see my kids shoving these in their mouth!! They are a huge hit with my family. They are great when entertaining!