• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Home About

My Incredible Recipes

Discover Delicious

  • Recipe Index
  • By Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Casseroles
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Dressings
    • Drinks
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • By Method
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Instant Pot
    • Low Carb/Keto
  • By Dessert
    • Cheesecake
    • Cookies
    • Bars
    • Cakes
    • Cupcakes
    • Fudge
    • Pies
  • Latest
Home About
Home » Latest Recipes » Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs

Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs

By Lisa Craig | Rate Recipe | Posted: 02/19/25 | Updated: 02/19/25

This post may contain affiliate links.

Pin Jump to Recipe

These crockpot apple butter meatballs require just three simple ingredients. They are a quick and easy dinner or appetizer option that everyone will devour. Meatballs, apple butter, and barbecue sauce collide.

apple jelly meatballs in a bowl on table with slow cooker behind it on table and apples behind the bowl
  • Save

Apple butter meatballs are sweet and savory in each bite. You get warm spices from the apple butter, tangy from the BBQ sauce, and smoky flavor. You can serve these for dinner, an appetizer for a game day feast, or any other time.

Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs in crockpot on counter with wooden spoon with some meatballs in it
  • Save

Frozen meatballs make this an easy prep, but you are more than welcome to whip up homemade meatballs for this recipe. You can also try my chicken parmesan meatballs, Italian meatballs, or even these Hawaiian meatballs.

apple butter bbq meatballs in a bowl with toothpicks in them
  • Save

Why This Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs Works

  • An easy and quick throw-in-the-crockpot and let-it-cook a type of dish or party food.
  • You can enjoy a meatball recipe with a twist from the classic grape jelly meatballs.
  • You can use this recipe as a dinner or party dish. So, it is versatile.
  • Budget-friendly and minimal effort on your hand.
  • Make a little or a lot, depending on how many mouths you plan to feed.
frozen meatballs in a bowl, apple butter and bbq sauce in jars under the meatballs
  • Save

Ingredients For Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs

  • Meatballs: I used frozen, fully cooked meatballs for this recipe, but you can use any fully cooked meatball.
  • Apple Butter: Go to the store and grab a jar of apple butter. It is near the peanut butter and jellies.
  • BBQ Sauce: Any BBQ sauce works for this recipe. We used Sweet Baby Ray’s, but use any brand or style you like.
frozen meatballs in a slow cooker on table
  • Save
frozen meatballs with apple butter and bbq sauce poured over the top sitting in a slow cooker on table
  • Save
overhead shot of cooked slow cooker apple butter meatballs in it
  • Save
wooden spoon with a few meatballs smothered in sauce sitting over a slow cooker
  • Save

Variations to Recipe

  • Chili Sauce can be used in place of barbecue sauce to add a spicy kick to the meatballs.
  • If you want a sweeter flavor, add a bit of maple syrup or even molasses to your meatballs.
  • You can use chicken, beef, turkey, or any of your favorite types of meatballs.
  • Slice up kielbasa instead of using meatballs for a twist in flavor.
  • Reach for pumpkin butter to replace apple butter. It will transform the flavor quite a bit.
  • Add half a can of cranberry sauce to help add another twist of flavor to the recipe.
  • Red currant jelly can be used to replace apple butter.
  • If you want a bit of spice, add some of your favorite hot sauce or a splash of sriracha. A few drops will help ramp up some heat.
apple jelly meatballs in a bowl on table
  • Save

How to Serve Apple Butter Meatballs

Serve your meatballs over a bed of rice, mashed potatoes, or even pasta. You can also serve them on toothpicks for party finger food.

The other option is to use it as a salad topper or even load up on a hoagie roll to make a meatball sub. Feel free to play around with how you choose to serve these meatballs.

Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs with a wooden spoon scooping some meatballs out of bowl
  • Save

Helpful Tips For Success

If your sauce is too thin, remove the lid within the last 30 minutes of cooking. This will help the excess liquid cook off and thicken the sauce.

If you plan to serve this over rice or noodles, I recommend adding double the sauce so you have more sauce to pour over the rice and noodles. This is optional.

Do not overcook the meatballs, as this can cause them to become dry. Watch the meatballs as they get close to being done. Then, turn them to warm and keep them warm until ready to serve.

