I love meatballs on pizza or on a sandwich. And, spaghetti and meatballs is one of my favorite dishes. But, they don’t have to only have an Italian flair. Cook meatballs in a flavorful sauce for a party appetizer or meal.
Chili sauce and grape jelly sound strange, but it’s delicious and one of the most popular sauce combinations. But Just A Pinch members have shared a few other variations I absolutely love.
“This recipe was handed down to me from my Grandpa Ray,” explains Pattie Berriman (Springfield, IL). “He was the true cook of the family and most everything I learned came from him.”
Grandpa Ray’s Sweet & Spicy Meatballs are easy and delicious. Sweet and tangy, I love the jelly and chili sauce combined with the bit of spice pepper jelly brings to this recipe.
Making homemade meatballs makes the difference and are delicious. Frying them in the pan gives the outer layer a nice crispness.
Vivian Queen-Chase (Benton, AR) also makes homemade meatballs for her Cranberry Meatballs.
She uses a combination of beef and pork that makes them very flavorful. The seasonings are subtle but keep the meatballs from being plain.
“Back in the ’60s, our gas company put on what they called their Holiday Cooking show,” says Vivian. “This is adapted from one of those shows.”
The slightly sweet and full of tang sauce is what makes these special. Chili sauce and cranberry sauce are amazing together. I could not stop eating these.
Teressa Drenth (Kalamazoo, MI) shares that her Zesty and Tangy Meatballs “have been a staple at all three of my children’s graduation open houses and family get-togethers.”
Easy and delicious, that is the type of party food I like. The sauce is indeed zesty and tangy, but a bit sweet too.
“This is a wonderful recipe for parties and get-togethers of all kinds and they always disappear so fast,” thinks Elaine Bovender (Wilmington, NC). “I made these several years ago for my daughter’s wedding reception and people thought that they were absolutely delicious and wanted the recipe.”
These French Onion Meatballs will be a welcome addition to any party table. The flavor combination makes them taste like French onion soup! With five ingredients (that you may have in your kitchen already), this can be whipped up in a snap.
Surprise your family with Marvin Beachler’s (Cathedral City, CA) magnificent Marv’s Meatballs.
“I wanted to make a meatball recipe out of readily available items that were really easy and great,” says Marvin. “This what I came up with and I’m asked to make them often.”
The chili sauce and pineapple turn into a wonderful sauce. A bit of brown sugar adds a smoky sweetness. So good!
These meatballs are so good you can even turn them into dinner. Serve with white rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles and extra sauce drizzled on top for the main meal.
Plus, all of these are make-ahead recipes. So, if you’re having a party or need them for a meal, they’ll only get better after simmering in the slow cooker. Happy Pinching!