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 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.

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.

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.

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.




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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Craving More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
Crockpot Apple Butter Meatballs
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!
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