If your meatballs are too sweet at the end of cooking, adding a splash of apple cider vinegar can help add a bit of a tang and reduce the sweetness.

If you can, about halfway through cooking, stir your meatballs to help get more of an even cook on them.

Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs in a bowl on table with a few toothpicks in for serving as an appetizer
  • Save

Storing and Freezing Leftovers

Refrigerate any meatballs in an airtight container for 3-4 days. When you are ready, reheat in the microwave or stovetop or return them to the slow cooker if you wish.

For freezing, place it in a freezer-friendly container for 1-2 months. Then, thaw in the fridge the night before you plan to eat and reheat as you wish.

overhead look of Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs in crockpot
  • Save

FAQs

Can I Make This Recipe on the Stove Instead of a Slow Cooker?

Yes, of course. Add the ingredients to your pan, and heat on medium-low heat. Every 30 minutes, you will want to stir. Then cook for a few hours or until the meatballs are thoroughly heated, and the sauce thickens.

bowl of apple butter bbq meatballs on counter withtoothpicks in a container to the side
  • Save

Can I Use a Different BBQ Sauce?

Any brand or style of BBQ sauce can be used for this recipe. Depending on the sauce’s flavor will alter the outcome of the meatballs, but play around and find what type of sauce you like best paired with the apple butter.

wooden spoon with meatballs with bbq sauce on them sitting over the crockpot
  • Save

How Do I Keep Meatballs Warm for a Party?

Use the warm setting on your slow cooker to keep your meatballs warm during a party. Keep the lid on if you can, and then stir every 30 minutes to an hour to prevent sticking.

bowl of meatballs with toothpicks in it, and one being lifted out of the bowl on by a hand
  • Save

These make the perfect appetizer for any occasion whether it be game day, a get together or even for a holiday gathering! everyone loves them!

apple jelly meatballs in a crock pot
  • Save

Craving More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

  • Bacon Wrapped Smokies
  • Taco Dip
  • Honey Garlic Steak Bites
Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs in crockpot on counter with wooden spoon with some meatballs in it
  • Save

Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs

Course Appetizer
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 4 hours hrs
Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Servings 30 servings
Prevent your screen from going dark
Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs take just 3 ingredients to make. A dump and cook dinner or party food recipe that is sweet and savory in each bite. Easy to make, minimal effort needed and the perfect frozen meatball recipe.
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Share Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 32 oz package frozen fully cooked meatballs beef or turkey
  • 1 18 oz bottle BBQ Sauce used Sweet Baby Rays
  • 1 ½ cups apple butter

Instructions

  • Add the frozen meatballs to the bottom of a 5 quart or larger slow cooker.
  • Dump the BBQ sauce and apple butter on top of the meatballs.
  • Stir and cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours.
  • Serve immediately as is, enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Make sure to follow on Pinterest for more recipes!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

posted in: Appetizers, Holiday

Previous
Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Next
Cheeseburger Sliders

Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

Share your thoughts!
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Get FREE Recipes In Your Inbox!

Subscribe to the newsletter for all the latest recipes

Thank you for subscribing!
Lisa - Author of My Incredible Recipes.

Hi, I'm Lisa!

Welcome to My Incredible Recipes!
I’m a wife, a mom to a beautiful little girl and a cookbook author. I’m here to bring you easy to follow, tried & true recipes that you will love! Come take a look around at all the deliciousness & let’s get cooking!

More About Me

Featured Recipes

    • Save
    Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
    • Save
    Wonton Soup
    • Save
    Taco Pinwheels
  • Pineapple Lemonade in a clear glass with ice, a blue striped straw and sliced lemon
    • Save
    Pineapple Lemonade
    • Save
    Juicy Garlic Butter Steak Bites
    • Save
    Pizza Pinwheels

Get FREE Recipes In Your Inbox!

Subscribe to the newsletter for all the latest recipes

Thank you for subscribing!

Let's Stay Connected!

Join our community of over 16 MILLION others on social media!

About

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes

Recipes

  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Copycat Recipes
  • Slow Cooker
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Instant Pot
  • Main Dishes
Back To Top
©2025, My Incredible Recipes. About Privacy Policy Back To Top
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Get FREE Recipes In Your Inbox!

Subscribe to the newsletter for all the latest recipes

Thank you for subscribing!