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Whether you call them cocktail meatballs or grape jelly meatballs, there’s one word for this recipe: delicious! They’re perfect for a party, with a sweet-and-spicy sauce that’s totally irresistible.
Yes, this is that recipe! You’ve probably had cocktail meatballs before, and I bet you couldn’t eat just one. Even though these meatballs are packed with flavor, they couldn’t be easier to make. You only need three ingredients and the whole thing is made in the slow cooker, so it’s completely hands-off! If you’re looking for an easy party appetizer, this is the one to make!
Easy Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs
Cocktail meatballs are sweet, savory, and spicy—but not too spicy, so don’t worry about that. When I make them for a party, I keep them right in the crockpot and set out a little jar of toothpicks next to them. Like I said, it doesn’t get much easier than cocktail meatballs!
This recipe is also known as grape jelly meatballs because they’re made with—wait for it!—grape jelly. If you’ve had this recipe before, you know how good it tastes, but if you haven’t, you’ll just have to trust me that somehow the combination of ingredients works. It’s a little bit like a sweet and sour sauce!
(For another slow cooker meatball recipe, see my post on How to Make Frozen Meatballs in a Crockpot.)
Ingredients
- Grape jelly – You don’t need anything fancy! Just a basic grape jelly is good.
- Heinz chili sauce – Don’t try to substitute a hot sauce or something similar. You really need Heinz chili sauce!
- Frozen meatballs – Any kind of meatballs you like will work. You can even make this recipe vegetarian with meatless meatballs. (Aldi has great ones!)
How to Make Cocktail Meatballs
1. Assemble
Combine the grape jelly and chili sauce in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Fold in the meatballs and stir to coat.
2. Cook
Pour the meatball mixture into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
How to Store Leftovers
Transfer any leftovers to an airtight storage container and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days. You can make a meal out of the leftovers by serving them over rice!
FAQ
What goes with cocktail meatballs?
I usually serve cocktail meatballs alongside other classic party appetizers like Veggie Pizza and Spinach Artichoke Dip.
How do you reheat cocktail meatballs?
You can reheat cocktail meatballs in a skillet on the stove or warm them up in the microwave.
Can you make cocktail meatballs ahead?
Since this recipe is so simple, you won’t really save much time by making it ahead. Just assemble and start it 3 hours before your party and you’ll be good to go!
More Classic Party Recipes
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Frozen Crockpot Meatballs
Ingredients
- 32 oz frozen fully cooked meatballs
- 24 oz jar pasta sauce
- 1 cup grape jelly
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder optional, for extra flavor
- Fresh parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Place the frozen meatballs directly into your crockpot.
- Mix BBQ sauce and grape jelly together, then pour over the meatballs.
- Sprinkle in garlic powder if desired and stir to coat the meatballs evenly.
- Cook on Low for 4–6 hours or on High for 2–3 hours, until heated through.
Notes
- The meatballs can go straight from the freezer into the crockpot. No thawing or pre-baking needed!
- Use any sauce you want! Just make sure that you’re using 2 cups for every pound of meatballs.
- If you just want plain, juicy meatballs, you can still use your crockpot. Cooking the frozen meatballs in a crockpot with no sauce may make the meatballs a little too dry. To fix this, I like to add about 1 cup of water or beef broth to the bowl of the slow cooker. This helps keep the meatballs nice and juicy as they cook.
I have a recipe for Heinz 57 sauce since it’s so expensive per bottle. That way you can use a slightly cheaper version of grape jelly with my recipe and no one can’t tell the difference. I also add a little minced garlic to my meatballs and sauce.
I only have Italian breadcrumbs. Will this work? I see posts about not using Italian meatballs
Was looking for easy appetizers and came across this. Made it for the first time for a Christmas party and it was a hit just like the add said. Super easy and the hit of the party no one believed me when I said grape jelly and ketchup. I definitely will make this again.
Been making these for years. Always a huge hit. You can also slice link sausage or cocktail weiners and use that instead.