Crock Pot Meatball Recipe
Crock Pot Meatballs are a versatile and easy dish, perfect for busy weeknights or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer, and made with only three simple ingredients. You can get the meatballs prepped and cooking in less than five minutes and take them to a party for everyone to rave over!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours and 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Preparation Level: Beginner +
If you love meatballs, give this authentic Italian meatballs and sauce recipe a try from No Plate Like Home.
Ingredients
- Frozen meatballs (or make some at home)
- Grape jelly
- Barbecue sauce
Printable recipe card below with measurements and instructions.
Featured Comment
Felicia says:
“I love these meatball recipes. Awesome!”
Step-By-Step Instructions
Spray the Crock Pot with a non-stick spray. Add the grape jelly and barbecue sauce to the Crock Pot and stir the two ingredients. Add the meatballs and stir, making sure they are covered.
Place the lid on top and cook on the high setting for four hours or until the meat is heated through. Stir it about halfway through.
I used Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce for this recipe, but you can use your favorite brand.
Tip: When you get the barbecue sauce, be sure not to get a sweeter kind, simply because it might make the meatballs too sweet because you already have the grape jelly that will sweeten the meatballs.
Ways to Add Variety To the Crock Pot BBQ Grape Jelly Meatballs
- Serve as an easy appetizer that can stay warm in the Crock Pot or top a hoagie bun.
- Make homemade meatballs. Make the meatballs out of lean ground beef or ground turkey. Or, use a combination of ground beef and pork.
- Add different ingredients to create variety in the meatballs.
- Chili sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Parmesan cheese
- Ground turkey
- Tomato sauce
- Onion powder
- Brown sugar with warm spices.
- Italian seasoning, and so much more.
- Add some little smokies to the recipe along with BBQ sauce.
- Serve on top of egg noodles or spaghetti noodles and sauce.
- Serve as an easy appetizer that can stay warm in the Crock Pot or top a hoagie bun.
Tips For Cooking Meatballs
- Check Internal Temperature: For food safety, ensure the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Brown the Meatballs First: If you have time, briefly brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium-high heat before adding them to the slow cooker. This adds depth to the flavor and texture.
- Adding Beef Broth: For a juicier result, consider adding a cup of beef broth to the bottom of the slow cooker. This not only prevents sticking but also adds a rich flavor.
- Sour Cream for Swedish Meatballs: Transform your BBQ meatballs into a Swedish-style dish by adding sour cream and lemon juice to the sauce, creating a creamy and tangy flavor.
- Extra Sauce for Versatility: Prepare a little extra sauce on the side. It’s great for dipping or drizzling over your favorite side dishes.
- Utilize Bread Crumbs: If you’re making meatballs from scratch, mix in bread crumbs with the meatball mixture. This helps to keep them tender and moist.
- Cream of mushroom soup: Try adding a can of cream of mushroom soup to the sauce for a variation. It gives a creamy texture and is perfect for a hearty main dish.
- Honey Garlic Variation: For a different flavor profile, replace the BBQ sauce with a mix of honey, garlic, and soy sauce. This creates a delicious honey garlic meatball recipe.
- Slow Cooking on Low: If you have more time, consider cooking the meatballs on low for 6-8 hours. Slow cooking on low tends to result in more tender and flavorful meatballs.
How To Store the Meatballs
Store the juicy meatballs in an airtight container or cover the container with plastic wrap. The meatballs do need to be refrigerated.
More Delicious Crock Pot Recipes
- This hearty crock pot beef and gravy is the kind of no-fuss dinner that feels like comfort at the end of a long day.
- If you’re looking for comfort in a bowl, this crock pot chicken and rice is always a winning choice.
- You can’t go wrong with a classic like this slow cooker pot roast that’s loaded with flavor and fall-apart tender beef.
- Turn those meatballs into a delicious meatball appetizer and serve them for any occasion.
Easy Crock Pot Meatball Recipe
Ingredients
- 18 ounce bottle Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce
- 2-1/2 cups grape jelly
- 2 pounds frozen meatballs
Instructions
- Spray the Crock Pot with a non-stick spray.
- Add the barbecue sauce and grape jelly to the Crock Pot and mix together.
- Add the meatballs to the Crock Pot, mix, and cover with sauce.
- Cook on high for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until the meat is heated through.
These meatballs look so good and easy. It’s so nice you can sit outside at night now. My in laws live in Florida and we like visiting them in the winter to get a break from the north east winter.
Hi Joanne, Thank you! This seems to be the perfect time down here right now. It will start to get unbearably hot in a couple of months. That’s great you can come down and visit your in-laws and thaw out a little bit. I am sure it gets super cold up there in the north east!
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Hi Marilyn! Thanks so much for featuring the meatball recipe!! I always love coming to your parties. 🙂
I want to make these meatballs, since schedule is getting a bit hectic, can I use strawberry spread (Welch’s) rather than grape? Can I make the recipe for half the amount?
I think that would work fine to use strawberry and use half the amount. Enjoy and let us know how you like the strawberry!
I only have one bag of frozen meatballs how should I adjust the portions for the ingredients and for the cook time?!
I would take off about one hour and check them to see if they are done. You can cook it on high or low. I would cook on high for two
hours. If you cook on low, cook for about three to four hours.
Hi There,
I’m cooking these meatballs now. Can’t wait to eat them. The sauce is very liquified. Does it thicken up when it cools?
It should thicken as it cooks and cools. I hope you love them!
I love these meatball recipes. Awsome!
Oh good! They are so delish and easy!