Vegan Grape Jelly Meatballs

Crockpots full of meatballs with BBQ sauce and grape jelly have been making appearances at potlucks, game days, and holiday parties for years and years. It makes sense – they’re sweet, sour, easy to make, and always a crowd-pleaser! Now, vegans can get in on the saucy meatball goodness with these Vegan Grape Jelly Meatballs! It’s a quick 20-minute recipe that transforms my Best Vegan Meatballs into the classic and fun party snack you know and love. The Impossible meatball mixture is so meaty and savory and the grape jelly sauce is sweet and savory. Your guests won’t even notice they’re vegan!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Only 3 simple ingredients: All of which you’re more than welcome to make from scratch or grab from the store. Easy to make ahead: You can make the meatballs in advance, freeze them, and then heat them from frozen in the grape jelly and BBQ sauce when you’re ready. Opt for the hands-off option: When you need this appetizer in a hurry, just dump the 3 ingredients in your slow cooker and let it do all of the work!

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

Homemade vegan meatballs – I prefer this vegan appetizer recipe with my vegan Impossible meatballs because they freeze well and are deliciously meaty. My nourishing Chickpea Meatballs would also work or you can keep the recipe as hands-off as possible with store-bought vegan meatballs from Gardein, Beyond, or Impossible.Grape jelly – It might sound strange if this is a new concept to you, but trust me. It adds sweetness and flavor when mixed with BBQ sauce. You’ll love it!BBQ sauce – Use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce or make my 3-minute vegan BBQ sauce instead.

How to make grape jelly meatballs

Find the complete recipe with measurements below in the recipe card. If you haven’t already, make my baked Impossible vegan meatballs (or use the vegan meatballs of your choice). Add the grape jelly and BBQ sauce to a large saucepan and warm it over medium heat until the jelly melts. Nestle the meatballs in with the sauce next. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook until the meatballs are thawed and/or heated through. Transfer the grape jelly meatballs to a serving platter and skew each one with a toothpick. Put them out at the party and let your guests dig in!

Slow cooker instructions

To make crockpot grape jelly meatballs, add the meatballs (fresh or frozen), grape jelly, and BBQ sauce to your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours.

Instant Pot instructions

To make grape jelly meatballs in your Instant Pot, add everything to the pot and cook on HIGH for 5 minutes. When the timer stops, quick release the remaining pressure, then serve.

Serving suggestions

I highly recommend putting a batch of grape jelly meatballs out at parties and events, either on a platter or in the crockpot. Serve them next to any vegan party snacks to make the spread complete! My favorites are Vegan Sausage Rolls, Buffalo Dip, and Vegan Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese. The sauce-covered vegan meatballs also make for a flavorful main course. Serve them over a bed of cooked rice with asparagus, broccoli, or green beans on the side, and sliced green onions on top.

Variations

You can customize the flavor of this vegan appetizer by pairing the jelly or BBQ sauce with flavorful alternatives:

Pair the BBQ sauce with apricot jam instead of grape jelly.Use ketchup and grape jelly for sweet and sour vegan meatballs.Omit both sauces and use canned cranberry sauce and chili sauce instead.