These Vegan Grape Jelly Meatballs are the ultimate party appetizer! The The best vegan meatballs Simmered in a mixture of BBQ sauce and grape jelly, the result is a sweet, savory, sticky and crowd-pleasing snack.
Crockpots filled with meatballs with BBQ sauce and grape jelly have been making appearances at potlucks, game days and holiday parties for years. It makes sense – they’re sweet, sour, easy to make, and always a crowd pleaser!
Now, vegans can get saucy meatball goodness with these Vegan Grape Jelly Meatballs! This is a quick 20-minute recipe that transforms my best vegan meatballs into the classic and fun party snack you know and love. The Impossible Meatballs mix is ​​very meaty and flavorful and the grape jelly sauce is sweet and savory. Your guests won’t even notice they’re vegetarian!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Just 3 simple ingredients: All of which you are welcome to make from scratch or grab from the store.
- Easy to proceed: You can make the meatballs ahead of time, freeze them, and then reheat them from frozen in grape jelly and barbecue sauce when you’re ready.
- Choose the hands-off option: When you need this appetizer in a hurry, throw 3 ingredients into your slow cooker and let it do all the work!
Required components (including substitutions)
- Homemade Vegan Meatballs – I love this vegan appetizer recipe with my Vegan Impossible Meatballs because they freeze well and are deliciously meaty. My Nutritious Chickpea Meatballs will work too, or you can keep the recipe as close as possible with store-bought vegan meatballs from The Garden, Beyond, or Impossible.
- Grape Jelly – This may sound strange if this is a new concept to you, but trust me. It adds sweetness and flavor when mixed with BBQ sauce. You will love it!
- Barbecue sauce – Use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce or make my 3-Minute Vegan BBQ Sauce instead.
How to Make Grape Jelly Meatballs
Find the full recipe with measurements below on the recipe card.
If you haven’t already, make my Baked Impossible Vegan Meatballs (or use your favorite vegan meatballs).
Add the grape jelly and BBQ sauce to a large saucepan and heat over medium heat until the jelly melts.
Next place the meatballs in the nestle with the sauce. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the meatballs are melted and/or heated through.
Transfer the grape jelly meatballs to a serving platter and skewer each one with a toothpick. Put them out at the party and let your guests dig in!
Slow Cooker Instructions
To make Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs, add meatballs (fresh or frozen), grape jelly, and barbecue sauce to your slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
Instant pot instructions
To make your Instant Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs, add everything to the pot and cook on High for 5 minutes. When the timer stops, quickly release the remaining pressure, then serve.
Serving advice
I recommend having a batch of grape jelly meatballs at parties and events, either on a platter or in the crockpot. Serve them alongside any vegan party snacks to complete the spread! My favorites are Vegan Sausage Rolls, Buffalo Dip and Vegan Pretzel Bites with Bear Cheese.
Sauce-covered vegan meatballs also make for a flavorful main course. Serve them over a bed of cooked rice with asparagus, broccoli or green beans and sliced ​​green onions on top.
variety
You can customize the flavor of this vegetarian appetizer by adding jelly or BBQ sauce to the flavor options:
- Add barbecue sauce Too much jam Instead of grape jelly.
- use ketchup and grape jelly for sweet and sour vegan meatballs.
- Omit both sauces and use canned Cranberry sauce And Chilli sauce Instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
absolutely If the meatballs are frozen, there is no need to defrost them. You can add them to the sauce straight from the freezer. Just be aware that they may need a few extra minutes to melt and heat up in the sauce.
If the BBQ grape jelly sauce isn’t thick enough, you can thicken it with cornstarch slurry. To do this, whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. During the last few minutes of cooking, stir the slurry with the sauce and meatballs and simmer gently until the sauce is as thick as you like.
Yes. In fact, you can mix BBQ sauce with any flavor of vegan jelly, jam or preserves you like.
Want more vegetarian party snacks?
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In a large saucepan, add grape jelly and BBQ sauce. Turn the heat to medium and stir until the jelly melts.
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Add the meatballs and simmer in the sauce for 20 minutes over low-medium heat. If the meatballs are added from the freezer, they may take a few extra minutes to warm up.
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Serve as a fun party food by sticking a toothpick into each. They are also good with cooked rice and chopped green onions. Enjoy!
- crock pot – Cook for 3-4 hours on low heat.
- instant pot – Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Sauce options – Try apricot jam and BBQ sauce, grape jelly and ketchup, or canned cranberry sauce and chili sauce for sweet and sour meat.
Worship: 1Meatball with sauce | Calories: 125kcal | Sugars: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.02g | Monounsaturated fats: 0.02g | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.2mg