Pin It Sweet, tangy, and irresistibly easy, these cherry BBQ meatballs are the perfect party appetizer or family dinner. Bold flavors with minimal effort and budget-friendly ingredients make them a crowd favorite.
I first made these meatballs for a family game night, and the bowl disappeared in no time. Everyone came back for seconds, and now they're a requested favorite at every family get-together.
Ingredients
- Frozen fully cooked meatballs: 32 oz (900 g)
- Barbecue sauce: 1 cup (250 ml), use your favorite brand
- Cherry preserves or cherry jam: 1 cup (290 g)
- Apple cider vinegar: 2 tbsp (30 ml)
- Brown sugar: 1 tbsp (15 g)
- Garlic powder: 1/4 tsp
- Onion powder: 1/4 tsp
- Ground black pepper: 1/4 tsp
Tired of Takeout? 🥡
Get 10 meals you can make faster than delivery arrives. Seriously.
One email. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Instructions
- Make the sauce:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, cherry preserves, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until smooth.
- Prep the slow cooker:
- Place frozen meatballs in the bowl of a slow cooker.
- Add sauce:
- Pour cherry BBQ sauce mixture over the meatballs, stirring gently to coat evenly.
- Cook:
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is thick and glossy. Stir once or twice during cooking, if possible.
- Serve:
- Serve hot. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Pin It 
Pin It These meatballs always remind me of holiday parties with my kids helping roll out the napkins and sneak a meatball before the serving spoon arrived. It's become a little tradition in our house.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these cherry BBQ meatballs piled high with toothpicks as an appetizer, or spoon them over steamed rice for a flavorful main dish.
Ingredient Swaps
If you can't find cherry preserves, try using grape jelly for a classic BBQ meatball twist. For extra spice, add 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce mix.
Nutritional Info
Each serving contains approximately 340 calories, 13 g total fat, 41 g carbohydrates, and 15 g protein.
Pin It 
Pin It Bring these cherry BBQ meatballs to your next gathering for a guaranteed hit. They're as effortless as they are delicious.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → Can I use homemade meatballs instead of frozen?
Yes, homemade meatballs can be substituted, ensuring about 2 lbs (900 g) of cooked meatballs for this dish.
- → What can I swap for cherry preserves?
Grape jelly is a common alternative that maintains a similar sweetness and consistency in the sauce.
- → How long should the meatballs cook in the slow cooker?
Cook on low heat for 3 hours to allow flavors to meld and for the sauce to thicken and coat the meatballs.
- → Can I make the sauce spicier?
Adding 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture will add a gentle heat without overpowering the sweet flavors.
- → How should I serve these meatballs?
Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley, either as party appetizers with toothpicks or over rice for a full meal.
- → Are there common allergens in this dish?
Check meatball and sauce labels carefully; they may contain wheat, soy, egg, or milk depending on brands used.
