Grape Jelly Meatballs
Party Pleasing Meatballs With a Secret Ingredient
This is a very old recipe that used to be a staple at parties. It's a bit retro, but these meatballs in a grape jelly based sauce are always a hit!
Cocktail meatballs are always a terrific idea for a party or gathering. They're easy, tasty, and simple to keep warm using a crock pot. They can be made hours ahead of time and then left to simmer in a delicious sauce for the rest of the day, while the party host takes care of other things.
This recipe is an oldie but a goodie. The tangy sauce that the meatballs simmer in is slightly sweet and just a tiny bit fruity, thanks to a healthy dose of grape jelly. Combined with purchased chili sauce, the taste is surprisingly addictive!
This is a very basic recipe that can handle many additions, tweaks, or substitutions. Use a favorite meatball recipe instead of the one provided, or add any number of spices or finely chopped veggies to the meat mixture. The meatballs can be browned in a frying pan on the stovetop instead of in the oven, if desired. But don't skip the browning step! This ensures that the meatballs will be cooked through, and gives them a slightly crisp outer crust that tastes wonderful.
The grape jelly can be swapped out in favor of cranberry jelly, with great results. Or try a red or green pepper jelly, or a jalepeno jelly for some added spice. Any combination of jellies will work just as well.
Finally, large chunks of veggies or fresh pineapple can also be added to the crock pot for a variety of colors, tastes, and textures along with the meatballs. Add these items about 30 minutes before serving so that they don't get overcooked or mushy.
Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups bottled chili sauce (such as Heinz)
- 1 cup grape jelly
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
- salt and pepper to taste
Put it All Together:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In crock pot, combine chili sauce, grape jelly, mustard, and garlic powder. Mix well; set aside. Turn crock pot on high and set aside.
- Lightly beat the egg. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, beaten egg, and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well - for best results, mix the beef mixture by hand.
- Roll the beef mixture into about 35 small meatballs. Place in a shallow baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking time.
- Drain the meatballs and add to the crock pot with the sauce. Mix together to ensure all of the meatballs are coated well.
- Cover the crock pot and cook on low for at least 6 hours. Serve hot with toothpicks.
Makes about 35 meatballs.
