Description
Slow cooker grape jelly meatballs bring zesty comfort to your dinner table, blending sweet and savory flavors in one irresistible dish. Hearty protein mingles with tangy sauce, creating a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup grape jelly
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef and ground pork, ensuring an even blend of meats.
- Incorporate finely chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, egg, and breadcrumbs into the meat mixture, kneading gently until all ingredients are uniformly distributed.
- Shape the meat mixture into uniform, bite-sized meatballs, approximately 1-1.5 inches in diameter, creating consistent portions for even cooking.
- Arrange the formed meatballs in the slow cooker, creating a single layer without overcrowding to promote optimal heat circulation.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together grape jelly, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire sauce until the mixture becomes smooth and well-integrated.
- Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the meatballs, ensuring each piece is generously coated and surrounded by the sweet and tangy liquid.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the meatballs to simmer and absorb flavors for 4-5 hours until they are fully cooked and tender.
- Occasionally stir the meatballs halfway through cooking to promote even sauce distribution and prevent sticking.
- Once cooking is complete, gently transfer meatballs to a serving platter, spooning additional sauce over the top for extra moisture and flavor.
Notes
- Select a mix of ground meats like beef and pork for richer, more complex flavor profile and better texture compared to using just one type of meat.
- Consider using lean ground meat to reduce overall fat content while maintaining juiciness and preventing dry meatballs during slow cooking.
- Experiment with alternative sauce combinations like sweet chili sauce, teriyaki, or honey mustard for unique flavor variations that cater to different taste preferences.
- Prepare meatballs ahead of time and freeze uncooked for convenient meal prep, allowing you to have a quick and delicious dish ready within hours of starting the slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg