Pepper Jelly Meatballs
These Slow Cooker Jelly Meatballs are a tried-and-true favorite—sweet, a little spicy, and full of flavor! Made with fruit jam, jalapeño pepper jelly, and barbecue sauce, they come together easily with frozen or homemade meatballs. Perfect for holidays, game day, or any time you need a simple crowd-pleaser!
Servings: 50 meatballs
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen meatballs (about 50 meatballs)
- 12 ounces strawberry preserves (jam or jelly)
- 12 ounces jalapeno pepper jelly
- 12 ounces BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Pour the strawberry jam, jalapeno pepper jelly, and BBQ Sauce into the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Add frozen fully cooked meatballs and stir until evenly coated.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
- Garnish with chopped parsley, sliced green onions, or diced/sliced jalapenos or pickled/ candied jalapenos. Serve with toothpicks for a great appetizer, over garlic knots, or in Hawaiian rolls.
Notes
You’ll need a total of 36 ounces of fruit jam, jalapeño pepper jelly, and barbecue sauce for the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. I usually use about 12 ounces of each, but you can easily adjust the amounts to suit your taste. Add more fruit jam for extra sweetness or more BBQ for a tangier, smoky bite. The jalapeño pepper jelly is where the magic happens: it brings a gentle heat that balances the sweet, without being overwhelming.
- If you love spice, you can use a hotter pepper jelly or add a pinch of crushed red pepper to kick it up a notch.
- If you’re cooking for kids or folks who prefer things mild, stick with a milder jam and let the BBQ sauce shine.
- You can use preserves, jam, or jelly to preference.
- Pepper Jelly sizes seem to change like the wind. If you only find a 10-ounce jar, use that. You can add a little more fruit jam or sauce.
- If you want to thicken your sauce, add 2 tablespoons of corn starch to 2 tablespoons of cold water. Whisk until well combined and add to the slow cooker. Let the sauce thicken for 15-30 minutes and serve.
- See the Variations and Flavor Combinations & Sauce Blend Ideas section below for lots of different ways to switch things up and create the flavor profile your family will love.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 meatball | Calories: 90 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 4 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Cholesterol: 12 mg | Sodium: 228 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 8 g
To see the web version with photos, tips
and FAQs, visit the recipe URL or scan the QR code:
https://www.soulfullymade.com/slow-cooker-strawberry-jalapeno-bbq-meatballs/