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Sweet + savory Crock Pot meatballs are packed with flavor, and perfect for parties. They are SO easy, yet SO tasty!
If you like these crockpot meatballs, you’ll love these other flavors: Grape Jelly Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Meatballs, and Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.
Who here loves MEATBALLS?
We recently had some at a New Year’s party that were so stinkin’ delicious I knew I had to give them a try. I did… and I fell in love with these crockpot meatballs!
Here’s why I’ve made this recipe several times since:
- Favorite app. Meatballs make the perfect appetizer for parties, showers, and large gatherings!
- Taste amazing. They get rave reviews and the entire crock pot is always empty by the end of the event.
- So easy! Two thumbs up for simple and quick to throw together, especially when you’re running around getting ready for a party!
Frozen meatballs work perfectly for this, but if you want to try Homemade Meatballs, you can try our recipe (it’s no-fail!)
Ingredients
- ketchup
- cold water
- brown sugar – light or dark brown sugar
- chili sauce
- red currant jelly – Red currant jelly is our favorite to use. However, you can also use huckleberry jelly, grape jelly, or apple jelly.
- Lemon juice – Use fesh or bottled juice, about 5 tablespoons.
- ground ginger
- frozen meatballs – Use pork, chicken, or turkey meatballs. See below on how to use homemade meatballs.
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 Meatballs in a Crockpot
The best part of this crockpot meatball recipe is that you literally dump everything in the crock pot and let it cook. It only takes 5 minutes of work!
- COMBINE. Place brown sugar, chili sauce, jelly, ketchup, ginger, cold water, and lemon juice in your crock pot. Add frozen meatballs and stir so the meatballs are coated in sauce.
- HEAT + ENJOY! Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours.
variations
There are so many ways to change up this meatball crockpot recipe, 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.
- Add cayenne or red pepper flakes for a little heat.
Recipe Tips
- How to keep meatballs from falling apart? 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 that holds the meatballs together.
- Using leaner meat will also help keep the meatballs from falling apart.
- How long can they stay in the crock pot? After the meatballs have cooked, turn the setting on warm. The meatballs can stay on the warm setting for up to 4 hours. If you don’t plan to serve them within that time period, place them in the refrigerator after they have been cooked.
- How many to make? When the meatballs are being served as an appetizer or hors d’oeuvre plan to make 3 per guest, but if you plan to serve the meatballs as part of the main entree then plan for 6-8 per guest.
storing info
- STORE. If you happen to have leftover crock pot meatballs, allow them 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.
- REHEAT. The easiest way is in the microwave. However, the oven works well and keeps the flavor and texture. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 min.
For More Meatball Recipes We Love, Try:
Crockpot Meatballs Recipe
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 on low for 6–8 hours.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!!