Grape jelly meatballs are the perfect mix of sweet, salty, and spicy. Made with frozen grocery store meatballs and just 5 minutes of prep, they’re about to become your favorite no-fuss appetizer!
Grape jelly meatballs are a fun spin on traditional cocktail meatballs. This easy recipe only requires three ingredients – frozen, store-bought meatballs, grape jelly, and chili sauce. The result is a sweet and savory meatball that is just begging to be snagged up with a toothpick.
The ingredients might sound a little funny, but trust me, these meatballs pack some serious flavor and are utterly addicting. As the meatballs bake in the oven, the grape jelly and chili sauce caramelize to make the most irresistible sauce on the planet.
Whether you’re hosting a party for game day (sorry if you got stuck with the cooking and don’t care for the sport!) or just having a few friends over for a movie, this is the ultimate “set it and forget it” recipe that allows you to focus on the other dishes you need to whip up.
If you want the recipe to be even more hands-off, find some instructions below on how to turn this recipe into crockpot meatballs…
Let’s dive in!
How to Make Grape Jelly Meatballs
Making this dish couldn’t get any simpler. Simply combine all the ingredients in a heavy cast iron pot and let the oven work its magic. Below, find a quick overview of the recipe.
- Make the Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the grape jelly and chili sauce with a whisk.
- Combine Ingredients Together: In an oven-safe heavy cast iron pot with a lid, add the meatballs followed by the sauce.
- Cover and Bake: Place the lid over the pot and cook for 30 minutes at 300°F. Serve warm and enjoy!
Have a Dutch oven? If so, use it! A Dutch oven will make your meatballs ultra-tender. If you need a recommendation, I’m obsessed with my Staub.
Tips for Making the Best Grape Jelly Covered Meatballs
Below, find a couple of tips to make the best grape jelly meatballs on the planet.
- Use whatever meatballs you prefer. You can use beef, chicken, or turkey meatballs. Whatever you prefer will work great with the sauce!
- Add a little hot sauce if you like it spicy. Add a bit of sriracha if you like it extra spicy.
- Swap out the jelly. If grape jelly isn’t your thing, feel free to use any kind you like. Apricot jelly works really well too!
Slow Cooker Hack: Hosting a large party? Combine frozen meatballs, chili sauce, and jelly in a Crock Pot or other slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. Switch the setting to “warm” and let your guests serve themselves!
Serving Grape Jelly Meatballs
Grape jelly meatballs are a great appetizer to serve when you’re hosting a big crowd or in need of any easy, low-maintenance appetizer. Simply throw them in a bowl or slow cooker to keep warm next to a bowl of toothpicks.
You can also serve these meatballs on top of steamed white rice for a quick weeknight dinner. If you’re more in the mood for a sandwich, grab some french rolls and make meatball subs. Melt some provolone cheese on top of the meatballs and chow down!
Storing Grape Jelly Meatballs
- Refrigerator: Store leftover grape jelly meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for 3-5 days. To reheat, microwave the meatballs until warmed through or place them on low in a saucepan.
- Freezer: To freeze grape jelly meatballs, allow them to cool down completely first. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. They should keep for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat.
FAQ
Can I put frozen meatballs in the sauce?
You can place frozen meatballs directly into the sauce. There’s no need to thaw them! Since frozen meatballs typically come fully cooked, all you need to do is allow them to warm through in the oven.
Can I substitute grape jelly for something else?
You can substitute grape jelly for apple, apricot, or currant jelly.
What chili sauce should I buy?
You should buy Heinz Chili Sauce if you don’t already have a favorite. It has such a great flavor!
Can I make my own chili sauce?
To make your own chili sauce, combine two cups of ketchup with four tablespoons of brown sugar, two tablespoons of vinegar, and a dash of allspice. So easy if you don’t have chili sauce on hand!
What other meats can I use?
You can use beef, chicken, pork, or turkey meatballs. You could also substitute cocktail sausages.
