Cocktail Meatballs
Need an easy Cocktail Meatballs Recipe for your next party?
These sweet and sour meatballs are the perfect appetizer recipe for game day, holidays, potlucks, and family gatherings.
Made with frozen meatballs simmered in a tangy homemade sauce, they’re packed with sweet, savory flavor and require very little prep.
Serve them straight from the slow cooker or stovetop for an appetizer everyone will keep coming back for.
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Why You’ll Love These Party Meatballs
- Ready with simple pantry ingredients
- Perfect for parties, holidays and potlucks
- Sweet, tangy homemade sauce
- Easy to make ahead
- Great in the slow cooker or on the stovetop
- Feeds a crowd with very little effort
What are the ingredients in cocktail meatballs?
For the Meatballs
- Frozen fully cooked meatballs
For the Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Brown sugar
- Ketchup
- Apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Soy sauce
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cornstarch (if thickening is needed)
See the printable recipe card below for exact measurements.
How to make cocktail meatballs?
- Whisk together all of the sauce ingredients until smooth.
- Add the frozen meatballs to a large skillet, saucepan, or slow cooker.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir until evenly coated.
- Simmer until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened.
- Stir occasionally so the sauce doesn’t scorch.
Make them a day ahead—the flavor gets even better overnight. Keep warm in the slow cooker during parties.
What are some common sauces for cocktail meatballs?
This meatball appetizer recipe is incredibly versatile, and changing the sauce is an easy way to create a completely different appetizer.
- Pineapple BBQ sauce
- Sweet and sour sauce
- Grape jelly and chili sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Honey garlic sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
- Cranberry sauce with chili sauce
- Bourbon BBQ sauce
- Buffalo sauce
- Swedish cream sauce
Yes! They’re even more flavorful after sitting overnight. Simply reheat before serving.
Yes. Once fully cooked, switch the slow cooker to the Warm setting for serving.
More Easy Party Recipes to Try
If you’re planning a party, game day spread, or holiday gathering, here are a few more recipes to add to your menu:
- 3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes are simple dump-and-go recipes that are perfect for feeding a crowd with minimal prep.
- Find easy finger foods and party snacks that are great for entertaining.
- Pair your cocktail meatballs with warm, cheesy, and crowd-pleasing game day dips for the ultimate spread.
- You’ll want to try these Easy Appetizer Recipes for Christmas Eve for a holiday spread that’s both simple and delicious!
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Easy Cocktail Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ 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.