Description
Quick grape jelly meatballs blend sweet and savory flavors for an irresistible appetizer. Hearty protein combined with tangy sauce creates a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave at potlucks and parties.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (32 oz/900 g) bag frozen meatballs (fully cooked)
- 1 cup (240 ml) grape jelly
- 1 cup (240 ml) barbecue sauce
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Combine grape jelly, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and optional Dijon mustard in a large skillet over medium heat, whisking until a glossy, smooth liquid forms.
- Meatball Integration: Gently add frozen meatballs to the simmering sauce, coating each thoroughly and ensuring complete coverage with the vibrant sweet-savory glaze.
- Slow Cooking Process: Reduce heat, cover the skillet, and allow meatballs to simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and promote even heating and flavor absorption.
- Sauce Reduction: Monitor the sauce’s consistency as it thickens, clinging seductively to each meatball and indicating perfect doneness.
- Serving: Transfer the glistening meatballs to a serving platter or maintain warmth in a slow cooker set to low temperature, providing toothpicks for easy, mess-free enjoyment.
Notes
- Optimize Sauce Consistency: Adjust jelly and barbecue sauce ratio for desired thickness, adding more barbecue sauce if sauce seems too sweet or thick.
- Prevent Frozen Meatball Clumping: Gently separate frozen meatballs before adding to sauce to ensure even coating and heating throughout the dish.
- Control Cooking Temperature: Maintain low-medium heat to prevent sauce from burning or becoming too caramelized, which can create bitter undertones.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute frozen meatballs with plant-based alternatives or homemade turkey/chicken meatballs for lighter protein options and accommodate different dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 440 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg