These slow cooker 3-ingredient beef meatballs are the kind of dinner that saves a busy weekday and still feels a little indulgent. With just frozen beef meatballs, a savory sauce, and one sweet ingredient to round everything out, you get a glossy, crowd-pleasing dish that works for family dinner, game day, or a last-minute potluck. It is one of those simple Midwestern-style slow cooker recipes that proves you do not need a long ingredient list to make something everyone hovers around in the kitchen for.
Serve these meatballs over white rice, buttered egg noodles, or mashed potatoes if you want to turn them into a full meal. They are also great with toothpicks as an appetizer, alongside roasted green beans, steamed broccoli, or a crisp salad to balance the rich sauce. For casual gatherings, I like setting them out with slider buns so everyone can make little meatball sandwiches.
Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Beef Meatballs
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 bag (32 ounces) frozen fully cooked beef meatballs
1 cup grape jelly
1 1/2 cups chili sauce
Directions
1. Add the frozen beef meatballs to the slow cooker insert.
2. Spoon the grape jelly and chili sauce over the meatballs.
3. Stir until the meatballs are evenly coated as much as possible, then cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, stirring once or twice if convenient, until hot and glazed.
4. Give the meatballs a final stir and serve warm with extra sauce spooned over the top.
Variations & Tips
Make it tangier: If you like a little more zip, use part barbecue sauce in place of some of the chili sauce. It gives the meatballs a smokier flavor that is especially good for parties.
For easier cleanup: A slow cooker liner makes this recipe almost effortless on a hectic day. I love this trick when I know work is going to run late and dinner needs to be as low-maintenance as possible.
Keep them warm for gatherings: Once the meatballs are fully heated, switch the slow cooker to WARM and stir occasionally. This keeps the sauce glossy and makes the recipe perfect for game day spreads or holiday appetizers.
Serve them different ways: These meatballs are flexible enough to go from appetizer to dinner. Try them on toasted slider buns, over mashed potatoes, or tucked into a bowl with rice and steamed vegetables for an easy meal-prep lunch.
Do not overcook: Since the meatballs are already fully cooked, the goal is simply to heat them through and let the sauce thicken. Cooking too long can make the sauce overly reduced, so check near the end of the cook time.