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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
