Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly Sauce

The easiest party appetizer on the planet is also the most delicious. Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly Sauce is a lifesaver for hungry crowds and cocktail parties, so make a double batch!

Ingredients

1 (32 ounce) bag frozen fully-cooked meatballs (see notes to make meatballs from scratch)
12 ounces chili sauce
10 ounces grape jelly

Instructions

To sauce the meatballs in a slow cooker:

Add frozen meatballs to crockpot. Add chili sauce and grape jelly. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 hours on HIGH or 4 to 6 hours on LOW, until the sauce is hot. Serve directly from the crockpot with a serving spoon or toothpicks, or transfer to a serving dish.

To sauce the meatballs on the stovetop:

Add meatballs to saucepan. Add chili sauce and grape jelly. Cover and simmer over medium heat until the sauce is hot, about 10 minutes.

Notes

To make the meatballs from scratch:

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 cup bread crumbs
2/3 cup finely minced onion
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (for frying the meatballs)

Instructions

To make the meatballs:

In a large bowl, combine beef, pork, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Using a strong spatula or your hands (I like to wear latex gloves), mix well. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls (you should have around 48 total).

To fry the meatballs:

Heat vegetable shortening in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the meatballs in batches until browned on all sides and the meatballs are cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes per batch (an internal thermometer should read 155 degrees for 15 seconds). Add more shortening between batches if the skillet looks dry.

To bake the meatballs:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a rack on top. Arrange meatballs on rack and bake until browned with crispy edges, about 20 minutes (an internal thermometer should read 155 degrees for 15 seconds).