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Sweet + savory Crockpot Meatballs are packed with flavor, and perfect for parties. They are SO easy, yet SO tasty!
Meatballs make the perfect appetizer for parties, showers, and large gatherings! If you like these Crockpot Meatballs, you’ll love these other flavors: Grape Jelly Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Meatballs, and Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.
best crockpot meatballs – perfect for parties
Who here loves MEATBALLS?
We recently had some at a New Year’s party that smelled so stinkin’ delicious I knew I had to give them a try. I did… and I fell in love with these Crockpot Meatballs! I got the recipe and have made it several times since.
Frozen meatballs work perfectly for this, but if you want to try homemade meatballs, you can try our recipe our recipe (it’s no-fail!)
We think these are the best appetizers because they get rave reviews and they are so easy to throw together! Two thumbs up for simple and quick, especially when you’re running around getting ready for a party!
Simple Ingredients
One of the main ingredients for these slow cooker meatballs is JELLY. We used a red currant jelly, but other jellies work well too. The other ingredients needed for this recipe, include:
- ketchup
- chili sauce
- lemon juice
- brown sugar
- water
- ginger
You may think jelly would be odd with meatballs, but the combination along with the above ingredients and meatballs, is more savory than sweet and oh-so delicious!
How to Make Crockpot MeatballS
The best part of this recipe you literally dump everything in the crock pot and let it cook. It only takes 5 minutes of work! I’m all about the dump and go recipes.
COMBINE. Place brown sugar, chili sauce, jelly, ketchup, ginger, cold water and lemon juice in your crock pot. Add frozen meatballs and stir so meatballs are coated in sauce.
HEAT + ENJOY! Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours.
And that’s it! AMAZING, right?!
Flavor variations
There are so many ways to change up these slow cooker meatballs, but here are a few ways to do it:
- Add a dab of mustard and a dash of liquid smoke
- Replace meatballs with little smokies
- Use pork, chicken or turkey meatballs
- Add cayenne or red pepper flakes for a little heat
Recipe Tips
Alternative jellies. Use grape jelly or apple jelly instead. The red currant jelly isn’t always available at the stores, but if you can find it, it’s the one we like most for this recipe.
How to make this with raw meatballs: For this recipe I used a package of precooked frozen ground beef meatballs, but using raw meatballs is also an option. You can either pick up a package or pre-made raw meatballs from the meat department of the grocery store, or whip up your own.
All you need is meat, eggs, breadcrumbs & milk for binder, and seasonings like parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, and onion. If you don’t already have a favorite recipe we have an Easy Meatball Recipe and a Turkey Meatball Recipe you can use.
- To keep raw meatballs from falling apart you can lightly brown the meatballs in a skillet with a little olive oil before adding them to the crockpot. This not only adds great flavors but will form a nice crust which holds the meatballs together.
- Using leaner meat will also help keep the meatballs from falling apart.
- Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH heat for 3-4 hours.
storing info
STORE. If you happen to leftovers, allow the meatballs to cool and store in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To REHEAT. The easiest way is in the microwave. However, the oven works well and keeps the flavor and texture. Bake at 350 degree F for 8-10 min.
more meatball recipes we love:
- Barbecue Pineapple Meatballs
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Asian Meatballs
- Swedish Meatballs
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Meatball Bombs
Crockpot Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) bottle ketchup
- 1½ cups cold water
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup chili sauce
- 1 cup red currant jelly, or grape or huckleberry jelly
- juice of 2 lemons
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen meatballs
Instructions
- Combine ketchup, cold water, brown sugar, chili sauce, jelly, lemon juice, and ginger in your slow cooker. Add frozen meatballs and stir so meatballs are coated in sauce.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6–8 hours.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These sound delicious! What kind of chile sauce would you recommend? I live in NM, so we would definitely like the added heat! Thanks!
This recipe was the highlight of our New Year’s Eve gathering. I have made it before with just the jelly and chili sauce adding the ketchup, ginger and lemon really added to it. Thanks for sharing and I have shared this recipe with the group from New Year’s Eve!
These are so easy and so very good!!!
Can you use fresh grated ginger?
delicious, thanks
How big of a crockpot for this? I have a trio crockpot and want to do meatballs in each one. Not sure how to convert the recipe. They’re 1.5qt each.
Lots of your recipes sound really good but so many ads popping up I can’t keep my focus!
Can you double this recipe and still have it cook well in the crockpot? Do you know if the meatballs have to be fully merged in sauce?
What can I use to substitute chili sauce
You could try a sriracha sauce or a spicy ketchup. You could try a salsa or even ketchup with a bit of cayenne pepper. If you don’t like spice, I’d suggest just ketchup.
My husband had 3rds and couldn’t stop saying,”These are REALLY good!”.
Simply love these!
Do you know of any other brands of chili sauce that aren’t Heinz? I need a GF product and they can’t confirm that theirs don’t contain traces of gluten.
I think that Kikkoman may have one? There might be a generic brand at your local grocery store too. I’m sure if you google gluten free chili sauce some options will come up. Possibly even a homemade recipe if need be.
This is one of my sons favorite holiday foods!
