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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Grape Jelly and Ketchup Meatballs

    Grape Jelly and Ketchup Meatballs

    Published: Jun 22, 2016 · Modified: Feb 12, 2023 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

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    These Grape Jelly Ketchup Meatballs are a long-time favorite appetizer to serve at your next party. Who knew simply combining jelly and ketchup together would make such an incredible sauce. 

    Love easy meatballs recipes? These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Cranberry Meatballs are both amazing as well!

    A bowl of grape jelly meatballs

    A couple of weeks ago my daughter was at one of her best friends house and she had the “most amazing” meatballs.  So, of course, I had to call and get the recipe. She kind of laughed and told me what the ingredients were I knew right away why they were such a hit.  

    They are so similar to our saucy meatballs.  But I have never made them with “ketchup” and jelly.   They have a completely different taste and so delicious!

    What’s great is that you can make your own meatballs or use frozen cocktail meatballs and to your slow cooker and it’s all set.

    You can also swap the ketchup for Heinz Chili Sauce or your favorite barbecue sauce if desired.

    These are great not only as an appetizer, but we had them as a meal too with roasted potatoes and garlic parmesan roasted broccoli.  Great simple summer night dinner.

    a white bowl filled with meatballs with a grape jelly ketchup sauce

    How to Make Grape Jelly Meatballs

    Mix jelly and ketchup together.

    Mix ground beef, eggs, garlic powder, pepper and almond flour (or bread crumbs) together well.

    Form meat mixture into balls a little smaller than a golf ball.

    Pour about half of the jelly/ketchup mixture into the bottom of a slow cooker.

    Place meatballs in a slow cooker.

    Pour the remaining jelly/ketchup mixture on top of the meatballs.

    Cover and cook for about 4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.

    ENJOY!!

    Grape Jelly and Ketchup Meatballs in a white bowl
    A bowl of Meatballs

    Meatballs in Jelly Ketchup Sauce

    hese Meatballs in the Jelly Ketchup Sauce are a long time favorite appetizer to serve at your next party.
    4.89 from 9 votes
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    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 32
    Calories: 97kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup grape jelly
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • 2 pounds lean grass fed ground beef
    • 3 large eggs
    • ¾ cup breadcrumbs or almond meal flour for gluten free
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    • Mix jelly and ketchup together.
      1 cup grape jelly, 1 cup ketchup
    • Mix ground beef, eggs, garlic powder, pepper and bread crumbs together well.
      2 pounds lean grass fed ground beef, 3 large eggs, ¾ cup breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • Form meat mixture into balls a little smaller than a golf ball.
    • Pour about half of the jelly/ketchup mixture into the bottom of a slow cooker.
    • Place meatballs in slow cooker.
    • Pour the remaining jelly/ketchup mixture on top of the meatballs.
    • Cover and cook for about 4 hours on high or 6=7 hours on low.
    • ENJOY!!

    Notes

    Swap the ketchup for Heinz chili sauce or your favorite barbecue sauce if desired.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 136mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.9mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected

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    Filed Under: Appetizers, Crock Pot Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ingrid

      June 04, 2017 at 1:53 pm

      I love your grape jelly meatballs.

      Reply
    2. alyssa faison

      April 14, 2017 at 1:27 pm

      I added horseradish, mustard and Worcestershire sauce

      Reply
    3. April

      July 01, 2016 at 12:11 am

      Yum! I remember my old coworker brought something similar to work for our potluck. They were so good! Your recipe sounds perfect!

      Reply
    4. Jann Olson

      June 30, 2016 at 9:09 pm

      Hi Sherri,
      I have had these meatballs before and they are yummy. Such a great appetizer! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
      hugs,
      Jann

      Reply
    5. Janet Vinyard

      June 30, 2016 at 8:40 pm

      Hi Sherri, The jelly and ketchup combo are really retro – I remember this from the 70’s! Still good after all these years! 🙂 Thanks for bringing them back! Blessings, Janet

      Reply
    6. Miz Helen

      June 30, 2016 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      Your Meatballs look delicious and the sauce looks perfect for them. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a fabulous 4th!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    7. Millie

      June 30, 2016 at 9:20 am

      4 stars
      I love the little smokeys in the jelly ketchup sauce so i bet meatballs will be awesome! I have a bag in the freezer so now I know what to do with them this weekend! This will be so much better than spaghetti sauce or brown gravy!

      Reply
    8. Michelle

      June 29, 2016 at 10:15 pm

      Sherri-
      Love meatball recipes! My kids are in love with meatballs so I will have to give these a try!
      I saw this @ Thursday Favorite Things- love it!
      Michelle

      Reply
    9. Rebecca

      June 29, 2016 at 9:54 pm

      Yum! These are some of my favorites!

      Cottage Blessings,
      Rebecca

      Reply
      • Samantha Roberts

        January 06, 2023 at 1:25 pm

        I made grape jelly and it set too firmly. Now I am looking for ways to use it so it isn’t wasted. I have this recipe in my crock pot right now. I added a little water to encourage the jelly to thin out a bit. It looks and smells great. Fingers crossed!

        Reply
    10. Joanne E Boulter

      June 29, 2016 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing at SYC! 🙂 Jo

      Reply

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    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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