These southern 3-ingredient apple butter meatballs are the kind of easy party dish that feels right at home at church suppers, game-day tailgates, and holiday potlucks all across the Midwest and South. The sweet apple butter melts into a tangy sauce with barbecue flavor, and together they coat every meatball in a glossy, sticky glaze that tastes like you fussed all afternoon, even though the whole thing comes together with hardly any effort at all.
Serve these meatballs warm with toothpicks for snacking, or spoon them over buttery mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for a simple supper. They also pair nicely with baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, macaroni salad, or a crisp vegetable tray when you are setting out a spread for a crowd.
Southern 3-Ingredient Apple Butter Meatballs
Servings: 10 to 12 as an appetizer
Ingredients
1 package (32 ounces) frozen fully cooked meatballs
1 cup apple butter
1 cup barbecue sauce
Directions
1. Add the frozen meatballs to a slow cooker or a large saucepan.
2. In a bowl, stir together the apple butter and barbecue sauce until smooth and well combined.
3. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir gently to coat them evenly.
4. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, stirring once or twice, until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce is hot and sticky. If using a saucepan, simmer on low for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often.
5. Serve warm right from the slow cooker or transfer to a platter for parties.
Variations & Tips
Little Smokies Version: Swap the frozen meatballs for cocktail sausages if you want a classic party snack with the very same sweet and smoky flavor. Keep the cooking time about the same in the slow cooker, and stir now and then so the sauce stays glossy.
Homemade Touch: If you have homemade meatballs tucked away in the freezer, this is a fine place to use them. Just make sure they are fully cooked before freezing, then heat them gently in the sauce so they stay tender.
Sauce Balance: For a sweeter batch, add an extra spoonful or two of apple butter. For more tang, use a bold barbecue sauce with a little vinegar bite. This recipe is humble, but it is easy to nudge it one way or the other to suit your table.
Keep-Warm Tip: These meatballs hold beautifully on the warm setting of a slow cooker during a tailgate or potluck. Give them a stir every so often, and if the sauce thickens too much, loosen it with a splash of water.