3-Ingredient Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Name: 3-Ingredient Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 4 h
Yield: 15
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 jar (12 oz) chili sauce; 1 1/2 cups grape jelly; 2 lb (32 oz) frozen meatballs

50 Ratings

23 Comments

Kitchen Tested

Meatballs covered in sweet and sour sauce on plate

Prep 5 min
Total 4 hr 0 min
Servings 15

There are two rules a good meatball needs to follow: number one, it needs to be super tender. And number two, it needs to be coated in a delectable sweet and tangy sauce. Luckily for all of us, these sweet and sour meatballs are sticklers for rules. Plus, you barely have to lift a finger to make these 3-ingredient bites. Don't thank us, thank your slow cooker. Just place frozen meatballs in the slow cooker and pour in a two-ingredient sauce. These hearty (and ridiculously easy) sweet and sour meatballs are pretty much the perfect party appetizer. MORE+ LESS-

By Girl Who Ate Everything

Updated December 6, 2019

Ingredients

jar (12 oz) chili sauce

1 1/2

cups grape jelly

lb (32 oz) frozen meatballs

Steps

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1

Pour meatballs into a slow cooker. Combine jelly and chili sauce in a small bowl and pour over meatballs.
2

Cook on low for 3-5 hours or until meatballs are heated through.
3

Serve with toothpicks.

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Expert Tips

Switch things up by swapping the grape jelly for a different flavor, such as apricot jelly or peach preserves.
Turn this all-star appetizer into a meal by pairing these sweet and sour meatballs with rice and steam vegetables, such as green beans or carrots.
When it comes to making meatballs, you can’t beat the slow cooker. It’s excellent for cooking and keeping meatballs warm. A lengthy and low cooking temperature tenderizes the meat and maximizes the flavor. Plus, you can keep the meatballs in the slow cooker all party long so they stay nice and warm.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 264.9

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 12.2g; 19%
Saturated Fat 4.6g 23%
Cholesterol: 42.9mg; 14%
Sodium: 353.5mg; 15%
Potassium: 271.5mg; 8%
Total Carbohydrate: 26.2g; 9%
Dietary Fiber 1.7g 7% Sugars 17.7g
Protein: 11.1g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin C: 10.70%; 11%
Calcium: 2.20%; 2%
Iron: 8.40%; 8%

Exchanges:

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

If you’ve never used a slow cooker before, starting with meatballs is an excellent way to become acquainted with this essential cooking tool. The slow cooker is great for meatballs because all of that time on a nice, low temperature in a sauce of your choice just makes them even more tender and delicious. These meatballs are almost impossible to overcook. As long as you have plenty of sauce, the meat should stay moist and tender. Whatever type of sauce you’re using, just make sure the seasonings in your meatballs match it and that you have plenty of it. You’ll need enough to submerge the meatballs into the sauce while it slow cooks.