Crock Pot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Sweet Chili Sauce is the perfect party appetizer. This is the slow cooker frozen meatball recipe that is gone first at every potluck you’ve been to!
The blend of grape jelly, chili sauce, and meatballs in the crockpot tastes fantastic on its own. But add some real maple syrup and it goes from fantastic to amazing! I might even need to add a warning label with this recipe … you might lose all self control you thought you had.
I make these for cocktail parties, football parties, and sometimes just because why not?
Sometimes on the weekend my husband and I just make a bunch of appetizers to snack on all day. We graze all day!
For more frozen meatballs in the slow cooker recipes, see my frozen bourbon meatball in the slow cooker recipe, teriyaki ginger meatballs, Swedish Meatballs or crockpot cranberry meatballs – they won’t disappoint!
Ingredient Highlight: Real Maple Syrup.
The secret ingredient that makes these meatballs shine is real maple syrup. Skip the pancake syrups like Aunt Jemima or Mrs. Butterworth’s—those are mostly corn syrup and artificial flavors. Real maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and depth of flavor that balances the spicy chili sauce perfectly.
Cooking on High or Low?
You can cook these crockpot meatballs with jelly on high or low. It doesn’t make a big difference either way! Do whatever fits best in your cooking schedule.
- Cook on High for 2 Hours
- Cook on Low for 3 to 4 Hours
Party Supplies for Homemade Meatballs
If you are serving these slow cooker meatballs you may want to consider some supplies. They are sticky and delicious which means that napkins and appetizer skewers an absolute must.
Here are some of my recommended supplies:
Top Tips Before Getting Started
Choose the right meatballs. Use homestyle or Italian-style frozen beef meatballs for the best flavor. If you prefer leaner options, turkey or chicken meatballs work too. Be caution: they’ll absorb the sauce differently (chicken/turkey tend to be softer, beef stays firmer).
Prevent sticking. Spray your crockpot with nonstick spray before adding everything. It makes cleanup much easier and keeps the sauce from burning around the edges.
Make ahead for less stress. Mix the sauce ingredients (maple syrup, chili sauce, jelly) in a container the night before. When you’re ready to cook, just pour over the frozen meatballs and start the slow cooker.
Storage Instructions
If you have leftovers (a rare occurrence!), here’s how to store them:
Refrigerator Instructions:
Store cooled meatballs in an airtight container with sauce for up to 3–4 days.
Freezer Instructions:
Place meatballs and sauce in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheat:
Warm in the microwave or return to a slow cooker on low until heated through.
Sweet and Spicy Chilli Crock Pot Meatballs
Grape Jelly Sweet Chili Meatballs are those meatballs that are always finished first at potlucks. Its easy to prepare and can be cooked in the crock pot on either low or high temeperature.
Ingredients
- 1.25 pound frozen beef meatballs
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 12 oz chili sauce
- 12 oz grape jelly
Instructions
- Place meatballs, maple syrup, chili sauce and jelly in your slow cooker.
- Stir to combine.
- Cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 3 hours.
- Serve warm.
Notes
This recipe doubles (or triples) easily—just make sure your slow cooker is large enough and add 30–60 minutes extra cooking time if very full.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 246Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3.9gUnsaturated Fat: 4.7gSodium: 537.7mgCarbohydrates: 34.8gSugar: 28.5gProtein: 7.5g
