Cocktail Meatballs
Who can resist a platter of saucy, flavorful cocktail meatballs?
Whether you’re hosting a party, bringing a dish to a potluck, or just craving a bite-sized snack that’s bursting with flavor, these meatballs are always a hit.
Party meatballs are the ultimate easy cocktail party food! They’re easy to make, versatile, and pair perfectly with a variety of sauces, from tangy barbecue to sweet and spicy chili.
Be sure to check out our collection of appetizer recipes for even more crowd-pleasing ideas. From finger food ideas to dips, we’ve got everything you need to keep your guests coming back for more!
What are cocktail meatballs made of?
They’re typically made from a mixture of ground meat, seasonings, and a flavorful sauce. The sauce is what makes cocktail meatballs stand out. Popular options include barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce or grape jelly mixed with chili sauce.
Spray the inside of the crockpot or use a liner.
The crock pot allows the sauce to soak into the meatballs, making them incredibly tender and flavorful. The meatballs absorb the tangy, sweet, or savory flavors of the sauce as they simmer.
Pour the frozen store-bought meatballs into the sauce mixture, ensuring they are fully coated.
Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
Once the meatballs are heated through and the sauce is thickened, transfer to a serving dish.
Or keep meatballs warm in a slow cooker on the “keep warm” setting for parties.
Serve cooked meatballs alongside toothpicks for easy snacking, or pair with rice or mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.
How Many Meatballs Per Person?
The number depends on the size of the meatballs and the type of event. Here’s a general guideline:
- For a cocktail party or appetizer setting: Plan on about 4-6 meatballs per person.
- For a main dish (if serving with sides): Aim for about 8-10 meatballs per person.
If you’re serving meatballs as part of a larger spread with other appetizers, you can reduce the number slightly, but always consider the appetite of your guests and the number of other dishes being offered. For larger gatherings, it’s a good idea to have extra to ensure everyone gets plenty!
Absolutely. Prepare the meatballs and sauce, store them in the fridge overnight, and reheat in the slow cooker or on the stovetop before serving.
You can substitute it with apricot jam, can of cranberry sauce, orange marmalade, or peach preserves for a fruity twist.
You can keep meatballs warm for 3-4 hours on the u0022keep warmu0022 setting, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
If you love cocktail meatballs, be sure to also try these Easy Meatball Appetizers for more delicious and easy-to-make party snacks!
Check out these Valentine’s Appetizers for more fun and festive bites that are perfect for any romantic gathering!
You’ll want to try these Easy Appetizer Recipes for Christmas Eve for a holiday spread that’s both simple and delicious!
Easy Cocktail Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs frozen meatballs about 48 meatballs
- 1 bottle 12-18 oz chili sauce
- 1 jar 12-18 oz grape jelly
Instructions
- Place meatballs into the bottom of the slow cooker. You don't need to thaw them; they will cook perfectly from frozen.
- In a separate bowl, combine the chili sauce and grape jelly.
- Stir the mixture until the jelly and chili sauce are well blended.
- Pour the grape jelly sauce over top of the meatballs in the slow cooker, ensuring that all the meatballs are coated evenly.
- Cover with the lid and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Once the meatballs are hot, cooked through, and the sauce has thickened, they are ready to serve.
- You can keep the slow cooker on the "warm" setting if serving them over an extended period.
- Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container.
Ooh so easy!! I bet they are delish and a big party hit too!!
I make meatballs very similar to this but I use a bottle of Heinz chili sauce and 3/4 of a jar of welches grape jelly..stir the jelly till it turns to liquid then add the chili sauce and then add meatballs.leave simmering on low as long as I can stand it without digging in Lol! This is one of my favorite recipes! .some times I make it for the kids and I cut up hot dogs and add it to the sauce with the meatballs and then I cook some rice and serve it with the meatballs and weiners on top!
This looks really good! We like meatballs so I’ll have to give this recipe a try.
These look delicious. I love meatballs! I’m going to try making these for Dinner one night.
These look delicious! I like that only 4 ingredients are needed to make these, I can do that! I also really like that it is a slow cooker recipe, helps out cook time a ton.
Who knew grape jelly could be used to glaze meatballs?? Sounds delicious and looks super easy to make- definitely a new go-to!
You had me sold at 4 ingredients! This is such a quick and easy dish to make for a potluck! I love it! I have one coming up in 2 weeks!
These sound delicious! I’ll definitely have to try this recipe. I’ve always wanted to try to make homemade meatballs.
These look absolutely delicious! We have a family party every NYE, and I’m always looking for something different to cook. I think I may try these this year 🙂
Louise x
YUM. My son is reading this over my shoulder asking if we can make these for dinner. I think we found our weekend dinner plan appetizers.
This sounds really good, I need to try this recipe.
I tried making these last year, but I had a different recipe. They were not a hit. I’ll be trying this recipe this year, fingers crossed!!! 🙂
I love the 4 ingredients so simple and sounds yummy. When having a gathering these can sit on low and people can grab them.
These look absolutely delicious; meatballs or little smokies are two of my favorite party snacks! I’ll have to make these sometime soon for a holiday gathering.
I make his very same recipe for Super Bowl! It is amazing what the grape jelly does. You wouldnt think it would be in there but it works perfectly.
The first time I tried meatballs like this, I was so surprised one of the ingredients was grape jelly! I love that you added cayenne. I bet it nicely balances the sweet and savory.
I’m definitely going to make these soon.
This post is making me hungry. My stepdad always puts grape jelly in his meatballs and the first time I heard him talk about the recipe I thought he was crazy! It’s so good, though!
I love meat balls. These sound so good. I can’t wait to try these out. Thank you for sharing
These meatballs look so good. I love how easy they are to make.