Can I use homemade meatballs instead of frozen?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite homemade recipe, just make sure the meatballs are fully cooked before adding them to the sauce. This ensures they hold up and soak in all the flavors without breaking apart.

What if I don’t have grape jelly?

No worries—substitute with another sweet fruit jelly like cranberry, apricot, or even raspberry. The key is that sweet note that balances the BBQ tang! Just avoid sugar-free as the texture isn’t quite the same.

Can these be made ahead of time?

Yes, these are fantastic for prepping ahead! Cook completely, cool, then store in the fridge or freezer. Gently reheat just before serving—they taste just as good (if not better) the next day.

Do I have to thaw the meatballs first?

No need! It’s actually best to use them straight from frozen—this way, they slowly absorb the sauce as they heat up in whatever method you choose.

Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe

Name: Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 bag (32 ounces) frozen meatballs (fully cooked, any style); 1 cup grape jelly; 1 cup BBQ sauce (use your favorite brand); 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, for added depth); 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

Description

These grape jelly meatballs are a crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring perfectly tender meatballs simmered in a sweet and tangy grape jelly and BBQ sauce mixture. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy recipe offers three simple cooking methods: slow cooker, stovetop, or oven-baked. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or holidays.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Meatballs

1 bag (32 ounces) frozen meatballs (fully cooked, any style)

Sauce

1 cup grape jelly
1 cup BBQ sauce (use your favorite brand)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, for added depth)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare the Sauce In a medium bowl, whisk together the grape jelly, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder until smooth and fully combined.
Slow Cooker Method Place the frozen meatballs in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the prepared sauce over the meatballs, ensuring they are well coated. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
Stovetop Method In a large skillet or saucepan, combine grape jelly, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Heat over medium, stirring until the sauce is smooth. Add the frozen meatballs, stirring to coat them, then cover and simmer on LOW heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated through.
Oven-Baked Method Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place frozen meatballs in a large baking dish. In a bowl, mix grape jelly, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes to slightly thicken the sauce.
Serve Serve the grape jelly meatballs warm with toothpicks as an appetizer or on a platter for sharing.

Notes

You can use homemade or store-bought frozen meatballs.
Make the sauce ahead of time for even quicker prep.
Add a pinch of chili flakes for extra heat.
These meatballs can be kept warm in the slow cooker for several hours when serving at parties.
Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving Size: about 8 meatballs
Calories: 320
Sugar: 14g
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 29g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 15g
Cholesterol: 40mg