crockpot meatball appetizer help please!

1 jar grape jelly
1 jar chili sauce (look in the condiment aisle, it is red)
a pinch of lemon juice.

Dump in onto the meatballs and stir every so often.

Ooh man!! I could give you an authentic Italian recipe that you make from scratch. You could cook it in the crockpot all day and it would be MUCH better than this quickie recipe!

Yes the jars are about the same size. I fill up my crockpot with meatballs. I don't measure anything!

I've never had this with chili sauce. I've been to plenty of parties where they mixed grape jelly and mustard into an awesome sauce for meatballs or those little cocktail weenies. They were actually very good. I'll have to try this at some point.



And I too would love to have your authentic recipe!SaveSave

HOMEMADE AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS:

*2 lb mix of ground veal/beef/pork (or "meatloaf mix")
*3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
*1/3 cup (good) parmigiano-reggiano cheese (or parmesan cheese)
*2 eggs
*1 cup water
*1/4 cup garlic powder
*1/8 cup dry basil
*1/8 cup dry parsley
*1 tbl dry oregano
*1 tbl red pepper flakes
*salt to taste
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mix all of the above together, by hand, in a large bowl, until the ingredients are combined. DO NOT over-mix (it makes the meatballs tough).
If it seems too dry (you'd see the breadcrumbs & feel them), add a bit more water until you get the right consistency (like meatloaf).
Take a palmful of the mix and shape into meatballs------again, don't over-roll or they'll get tough.
Place them immediately into (fresh) sauce and cook for at least 4-8 hours.


HOMEMADE ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE
*2 cans Tuttoroso or Italian tomatoes (I get crushed, and sometimes whole, but then I smoosh them)
*2 large cans tomato paste (Contadina, or Italian)
*1 small onion, chopped
*2 garlic cloves, minced
Fresh basil, parsley & oregano (could be frozen after use)
salt/pepper to taste
*1/2 cup olive oil
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a large stockpot, add oil and heat on medium heat
Add onion and stir/cook until translucent (about 2 min)
Add garlic and stir for about 1 minute
Add a bit of salt & pepper
Add tomatoes and paste (don't throw away the paste cans!)
Add 3 cups of water for each can of paste **
**exchange 1 of those cans of water for red wine
Add a handful of fresh basil leaves, breaking them a bit
Add a handful of fresh parsley (I usually cut them with scissors)
Add 2 stalks oregano--run your fingers down the stalk to get the leaves off
Add in (carefully!) your fresh meatballs--make sure not to stir them; just plop them in
(You could also add other meat--I usually brown some Italian sausage and add that)
Cook for 4-8 hours (or more).  Mangia!

It's been many years but I've done the grape jelly, chili sauce version before, but now I want to try this one. It sounds so good.

I just toss Costco Kirkland frozen Italian meatballs in the crock pot and cover with a bottle of Bullseye barbecue sauce. My family loves this!

I never heard of this until last November.

Family I was visiting said it HAD to be Heinz chili sauce and Welch's grape jelly.

They were using frozen meatballs from the grocery store.

My granddaughter's boyfriend made meatballs for their son's 2nd birthday party. He used bbq sauce and grape jelly. They were gone faster than any of the other food.