Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs – these tasty, tangy and sweet, little meatballs are so easy to make and keep warm in the slow cooker, perfect for a game day get together, potluck or party anytime.
I love that these meatballs are made in the slow cooker. All the prep work is done earlier in the day and when your guests arrive, the meatballs are ready to go. You can then keep them warm and even serve then straight from the slow cooker, allowing guests to help themselves, so easy!
I came across the original version of this Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs recipe years ago when I did an Internet search for a slow cooker meatball appetizer recipe. I was skeptical about making them at first because of the main ingredients, which are grape jelly and chili sauce.
But, it was a popular recipe, so I gave it a try, and am so glad that I did. These little meatballs are so good, sweet and savory, tangy and super delicious. Who knew such a combination would be so good?
These little Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs are a great dish to take to a potluck, and are also a wonderful addition to a brunch buffet. When I do a brunch buffet, I often like to have a mixture of sweet and savory breakfast items, along with some tasty snack and appetizer items, such as these little meatballs.
I often like to have a brunch party, for family and friends, for my son’s January birthday and these meatballs are always one of the most popular items and one of the first to be finished.
These delicious Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs, are so easy to make and keep warm in the slow cooker, perfect for a game day get together or party anytime.
Do you have a favorite slow cooker meatball recipe? Please let me know in the comments below!
Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- ½ cup dry bread crumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 (12 oz) jar grape jelly
- 1 (12 oz) bottle chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 half of a lemon)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, milk, salt and pepper. Shape mixture into 1 inch balls.
- In a 5-6 quart slow cooker, whisk together grape jelly, chili sauce and lemon juice.
- Add meatballs to slow cooker.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours or until meatballs are cooked through.
- In a small bowl, create a slurry, by whisking together cornstarch and water, until cornstarch is dissolved.
- Add slurry to sauce in slow cooker, stir until slurry is incorporated into the sauce. Replace cover on slow cooker and continue to cook on high for 30 minutes or until sauce is thickened.
Adapted from allrecipes.com.
I love my 6-quart Crock Pot brand slow cooker, similar models are available at Amazon:
Thanks so much for stopping by!! Looks like a great recipe!!
Hugs,Deb
These meatballs look delicious, Joy.I love that they are made in the slow cooker, too. Pinned and Tweeted. Thanks for partying with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday each week!
Joy your super bowl party must have been perfect! First the cheese dip and then these yummy meatballs! I think I’m in heaven! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday – Link Party! I hope to see you again tomorrow! Pinned!
Your Meatballs look awesome! Thank you so much for sharing with us for our 5th Anniversary of Full Plate Thursday! Hope you have a fantastic week and hope to see you again real soon!
Miz Helen
Your meatballs sound delicious. Thank you for linking up at the LET’S GET REAL WEEKLY LINK PARTY.
Your submission is appreciated and will be tweeted or pinned or
both. Be sure to join us next week, Thursday Feb. 11th at 5 p.m.
EST
I love my crockpot and this meatball recipe is to die for. I can’t wait to try it.
Thanks Rebecca! Hope you give it a try and enjoy!
These look wonderful. I’m with Michelle, thinking Superbowl.
Thanks Linda! These would be perfect for game day!
My son has a January b-day too. January birthdays are kinda hard coming off of holiday festivities. Using the crockpot to help is a must. I’ve never made these little meatballs–they look good! I’m thinking Super Bowl!
Hi Michelle, these would be great for game day!
[…] Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs from Joy Love Food […]
I loved your recipe and shared it on my page last week. It was very popular! Thank you very much for joining in the celebration of #purebloglove, we enjoy having you each week. I hope to see you on Thursday at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee
Thanks Cyndee! Thanks so much for sharing!
I bet these will be perfect for the saucy appetizer at our superbowl party. Pinning!
Thanks Rachel!
Hello cute lady! This looks so amazing. I would love some right now. Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you taking the time to stop by and party with us. It wouldn’t be a party without you! I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. Lou Lou Girls
Thanks so much!
These look so yummy to me! Thanks so much for linking up at the Totally Terrific Tuesday Link Party. I hope you stop by again tonight at 10pm to show us what you’ve been up to this week. It’s so much fun partying with you!
Thanks Christie! I will definitely be back at Totally Terrific Tuesday!
[…] Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs from Joy Love FoodRed Fruit Salad from Honey & BirchA Piece of Cake from Margaret’s Morsels […]
how funny, i do this the lil smokies.. by this i mean the grape jelly and chili sauce. People always comment on how odd it is. I like the idea of the meatballs, though, because I love me some meatballs!
Thanks Lara! I agree that the grape jelly and chili sauce does sound odd, but it so good! Sounds good with lil smokies too 🙂
I love all things slow cooker! Thanks for linking up with us at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week! 🙂
Thanks Kristen! I will definitely be back at #HomeMattersParty!
Lunch, dinner, party appetizer…I can think of tons of different ways to use those yummy meatballs! Thanks so much for sharing them with us at Foodie Fridays! Pinning and sharing!
Thanks Michelle! You are right, these meatballs are so versatile!
These look so yummy! Right now, my crockpot is glue to my counter to I am going to have to try this out! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sharon! I don’t know what I would do without my crockpot. Hope you give these a try and enjoy 🙂
These sound so good -something my husband would love (and me). Have a great day!
Thanks Vickie! Hope you give it a try and enjoy, it is so easy and delicious!
Joy, these meatballs are just stunning! If you haven’t already, I would be delighted if you’d drop this (and anything else you’d like to share) by at the #PureBlogLove DIY and recipe link party! You can find me here: http://picnicnz.blogspot.co.nz/
Thanks Nicole, I’ve linked up!
I have a recipe using cut up hot dogs with grape jelly in the slow cooker that tastes amazing, so I’m guessing that this recipe is equally as good. Who would ever think that grape jelly would make such a good ingredient in appetizers!?!?! These sound perfect for a party and I love anything that can be done in a crock pot!
I agree about the grape jelly, I never would have thought to use it with meatballs, but it really works, they are so good! Your hot dogs sound good too.
These are such a great idea for feeding a crowd! I’m sure they are a big hit! Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
Thanks Alyssa!
They look super yummy and anything in a crockpot is good!
Thanks so much!
These look great and I am willing to try this. I do savory meatballs already but adding only jelly & bbq sauce! It tastes great but I am up for new ways!!!
Thanks Suzie! Hope you give them a try and enjoy! BBQ sauce sounds good too 🙂
These little morsels look wonderful!!!
Thanks Karren!
Hi Joy!
Oh my goodness! Those look so delish! I have no choice but to make them for the Super Bowl now. Thanks for sharing the recipe this week.
Wishing you an amazing week!
Much love,
Lysa xx
Thanks Lysa! Hope you give them a try and enjoy 🙂
Looks amazing! I have meatballs in the freezer and don’t know how to do different dish out of it. Now I have this as an option =)
Dropping by from http://pixiedusk.livejournal.com/334142.html
Thanks Merlinda! I hope you give this a try, it is so good!
I’m pinning this to my “Game Day” board – the guys will love these!
Thanks Jen, thanks for the pin!
Love the sweet and sour sauce! Never would have thought to use grape jelly!
Thanks Rebecca! I agree about the grape jelly, who would have thought?!