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Home » Course » Appetizers/Snacks » 3-Ingredient Sweet and Sour Meatballs

August 24, 2021

3-Ingredient Sweet and Sour Meatballs

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Only three ingredients for these sweet and sour meatballs in the Crock Pot!

Only three ingredients for these sweet and sour meatballs in the Crock Pot!

Click here to PIN this sweet and sour meatballs recipe!

This is the easiest sweet and sour meatballs recipe. I love using apricot jelly or preserves, but you can use any type such as grape jelly, strawberry jelly, and more. Set your slow cooker on low and these party meatballs are ready in 4 hours!

plate full of sweet and sour meatballs with forks

About this Recipe

You all know the usual grape jelly + chili sauce + meatballs recipe, right?  This is basically the same thing but with apricot preserves instead.  You see, the very first time I decided to make the traditional grape jelly meatballs, I didn't have grape jelly.  Doh!  But, I had an unopened jar of apricot preserves in my pantry, so I used it instead.  That was years ago and today I can honestly say I have never made slow cooker meatballs with grape jelly.  I always use apricot preserves.

I've made this countless times over the years.  I never thought to photograph and post it because the classic grape jelly version is already all over the inter-webs.  Plus, whenever I do make it I'm usually too busy getting ready for a party to stop for a moment and photograph it.  Finally, I decided to go ahead and get this recipe into my site collection because maybe at least one of you out there will appreciate the simple suggestion of using apricot preserves instead?

sweet and sour meatball on a fork

Recipe Variations

It really is easy to make this recipe your own.  I've added apple butter a few times for a little more sweetness, you can also add more flavors from your own spice rack.  Maybe a little chili powder, ground cumin, cinnamon or onion powder?  How about chopping up onions and adding to the bowl?  So many variations you can make here.

Although you can't tell from my photos, I usually serve these right from the slow cooker without dirtying another serving platter.  But, those little cocktail forks really are cute, aren't they?

More Meatball Recipes

  • Swedish Meatballs
  • Healthy Sweet and Sour Meatballs
  • Crock Pot Italian Meatballs

PRINT this recipe or PIN it to save for later. Made this recipe? Leave a star rating and tag me on Instagram @seededtable so I can see.  I love hearing from you!

This recipe was originally published March 2015 and updated with nutrition information August 2021.

sweet and sour meatball on a fork
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4.59 from 17 votes

3-Ingredient Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Only three ingredients for these sweet and sour meatballs in the Crock Pot!
Cook Time4 hrs
Total Time4 hrs
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cocktail meatballs, party meatballs, Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Servings: 12 -15 servings
Calories: 360kcal
Author: Nikki Gladd

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. jar chili sauce
  • 18 oz. jar apricot preserves
  • 2 lb frozen cooked meatballs

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a slow cooker, mix together the chili sauce and apricot preserves. Add the meatballs and toss until evenly coated.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 343mg | Potassium: 250mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Take a pic and tag @seededtable or #SeededAtTheTable to be featured!

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Thanks for visiting! We’re the Gladd family! We love donuts, Disney, LEGO and Jesus. Not in that order, of course. 🙂 Ben shares DIY wood-working projects and Nikki shares delicious recipes. You’ll also find a sprinkling of travel adventures and other family fun ideas!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ali says

    December 05, 2022 at 1:18 pm

    If you want to use vegetables in it can they go right into the crock pot on the same heat for the same time?

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      December 05, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      yes. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Amy says

    August 24, 2021 at 10:48 am

    I was looking for a sweet and sour meatball recipe that uses apricot preserves, my ex mother-in-law used a recipe like this,thank you

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      August 24, 2021 at 11:29 am

      Glad you found this recipe!

      Reply
  3. Zoe says

    May 21, 2021 at 7:49 am

    Can this recipe be made with fresh meatballs? If so, how would you adjust cooking time?

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      May 24, 2021 at 2:33 pm

      Hi Zoe! Fresh meatballs will work, but I have not tested yet so I can't say for sure how much time.

      Reply
  4. Kathy says

    March 04, 2018 at 12:58 pm

    5 stars
    I have a recipe that uses canned cranberry sauce (jellied or whole berry) 1 tbsp lemon juice & 2 tablespoons brown sugar - just a variation on the theme. Then I saw this - yum, apricot preserves !! I’ll skip the brown sugar but still splash in some lemon juice (just brightens everything up). How can it miss?

    Reply
  5. Sandra says

    January 14, 2018 at 9:09 am

    I love all meatballs that are made this way! I have always just called them sweet and sour meatballs, lol, and my family insists that I make them all the time 🙂 I usually make them for dinner, put them on a sub roll with provolone or parm and serve with things like Mac n cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, Mac or potato salad, picnic style foods. Shoot, my kids actually had me make them with Christmas dinner this year too! Meatballs and turkey with stuffing, YUM!!!

