Ingredient Notes

Meatballs or Little Smokies – This easy sauce can be used with both meatballs or little smokies cocktail sausages. For meatballs, keep it simple with precooked frozen meatballs. You could certainly make your own as well, just precook them before adding to the sauce. My personal favorite is Little Smokies!Chili Sauce – Chili Sauce can be found in the grocery store near the ketchup.  It kind of looks like a small bottle of ketchup. It’s tangy, sweet, and tart all at the same time and full of spices. There are no substitutions here. Grape Jelly – The grape jelly adds sweetness and flavor and the result is a wonderful and quick sweet and sour sauce. Regular, generic grape jelly is great!

How to Make Sweet and Sour Little Smokies or Meatballs

  1. Pour grape jelly and chili sauce into a medium sauce pan, or your slow cooker. Whisk together until smooth. It’s okay if there are some lumps, they will melt out when the sauce heats.
  2. Add frozen meatballs or cocktail sausages.  There is no exact science to the cook time.  On the stove top I simmer on low for 15-20 minute until the sausages are plump or meatballs are cooked through. In the slow cooker, you can set it to low for a few hours.  They get better with time! You could even cook them in the oven in a pan. I’d do it at about 300 degrees for at least an hour. Can I make these ahead of time? Yes! I would recommend making them the day of serving, but they can sit in the warm crock pot for several hours before serving. How do I store leftovers?  Just pop them in a container in the fridge.  They’re great reheated.  How do I reheat sweet and sour little smokies? You can reheat gently in the microwave, or simmer on low on the stove top. 

Looking for some other appetizer recommendations? Check out these Our Best Bites favorites:

Bacon Wrapped Cocktail SausagesCranberry Orange Goat Cheese BitesHoney Cranberry Orange Baked BrieMini Pastry Wrapped Brie BitesPastry Wrapped Asparagus With ProsciuttoBacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

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