Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
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These Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs require just 3 ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep, yet are the ultimate party appetizer or ultra-easy dinner served over egg noodles or in a bowl with veggies. A few short hours in the slow cooker delivers tender, juicy meatballs smothered in a sticky, sweet BBQ glaze, and who doesn’t need to hit the easy button on dinner once in awhile?
Ultimate Crockpot Appetizer Meatballs
This is one of those “no recipe” recipes that I once feared was too simple to be worth sharing. Time has taught me, though, that the simple ideas sometimes are the most needed and well-received. With the most minimal effort, this is the kind of dish you can pull out of your back pocket to magically create a crowd-pleasing appetizer for any gathering, or use on the absolute busiest days to salvage a family dinner at home. Does it use a few shortcuts? Yes! And I am 100% good with that, because life really is busy and all about balance.
Crockpot Meatball Recipe Highlights
3 ingredients, 5 minutes: This is truly the ultimate in maximum flavor from minimal effort. As an extra bonus, each ingredient is either pantry or freezer stable. I highly recommend keeping them on hand for impromptu gatherings or dinner emergencies.
Kid-friendly and versatile: Sweet BBQ meatballs are the on the short list of foods most likely to satisfy picky eaters of any age. I put them on the menu when my kids need a comforting “win.” Whether it’s family dinner, a potluck, or a game day snack, these meatballs always disappear in no time and earn compliments.
Deliciously sweet, sticky glaze: The sauce that coats the meatballs is irresistibly sweet, sticky, and tangy all at once. Of course, the exact flavor mix will vary slightly depending on what BBQ sauce you use. That’s part of the fun.
Related: Crockpot BBQ Chicken, Sweet and Sticky Asian Meatballs
Ingredient & Substitution Notes
This is just an at-a-glance overview of the main things you will need. Find the complete list with exact recommended amounts in the recipe card below.
- Grape jelly or jam. Don’t overthink this: Bonne Maman is great, but so is Smuckers or any store brand. I’ve also tried this with apricot jam and cranberry sauce, both great variations!
- BBQ sauce. This one matters: use one with a flavor profile you like! Tangy, hot, smoky, sweet, whatever you choose will definitely shine through.
- Frozen mini meatballs. Any work; our family’s forever favorite is the Italian “party meatballs” from Trader Joe’s. They are the most tender of any we’ve tried! Full-size meatballs also work perfectly well, but require longer to warm.
How To Make Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
In all honesty, I’m sure you probably already know what to do here, but just for fun I’ve included a few step-by-step photos here to make this recipe extra easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Combine all ingredients. Pour grape jelly and BBQ sauce over the frozen meatballs inside your slow cooker. Do not thaw the meatballs first. Stir until fully coated.
- Cook meatballs. Let that gadget do literally all of the work. As the meatballs warm, so too will the sauce and jam mingle together into a sweet, tangy, and irresistible collaboration.
- Enjoy! Garnish with chives or thinly-sliced green onions, if desired, and serve as you like.
How long to cook frozen meatballs in the slow cooker?
If starting with fully frozen miniature meatballs in the slow cooker, plan to cook for 2-3 hours on high or 3-4 hours on low.
If using full-size meatballs, plan to add 1-2 hours to these cooking times, which translates to 3-5 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.
When ready to serve, the meatballs should be hot in the center and tender all the way through. The sauce will be just a bit sticky and so, so good.
Variations, Tips & Tricks for Success
- Swap another flavor of jam. Apricot jam, strawberry jam, or even cranberry sauce are fun ways to add a minor twist to these appetizer meatballs. You can also feel free to use a sugar-free jam if that works better for you.
- Tap into a pineapple or teriyaki flavor. Swap the jam for a can of pineapple chunks with about half of their juice, or cook the meatballs in teriyaki sauce rather than BBQ.
- Add Sriracha, chili sauce, or red pepper flakes for a little heat. This is an easy way to literally spice up the flavor profile of these meatballs if your audience is craving that.
- Keep stirring to a minimum. One or two stirs is OK if you’re worried the sauce might stick to the insert, but resist the urge to stir excessively. Slow cookers lose heat very rapidly any time the lid is cracked, so this can be mean the meatballs will take a lot longer to warm through.
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Meatballs
We enjoy these equally frequently as appetizer and as an emergency main dish. Grape jelly meatballs please both ways!
Appetizer Pairings: These are hearty and familiar, so feel free to serve some lighter or more adventurous appetizers alongside. Favorites include apricot brie bites, cucumber Boursin bites, or pesto flatbreads. Set out a large spoon or toothpicks to allow guests to serve themselves warm, sauce-coated meatballs straight from the slow cooker.
Setting out more of a traditional game day spread? BBQ chicken flatbreads, pinto bean nachos with salsa and guacamole, and baked taquitos are there for you.