    Anyway, I had to leave a reply because of some of the comments about the chili sauce...I just want to let you know that instead of the chili sauce you can also use plain ole KETCHUP instead. I have done that many many times, when I didn't have any chili sauce on hand, and it totally works just as well. There are so many different ways to make these bad boys, really you can use just about any kind of jelly/jam/preserves, the chili sauce or ketchup, and I've even heard of people using barbecue sauce as well. I haven't yet, so I can't say exactly how it tastes, but from what I've heard, it is just as good! But there have been plenty of times that I have made these just because I had a jar of something from a prior recipe that called for a small amount of jelly and we didn't have another reason to use it, and I can certainly say that I wouldn't have any problem using just about any jelly flavor, chili flavor, and I would def use barbecue sauce if I had a bottle in the same situation 🙂 These are delicious in all kinds of flavor combos!

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      January 15, 2018 at 7:14 pm

      Thanks, Sandra!

      Reply
  6. Diana says

    September 14, 2017 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is wonderful.

    Reply
  7. Sheila says

    July 10, 2017 at 10:20 pm

    I lost a recipe, using barbecue sauce, frozen meatballs,dry mustard,chopped onion cayenne and apricot preserves in a crock pot. Do you have it?

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      July 13, 2017 at 5:31 pm

      Hi Sheila! I'm guessing you can just put all of those ingredients into the crockpot on low for 4 hours. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Libby says

    December 24, 2016 at 9:49 am

    How do you think this would be with peach preserves instead of apricot? Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Libby says

    December 24, 2016 at 9:48 am

    How do you think this would be with peach preserves instead of apricot?

    Reply
  10. Eleanor says

    September 28, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    Hi my cousin actually made these a while ago and wouldn't share the recipe. Good thing I found it here! My only question is about the chili, I read that it was sweet. I don't think I've ever seen sweet chili, maybe I've never looked for it, but hopefully I can get the name and brand? Anyone?

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      October 01, 2016 at 3:28 pm

      Hi Eleanor,
      That's funny! Glad you found the recipe. 🙂 You can find the chili sauce with other condiments like ketchup, barbecue sauce, etc. Heinz is the most known brand, but some stores also sell their own generic brand. Hope this helps!

      Reply
      • Vanessa says

        June 10, 2020 at 2:08 pm

        will sweet chilli sauce work? I have a bottle of the panda express style in my fridge

        Reply
        • Nikki Gladd says

          June 10, 2020 at 3:00 pm

          Hi Vanessa,
          That should work, but it will be a bit sweeter overall than using regular chili sauce.

          Reply
  11. Mary Jo says

    June 08, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    Can't wait to try these, hear they are sure good...

    Reply
  12. diann says

    December 23, 2015 at 11:48 am

    How long would it take if you use homemade uncooked meatballs?

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      December 27, 2015 at 1:56 pm

      Hi Diann,
      I'm sorry, I do not have an answer for you as I haven't tested this with homemade meatballs.

      Reply
  13. Abby says

    November 22, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    Hi,
    this may sound like a silly question but .... would just plain Apricot jam work as well as Apricot Preserves ??
    I would love to make these for Thanksgiving
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      November 23, 2015 at 9:06 pm

      Hi Abby! Yes, that works! 🙂

      Reply
    • minnie says

      August 10, 2016 at 8:32 pm

      yes any will work i even have used strawberry jam much better than the grape jelly

      Reply
  14. Madeline says

    May 07, 2015 at 2:49 pm

    One part of the recipe says 4 hours on high and the other part says 4 hours on low. Which is it?

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      May 08, 2015 at 10:49 am

      Hi Madeline,
      Good catch! It's low for 4 hours. You can set on high for 2 hours, but I like the low version to avoid burning. 🙂 I fixed the summary part of the recipe that said "high". Thanks!

      Reply
  15. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

    March 27, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    My Grandmother got me into chili sauce and I swear the smell always makes me think of her!! Awesome photos friend!

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      March 28, 2015 at 12:19 pm

      haha! Thanks, Liz! I love that sweet smelling memory for you!! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits says

    March 27, 2015 at 9:21 am

    They looks super tasty, and I'm all about great flavor with only a couple of ingredients!

    Reply
  17. Emma says

    March 25, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    Wow - talk about easy! I don't think my kids could cope with the chili sauce. I wonder if a combination of sweet chilli sauce and something else could be used. They look really good though.

    Reply
    • Nikki Gladd says

      March 25, 2015 at 9:42 pm

      Hi Emma,
      If you are worried it might be too spicy for the kids, the sauce has no heat at all! It's a sweet sauce, not spicy. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jennifer Meredith says

        January 27, 2019 at 11:32 am

        What kind of chili sauce

        Reply
        • Nikki Gladd says

          January 28, 2019 at 9:16 am

          Hi Jennifer,
          I use the 12 oz. Heinz Chili Sauce

          Reply

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