Description

Juicy, tender meatballs slow-cooked in a rich, sticky-sweet BBQ and grape jelly sauce. This effortless recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or meal prep — and it practically cooks itself!

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

0.5 cup breadcrumbs

1 large egg

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

0.5 teaspoon salt

0.25 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup BBQ sauce

1 cup grape jelly

2 tablespoons fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix just until combined.

2. Roll the mixture into 1 to 1.5-inch meatballs.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce and grape jelly until smooth.

4. Place meatballs in a single layer in the slow cooker. Pour sauce over the top to coat.

5. Cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until fully cooked.

6. Gently stir to coat with sauce and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

Use a mix of beef and pork for even juicier meatballs.

Make them ahead and refrigerate raw meatballs up to 24 hours before cooking.

For gluten-free: use gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour as a binder.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
Calories: 370
Sugar: 14g
Sodium: 580mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 20g
Cholesterol: 90mg

Keywords: meatballs, slow cooker, easy dinner, freezer meal, party food