Easy Crockpot Sweet and Tangy Meatballs
A simple and delicious slow cooker recipe featuring sweet and tangy meatballs made with just five ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 5 hours (low) or 2 to 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (low) or 2 hours 13 minutes (high)
- Yield: 20 meatballs (about 4 servings) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup grape jelly (seedless)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, and egg. Mix gently until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, about 20 meatballs total. Place on a baking sheet or plate.
- In a separate bowl, stir together barbecue sauce and grape jelly until smooth.
- Pour half of the sauce mixture into the bottom of the slow cooker. Add meatballs in a single layer if possible, then pour remaining sauce over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is thick and bubbly.
- About halfway through cooking, gently stir the meatballs to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning if desired before serving.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to keep meatballs tender. Gently stir halfway through cooking to coat meatballs without breaking them. Browning meatballs before slow cooking is optional for extra depth. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs for gluten-free version. Sauce thickens when refrigerated; add water or broth when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 5 meatballs
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 20
Keywords: crockpot meatballs, sweet and tangy meatballs, slow cooker dinner, easy meatball recipe, 5 ingredient dinner