Grape Jelly Meatballs (3-ingredients)
These three-ingredient Sweet and Spicy Grape Jelly Meatballs are so easy and delicious for a Crowd. Tender meatballs made in the slow cooker in a sweet and spicy sauce. You’ll love how quickly you can have an appetizer for your next gathering that everyone will love or also makes a simple dinner.
Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs for a Crowd
These meatballs rock! It would be hard to think of an easier appetizer for a party, but we also love to make these meatballs for a super easy grab-and-go meal. Just add slider buns and your family can scoop meatballs out of the slow cooker onto the buns to make their own little BBQ meatballs sandwiches. So good!
If you like this recipe, you’ll also want to see Firecracker Chicken Meatballs, 7 Layer Dip Cups, Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Crescent Rolls, Slow Cooker Cheese Hamburger Dip, and Buffalo Chicken Roll Ups.
The Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs for a Crowd (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the printable recipe card):
- 32 ounces grape jelly – we like Welch’s grape jelly for the delicious concord grape flavor, but you can use any grape jelly for this recipe.
- 2 bottles (24 ounces total) Heinz Chili Sauce – be sure you’re using Heinz Chili Sauce and not a hot pepper sauce. Chili sauce is a spiced ketchup.
- 5 pounds frozen meatballs – be sure to use a homestyle flavor and not Italian flavor.
TIP: 5 pounds of meatballs is a lot! Depending on the size of the meatballs, it will be about 160 total meatballs. If you do not need this many, you can use fewer meatballs. We suggest you use anywhere from 3 to 5 pounds of frozen meatballs.
Making Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs for a Crowd
To start, just dump all of the Heinz Chili Sauce and the grape jelly into a medium sauce pan. Heat this over medium heat, stirring often, until it begins to simmer.
Place all of the frozen meatballs into a large slow cooker, then pour the sauce over top.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and heat on low for 3 hours until the meatballs are hot.
You may need to stir the meatballs a couple of times while they cook to be sure the sauce completely coats them.
Serve the meatballs hot in a serving dish, or right out of the slow cooker.
How to Serve the Meatballs
Here are some ideas for serving your meatballs:
- Toothpicks – provide toothpicks for people to serve themselves meatballs.
- Buns – meatballs on slider buns are a great way to eat this appetizer and turn it into a casual meal.
- Hot sauce – some will love to add some hot sauce to their meatballs for a spicy kick
How to Store Leftover Meatballs
Transfer leftover meatballs to a food storage container with a lid or a zip top bag. Refrigerate the meatballs for up to three days. To reheat, pour the meatballs into a large saucepan and heat over medium heat, or microwave individual portions in 20 second increments until hot.
Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs for a Crowd
Equipment
- 6 quart (or larger) slow cooker
Ingredients
- 32 ounces grape jelly
- 2 12 ounce bottles Heinz Chili Sauce (24 ounces total)
- 5 pounds frozen fully cooked meatballs (homestyle, not Italian flavor)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the grape jelly and Heinz Chili Sauce. Heat over medium heat until the mixture begins to simmer, stirring often.
- Place the meatballs into a large slow cooker and pour the sauce over top of the meatballs.
- Slow cook the meatballs on high for 3 hours, or until hot.
- Serve the meatballs hot.
Can you use homemade meatballs or just frozen ones. I’ve never made these, but very excited to.
Hi Mona, either one will work. We just use frozen to make it easier.
I used to make these a lot when we did Sunday potluck. Â Really good. Â
So & easy and Yummy!
Have made this for at least 25 years. Really good!!
These are delicious.
Going to try this for next church gathering. Looks great and easy to make. No fuss; no mess; good quantity.