Raspberry Red Pepper Jelly Meatballs
With a flavorful sauce of raspberry jam, red pepper jelly, chili sauce, and orange juice, these crock pot jelly meatballs are a perfect appetizer for parties.
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Table of Contents
- About Raspberry Red Pepper Jelly Meatballs
- What do jelly meatballs taste like?
- What to eat with jelly meatballs
- How long are raspberry red pepper jelly meatballs good for?
- Can you freeze jelly meatballs?
- Notes & tips for crock pot jelly meatballs
- More fun appetizers
- How to make raspberry red pepper jelly meatballs
- Recipe Details
About Raspberry Red Pepper Jelly Meatballs
Perfect for big crowds or a quiet movie nights, meatballs are the unsung heroes of easy snack food. Sure, meatballs are great with elaborate pasta dishes – but they can be even better on their own, dressed up in nothing but a tasty sauce and a toothpick.
And that, my friends, is exactly where these raspberry red pepper jelly meatballs live: the ideal combination of flavor and simplicity.
Plus, this is a crock pot recipe, making an already easy appetizer even more ideal for lazy days or feeding a crowd in a hassle-free way.
What do jelly meatballs taste like?
This recipe has a combination of raspberry jam (sweet) plus chili sauce and red pepper jelly (spicy), so the best comparison would probably be a meat dish with a sweet chili glaze. They’re a savory snack with a sweet kick.
I personally feel this recipe is more sweet than spicy, but if you’d like the sauce to have little more kick, feel free to play around with the ratio of chili sauce and red pepper jelly. You can also add a small amount of cayenne pepper (up to a pinch or two) to add a bit more heat.
What to eat with jelly meatballs
These cocktail meatballs work great as a meal by themselves (either served right out of the crock pot or on a serving tray with toothpicks or skewers), but you can also have them as a meal if you’d like.
When serving, I’d recommend pairing grape jelly meatballs with:
- Any type of mild-flavored rice dish, such as cilantro rice, fried rice, etc.
- Cooked greens, such as asparagus, green beans, or carrots (but not sweet carrots).
How long are raspberry red pepper jelly meatballs good for?
Once prepared and cooled, this sweet and spicy appetizer can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to three to four days.
Can you freeze jelly meatballs?
Yes, you totally can!
If you’re saving leftovers, allow the meatballs and sauce to cool and then store them in a sealable bag or container.
If you’re meal prepping just to have the meatballs on hand for later, you can add the meatballs (fresh or frozen) to a sealed container or freezer bag. Mix the sauce ingredients (chili sauce, raspberry jam, and red pepper jelly) and pour it over the meatballs. Seal the bag and then store it in the freezer.
Jelly meatballs can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
When ready to eat, let the jelly meatballs thaw for 30 minutes on the counter, then transfer all the contents to a crock pot and cook per the recipe instructions.
Notes & tips for crock pot jelly meatballs
- I recently upgraded my crock pot to one that comes with bowls for 2.5 Quart, 4 Quart, and 6 Quart and I highly recommend it! It’s so nice to have one unit that can make fabulous dinners and heat up party dips. You can pick one up here: Choose-A-Crock Programmable Slow Cooker, 6 quart/4 quart/2 x 1.5 quart.
- If serving these as an appetizer, be sure you have toothpicks for easy handling and eating!
More fun appetizers
How to make raspberry red pepper jelly meatballs
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – In a crock pot, add the following ingredients: frozen meatballs, chili sauce, raspberry jam, red pepper jelly, and orange juice. You can use a spatula to toss the meatballs a few times to coat them, but don’t worry too much about it – the sauce will melt and combine while it cooks.
Step 2 – Cover the crock pot and cook.
Step 3 – Serve and enjoy!
Raspberry Red Pepper Jelly Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup orange juice
Instructions
- In a crock pot, add the meatballs, chili sauce, raspberry jam, red pepper jelly, and orange juice. Use a spatula to gently stir once or twice; ingredients will melt while looking.
- Cover cock pot and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-5 hours.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