Main Dish Ideas: Serve BBQ meatballs over egg noodles, rice, rotini, or bowtie pasta, or over some creamy mashed potatoes for an ultra-easy comfort food dinner. You can also tuck these into hoagies for BBQ meatball subs, potentially with some creamy provolone melted on top. Simple baby carrots, steamed green beans, peas, or a veggie mix rounds things out. Semi-homemade totally gets the job done on busy days.
Craving the flavor and ease with a little more nutrition? They are also a great protein to add to bowls alongside a healthy homemade coleslaw, apple cabbage slaw, or French carrot salad.
Storage & Reheating
BBQ jelly meatballs reheat beautifully and make a terrific packed school lunch for kids, as well, warmed and packed in their favorite Thermos.
- Storage: Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 4-5 days. Just store in your favorite airtight container and keep tightly sealed.
- To Reheat: Reheat meatballs in the microwave, stirring in between 60 second intervals. Don’t worry if the sauce thickens slightly in the fridge; it will loosen back up as it warms.
- Freezing: I haven’t tried freezing these meatballs after they are warmed, but it is theoretically safe to do so, as long as they do not spend more than 2 hours at room temperature before being stored again in the refrigerator or freezer, according to USDA food safety guidelines. The meatballs may be less tender, however, owing to the loss of moisture as they thaw.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I keep warm meatballs in the slow cooker?
Fully cooked meatballs can stay on a slow cooker’s “keep warm” setting for up to 3 hours before or while serving. If they go too long or the heat is too high and the sauce dries out or thickens excessively, add a small splash of chicken broth or water and stir well to incorporate.
Can I double this recipe?
Yes! It’s easy to double this recipe with no changes, even to the cooking time. Just be sure you are using a large enough slow cooker to hold all of your meatballs at once with some room to stir at the end. A 6-quart model is well-sized for either a regular or a double batch.
Where did slow cooker grape jelly meatballs originate?
I am pretty sure that Crockpot grape jelly meatballs were a mandatory menu item for suburban American families throughout the 1980s. In my circles, they were primarily made with a mix of grape jelly and Heinz chili sauce. While that’s tasty, modern me is partial to this BBQ sauce version. It’s my go-to time and time again!
Can I make this with homemade meatballs?
Absolutely! Make a batch of your favorite homemade meatballs, in any size you like, place them in the Crockpot with the sauce ingredients, and proceed.
Whether the meatballs are browned in a skillet or baked, be sure they are fully cooked and pretty sturdy on the outside before placing in the Crockpot, both for food safety and to minimize any tendency for them to break apart.
This will work with any type of meatball, from a classic ground beef version to lighter ground chicken or our favorite healthy-ish ground turkey meatballs, which sneak in a few shreds of carrot and zucchini for good measure.
Related Recipes
Craving more Crockpot favorites? Slow cooker butter chicken, BBQ chicken and coleslaw bowls, white bean Parmesan and pearl couscous soup, slow cooker teriyaki chicken, and Crockpot shredded chicken tacos are top of our list!
More meatball recipes include pesto chicken meatballs, Greek chicken meatballs, za’atar-spiced lamb meatballs, and tender chicken meatballs served with orzo and peppers.
3-Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 20 ounces frozen fully-cooked mini meatballs about 30
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup grape jelly or jam
Instructions
- Place meatballs in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour BBQ sauce and jam on top. Stir well to combine and coat the meatballs well.1 cup grape jelly or jam, 1 cup BBQ sauce, 20 ounces frozen fully-cooked mini meatballs
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 3-4 hours. Once the meatballs are fully warmed through, turn the slow cooker to the “keep warm” setting until and while serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Slow Cooker Size: A single batch of these meatballs will fit in a 3- or 4-quart slow cooker; a 6-quart model is well-sized for either a regular or a double batch.
- Double Batch: It’s easy to double this recipe with no changes, even to the cooking time. Just be sure you are using a large enough slow cooker to hold all of your meatballs at once with some room to stir at the end.
- Serving Suggestions: We enjoy these equally frequently as an always crowd-pleasing appetizer for groups and as a deliciously fun & casual family dinner. In the dinner department, my kids’ favorite combination is BBQ meatballs served over egg noodles with green beans on the side!
Nutrition Estimate
Change Log
- Post originally published February 26, 2024.
- Post updated April 11, 2025 with new photos and more helpful information on substitutions, serving suggestions, and the right slow cooker size to use for a regular vs. a double batch.
For the best results, I highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. I am a real person who personally writes, tests, and photographs all of these recipes in my own kitchen, and I appreciate the time and energy that you put into feeding your family, too. These tips will help you enjoy the best results.
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These meatballs make a super quick and easy dish and the kids love them!
They do, indeed! 🙂