More Yummy Appetizer Recipes
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Guilt-free chicken wings
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms – Creamy seafood stuffed baked mushrooms
- 15-Minute Avocado Hummus – Healthy avocado hummus
- Spinach Artichoke Dip – Cheesy hot veggie dip
Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 oz chili sauce (Heinz brand recommended)
- 2 cups grape jelly
- 2 lbs frozen meatballs
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together grape jelly and chili sauce.
- Place meatballs into an oven-safe heavy cast iron pot (Dutch oven recommended) with a lid. Cover them with the grape jelly and chili sauce mixture.
- Cover the pot with the lid and place into the oven. Cook for 30 minutes at 300°F.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven. Serve & enjoy!
I also squeeze in half of a lemon, add a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar, a tablespoon of barbecue sauce, a tablespoon or two of soy and Worcestershire sauces.
Hi Jenny, That sounds delicious! Thanks so much for sharing that! Happy New Year!
I haven’t made these yet but I want to make my own meatballs using 2 pounds of Hamburg??!!
Hi Janice, That will turn out amazing! Let me know how it goes, good luck!
Are they super sweet? Or is the hot sauce super spicy?
Hi Lee, thank you for that question! These meatballs are a perfect combination of sweet and savory with a hint of spice. You can make it as spicy or mild as you like. Hope this helps! Happy holidays!
Can salsa/picante sauce be used in place of chili sauce?
Hi Carol- I haven't tried using salsa in place of the chili sauce so I can't say. If you give it a try, let us know how the meatballs turned out 😀
I’ll be making these for about 125 folks ~ should I just multiply everything in the recipe ? I will be cooking the in the oven.
Thanks MaryEllen
Hi MaryEllen- correct, you would just multiply everything in the recipe! I would also suggest keeping an eye on the baking time, if you are doubling or tripling the recipe and making the meatballs in a large pot/pan, you may need more baking time since there is so many of them. So give yourself ample time and then just keep them warm until needed. Enjoy!
Thank You ~ I’ll be getting my frozen meatballs at Costco ~ there are 6pounds in a bag~ will be getting 2bags = 280 meatballs ~ that’s 6 times the sauce ~ is that what I should do?
MaryEllen
Hello, yes that is what I would recommend.
I tried this with meatballs (uncooked) that my husband picked up and ended up cooking them for at least 1-1.5 hours. He also bought dinner size. In your recipe I would specify “bite-size” and fully cooked.
Hi Joanie- ah yes, the uncooked ones will take a lot longer! I believe most frozen meatballs are normally smaller in size, and already pre-cooked, which is what we call for in the recipe. I don't think i've seen uncooked frozen meatballs before. I hope you enjoyed them either way! 😀
Can you do this in a crock pot. If yes how long should you cook
Hi Carol- yes, they can! Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours. Enjoy!
After 30 minutes at 300, they were still cold. 👎🏻
Hello, Stephania. I'm sorry to hear it wasn't enough time. Did you end up adding more time, and if so, how much?
Can I use italian frozen meatballs?
Hi, Tracie! You can use whichever type of meatballs you prefer! 🙂 Enjoy!
I have NEVER had a meatball this delicious! I just finished making them. I used grass fed fat ground beef. I followed the recipe exactly. This recipe is a keeper. Wonderful, moist, flavorful and delicious meatballs!
So glad to hear you had such fantastic results- thank you for sharing!
What kind of frozen meatball is good?
Hi Nisha - Honestly, you can use just about any variety you can get your hands on. Plain beef, chicken, turkey, or pork would work fabulous. Hope this helps!
Thank you for this. Forgot I loaned the crockpot to a friend. Needed to make meatballs for game day. Nice to have an oven option. I think after they are done I will put them in the instant pot on keep warm.
I've been making this since the late 90's & I add salsa to mine along with the other ingredients mentioned. Everyone always really loves it!! I'm making it for our Superbowl party with fam & friends!! Making sticky rice so if people want to add they're meatballs over the rice!! It will be so yummy 🤤😋
That sounds delicious, Mindy. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, this is the perfect recipe for game day, enjoy!!