These Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs are made with just three ingredients and are guaranteed to be a hit at your next party! This easy recipe comes together SO fast and disappears just as quickly! Looking for more appetizers? Try this Spinach Artichoke Dip, Charcuterie Board, and Baked Bacon Cheese Dip at your next get together!
Cocktail Meatballs
I’m sure it’s not news to you by now that I’m obsessed with my slow cooker. I love LOVE how much easier it makes my life and my family loves the meals I can cook in it. So many of our favorite meals are made in the slow cooker including these Italian Beef Sandwiches, Cowboy Beans, and Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole.
Today I’m sharing one of my Grandma’s recipes for cocktail meatballs. I simply made it easier using my slow cooker and frozen meatballs.
Just THREE Ingredients
The meatballs are super simple to make – only three ingredients – and work perfectly for a crowd or family dinner. They are the ultimate comfort food that everyone loves. The ingredients sounds a little crazy:
- grape jelly
- chili sauce
- meatballs
But trust me when I say they taste fantastic! It’s the combination of sweet and sour in the cocktail meatballs sauce that takes these meatballs to the next level.
Can I Make My Own Meatballs?
Of course! You will want to cook the meatballs first and I would freeze them to keep the same cooking time below. If you want to make the cocktail meatballs right away, just be gentle with the meatballs so they don’t fall apart.
I have used my turkey meatballs in this recipe and they are just as delicious!
Meatballs for Everyone
We love meatballs in our family and I’ve come up with a lot of different ways to serve them over the years:
- Teriyaki Meatballs – made from scratch with beef and pork
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs my grandma’s recipe
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Meatballs – very similar to this recipe as far as how easy it is and a great flavor combo for the fall and winter months
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Maple Meatballs – we like to make this one a lot for game day parties – so good!
- Turkey Meatballs – a weekly staple in our house
Appetizer or Dinner
These meatballs make great game-watching fare. Just pop some toothpicks in the meatballs or leave them in the slow cooker and let your guests grab their own when hunger strikes.
This cocktail meatballs recipe works just as well for dinner as it does for a party. We particularly love to serve these cocktail meatballs over rice or even noodles – the kids love it! The sauce is just so good!
More Easy Appetizers
- Slow Cooker Kielbasa Bites
- Easy Jalapeño Popper Bites
- Deviled Eggs
- Cranberry Pecan Brie Bites
- Bacon Ranch Beer Cheeseball
How To Make Cocktail Meatballs
Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs
Ingredients
- 40 frozen meatballs
- 1 1/2 cups grape jelly
- 12 oz chil sauce 1 bottle
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Place meatballs in slow cooker.
- Cover with chili sauce and grape jelly.
- Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2-3 hours or until meatballs are heated through.
- Served by themselves or with rice.
Nutrition
Originally published October 6 2014.
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Fronna Patnoe says
What are Bertacchi Meatballs and where do you get them?
Margie says
if you dont have chili sauce what else can you use?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Mmm, that’s tough to substitute. A combination of chili powder and ketchup might be close?
Abby P says
Thanks for including where to get the meatballs because I had never heard of them and wouldn’t have thought to look at Sams. Wonder why I never noticed them there before? Need to make a huge trip to Sams anyhow, so I will be on the lookout for these!
This recipe will be perfect for the all day Saints/Eagles game (Geaux Saints!) and then the Walking Dead premiere party we are having next month. Just keep the crock on warm! Thanks!
Rachael says
These look wonderful! I was just wondering, what kind of chili sauce are you talking about? Like Sriracha sauce or something different?
cassidy says
What kind of chili sauce????? hot or sweet? having a hard time finding it. Please let me know asap!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hi Cassidy! I use Heinz Chili Sauce. Here is a link so you can see what I’m talking about: http://amzn.to/1CFsiBY Enjoy!
Bonnie Rodriguez says
Are the meatballs frozen or do you thaw them out before you put them in the slow cooker?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
They go in frozen Bonnie – super easy!
Bonnie Rodriguez says
Thank you!
Running Betty says
Typo: “Please” meatballs on bottom.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Betty!
Judy says
Easy, fast and so good! My family has made these meatballs for as long as I can remember.
The family always looks forward to having them. They are also always a hit when taken to parties.
kim says
I make this but use kielbasa instead of meatballs. Yum 🙂 I’ll have to try meatballs next time
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I keep hearing that Kim! I so need to try your version 🙂
Gina says
Yum Yum Yum! I have made these many times and they are so good! I usually serve with mashed potatoes, but your rice looks nice, too! Must add these on to one of our menus soon!
Claudia says
What kind of chili sauce did you use? Where do I find it?
Nicole says
I wondered the same thing?!
Samantha says
I just used Hunts Chili Sauce. It’s by the ketchup in the grocery store.
Kim says
I’ve made these for a few years now and they are awesome! My mom always used cut up hot dogs with the grape jelly and chili sauce….but I much prefer the meatballs!!
Julie | This Gal Cooks says
Two things – these meatballs look freaking amazing and we like the same type of dishes. No joke, I just bought those bowls over the weekend. LOVE them!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I love this recipe. I never understood why it worked. But then I make pulled pork with barbecue sauce and raspberry jam. That totally works. I eat too many of these things, when they are at a party.
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
This is one of my all time favorites!