Classic Sweet and Tangy Cocktail Meatballs
Make these easy, bite-sized party meatballs simmered in a glossy, sweet and tangy sauce, perfect for serving warm in a slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: About 4 dozen meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking and Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 (12 ounce) bottle chili sauce
- 1 (10 ounce) jar grape jelly
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, and milk. Do not overmix.
- Roll the meat mixture into small, uniform balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are browned but not fully cooked through. Drain off any excess grease.
- While the meatballs bake, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the chili sauce, grape jelly, and Worcestershire sauce. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the jelly is completely melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Transfer the partially cooked meatballs to a slow cooker. Pour the warm sauce over the meatballs, tossing gently to coat them evenly.
- Cook on the LOW setting for 2 to 3 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 1 to 1.5 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thick and glossy.
- Serve warm directly from the slow cooker with toothpicks for easy serving.
Notes
- You can prepare the sauce a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before adding to the slow cooker.
- For firmer meatballs, chill the formed balls for 30 minutes before baking.
- If you prefer a slightly spicier sauce, add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 35