The Best Party Meatballs (Slow Cooker Recipe)
The best party meatballs are easy, made in the slow cooker, and totally delicious! This party appetizer uses frozen meatballs, sweet chili sauce, and preserves for a tangy, sweet and savory starter perfect for any gathering.
It’s a rule that if you have a party, there must be a slow cooker full of meatballs somewhere.
I’m not sure who made this rule, but I adhere to it.
Truth be told, so do my friends and family.
Lots of different versions of slow cooker meatballs wind up as party appetizers from classic meatballs in spaghetti sauce to sweet and sour style meatballs like these.
And these are the best party meatballs that will ever grace your slow cooker.
They are 3 (4 with garnish) ingredients and 5 minutes of prep.
Then you get a whole slow cooker full of delicious tangy meatballs ready for your guests with no more work on your end!
Ingredients
To make these you’ll need:
- Frozen meatballs– I use frozen beef meatballs but you could use frozen chicken or an Italian blend if that’s what you have on hand.
- Sweet chili sauce– You can find this in the international or Asian food aisle. You can also buy it online here. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of heat. It’s not spicy!
- Preserves– I use raspberry for that tart, sweet flavor. But you could use any fruit preserve you like.
- Thinly sliced green onions– These are optional for garnish
How to Make
Part of what makes these sweet and sour raspberry meatballs the best party meatballs ever is how ridiculously easy they are to make!
To do it, just add your frozen meatballs to the bowl of your slow cooker.
Then whisk the chili sauce and preserves together in a small bowl until they are evenly combined.
Pour the mixture over the meatballs and gently stir everything together so the meatballs get coated in the sauce.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2-3.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
For a party, I opt for easy and just set out the slow cooker turned on warm out for my guests to help themselves.
However you could go fancy and put them on a platter with a toothpick in each meatball.
And there’s no law saying you can’t have the best party meatballs as your dinner served over white rice and steamed veggies!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the slow cooker or the microwave until warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- The sweet chili sauce is sweet, not spicy so don’t worry about spice!
- If you want to substitute another kind of preserve, I recommend another fruit that is tart like a raspberry and avoiding overly sweet fruits like strawberry. Other good choices would be orange marmalade or cherry preserves.
- Leftovers make a delicious next day dinner!
Other Easy Slow Cooker Meatball Recipes
The best party meatballs are a delicious slow cooker recipe that lets you enjoy your party without worrying about babysitting an appetizer.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other easy slow cooker meatball recipes?
Try these:
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The Best Party Meatballs (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs frozen beef meatballs
- 12 oz sweet chili sauce
- 1 cup raspberry preserves
- thinly sliced green onions for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Add the meatballs to the bowl of your slow cooker.1 1/2 lbs frozen beef meatballs
- Add the chili sauce and preserves to a small bowl then whisk together until evenly combined. Pour the sauce evenly out overtop the meatballs. Gently stir everything together until evenly combined.12 oz sweet chili sauce, 1 cup raspberry preserves
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, or on HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- Serve warm, topped with sliced green onions for garnish, and enjoy!thinly sliced green onions
Notes
- The sweet chili sauce is sweet, not spicy so don't worry about spice!
- If you want to substitute another kind of preserve, I recommend another fruit that is tart like a raspberry and avoiding overly sweet fruits like strawberry. Other good choices would be orange marmalade or cherry preserves.
- Leftovers make a delicious next day dinner!
Nutrition