Everyone loves these meatballs. Perfect for a party!
Made this tonight (with lots of extra guests over) and people raved about it! I asked for honest rating and by large margin most voted 5 stars! Big hit, super easy super yummy.
Oh that makes me so happy to hear!! Thank you for sharing! So glad that the meatballs were a hit!
There is another website called “Mandy in the making” and she used jellied cranberry sauce with a bit of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce. It is divine and not as sweet as grape jelly!
Hey Darlene! That’s how my mom used to make them but I can’t remember if she used 1 can of jellied and 1 can of berried? Did you still use the brown sugar?
We loved these meatballs. I lost the recipe and found Lil Luna’s 😋
I made these just last night for a holiday gift exchange get together and they were delicious! Not a single meatball was left standing!! I look forward to trying out other recipes from Lil Luna!
Yay!! So glad to hear that. Hope you enjoy the other recipes too!
Made these for bunco night in my neighborhood! Didn’t last very long because they are delicious!
I only wish you had a place on your recipes to EMAIL to myself or a friend. Otherwise I always have to cut and paste which is a little annoying.
Thanks for the feedback!
These are always a party hit
So easy and yummy!!!!
Used these for a lunch with my family and they were super good!
Amazing
These are my daughters favorite! I love how easy it easy to throw t all in the crockpot and forget about it until we’re ready to eat!
Can’t wait to try!
These last maybe 10 minutes in my house!!
Could I do little smokies and meatballs in the same crockpot? Or would you recommend not combining them?
Some family members may prefer one over the other and wasn’t sure if I needed to prepare to separate crock pots? Thanks.
You could probably combine them. I haven’t ever tried, but they are essentially just heating up in the sauce together. So, I’d say whatever you prefer. Keeping them separate may be easier for serving, but if you don’t have two crockpots, then combining may be a fine option too.
These are so easy to make and they taste so good! They have become our favorite appetizer!
Love these meatballs!! They’ll definitely be a part of my Christmas eve spread this year!
I love crockpot meatballs! The best appetizer for any occasion, and so easy too!
Love these!!
If I were using the little Smokies instead of the meatballs, like in your suggested variations, how many packs would I use and keep the ingredients the same?
I would use as packs that make it close to the 28 ounces. Really no wrong answer 🙂 Hope you like them!
INTERESTING METHOD I’LL TRY IT FOR SURE. THANK YOU FOR RECIPE. 🙂
You are so welcome! Enjoy!!
Made these for the family tonight and they were yummy! Big hit 🙂
Yay!! I am glad to hear that! Thank you so much!
These make the perfect tasty appetizer!
on the menu for super bowl sunday!! We love Meatballs!! Great recipe. Thanks!!
Cant beat a recipe thats easy and flavorful! You literally dump everything into a crocKpot and run. You’ll love this recipe.
I am loving these flavors! I love how easy this is!
I love how easy this is to make! Thank you so much for the sharing!!
Been making this recipe for years. SO GOOD!!!
Nothing like a delicious meatball and these look beyond perfect!
Thank you so much 🙂
My husband loves meatball appetizers. These did not Dissapoint and weRe so easy to Make in the crockpot.
These meatballs taste amazing! They had so much flavor. We had them over the holidays & my family loved them! They can’t wait to eat them again!
These are the perfect appetizer! I make these for any and every occasion.
I’ve am eager to make this over recipe the holidays. Do you use fresh ginger or ground?
I used ground ginger 🙂 Hope you like them!
these meatballs were amazing! they were so easy to make & had great flavor. my family enjoyed them! I served them as an appetizer at a family gathering & they were gone in minutes!
These look soooo good. My grandmother used to make the most amazing swedish meatballs and I have been looking for something similar for quite some time. I can’t wait to give this one a try 🙂
Yay..I hope it’s similar!
These look so good but, how large is a large bag, ounces or pounds?
It is a 20 ounce bag, but I believe they have a bigger bag, too. I hope that helps! Good luck!
Can I make them, then refrigerate and reheat in crockpot?
Podria decirme el peso de la bolsa de albondigas
Gracias
No puedo recordar el tamano exacto, pero es una gran bolsa. Creo que la bolsa mas grande es de 60 onzas, asi que tal vez la bolsa que utilice fue cerca de 30 onzas. Espero que ayude!! Gracias!!
Hi Kristyn,
Looks yummy, but my only question would be is how spicy is this considering the chili sauce in the ingredients as we don’t handle spicy too well in this family?
Cheers,
John
They weren’t too spicy. You can always add a little less chili sauce or maybe a little more ketchup. Hope you give them a try!! Thanks for stopping by!
Do you think i could make my own meatballs freeze them & finish them with your sauce & crockpot them ? Would this work ?
I haven’t tried that, but I don’t see why not:) I’m sure homemade meatballs would be delicious! Good luck!!
Hey Kristyn these look yummy and so easy. Now these aren’t Swedish meatballs are they? I wasn’t sure!! But regardless I will be making them!! Thanks as usual for all your yum recipes!!
These are just regular frozen meatballs, but any kind will work:) They are super yummy and yes, very easy to make! Hope yo like them as much as we did!!