Sand Plums grow wild all over the state of Oklahoma. I created this Crockpot BBQ Sand Plum Jelly Meatballs recipe for everyone looking for a unique way to use up some of the sand plum jelly or syrup. These meatballs are sticky, tangy, sweet, and we can’t forget, meaty! If you do not have sand plum jelly, grape jelly will work in its place.
Beef Meatballs
We raise our own cattle, so of course, we always have fresh lean beef in our freezer. Leaner beef is going to work best, but if you use fattier beef you can drain the grease off after you cook them.
I love serving these sticky meatballs on their own as appetizers. You can also serve them over rice or mashed potatoes. Or you can place them on a roll and make BBQ meatball subs.
BBQ Sauce and Sand Plum Jelly Meatballs
Using jelly to make Meatballs is not a new thing. It’s a common recipe used across the United States. I decided to tweak the recipe by substituting Sand Plum Jelly. Though, with these meatballs, I used a jar of Sand Plum Syrup I had in my pantry.
Can I Use Frozen Meatballs?
This recipe uses homemade beef meatballs, but you can use a bag of frozen meatballs instead. Any kind of meatballs should work just fine. Follow the package direction for cooking the meatballs before placing them in the crockpot.
Do the Meatballs Cook All Day in the Crockpot?
No, they do not cook all day. They only take a couple of hours to finish up. The meatballs themselves our cooked before you place them in the crockpot. You will add the sauce and cook the meatballs on low for 3 hours, allowing the sauce to thicken and stick to the meatballs.
Can I Leave Any Ingredients Out or Substitute?
BBQ Sauce. You can use any BBQ sauce you like. We use Head Country BBQ
Mustard. You can use any type of mustard or even leave it out.
Worcestershire Sauce. This may also be left out. Your choice on the brand.
Sand Plum Jelly. This can be left out or you can substitute grape jelly.
Onions. You can use minced dried onions in place of fresh onions.
Bread Crumbs. I use plain bread crumbs, but Italian would work too.
Meatballs. You can substitute frozen meatballs. Make sure they are fully cooked before adding them to the crockpot.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
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30 Toothpick Appetizers Everyone Will Love
Ingredients for Crockpot BBQ Sand Plum Jelly Meatballs
- ground beef
- eggs
- mustard
- diced onion (you can use dried minced onions)
- bread crumbs
- garlic powder
- dried parsley
- salt and pepper
For the Sauce
- BBQ sauce
- sand Plum Jelly (or grape jelly)
- Worcestershire sauce
- ground paprika
- salt and pepper
Crockpot BBQ Sand Plum Jelly Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp mustard
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup bread crumb
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce
- 1/2 cup sand plum jelly or grape jelly
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- 1 tsp ground paprika
- 2 Tblsp Worcestershire sauce
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Make meatballs: To make the meatballs, mix all ingredients in a large bowl and shape into small meatballs. I use a 1 inch cookie dough scoop per meatball for a good appetizer size; make sure to firmly shape the meatballs or they disintegrate in the sauce. Cook meatballs: Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and add some oil. Cook the meatballs until browned on the outside and entirely cooked through. OR bake the meatballs at 425°F for 10-12 minutes.Slow cook with sauce: Once the meatballs are cooked, mix all sauce ingredients together in a 3-4 quart slow cooker. Add the meatballs and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2 hours. Gently stir the meatballs occasionally to evenly coat the meatballs. The meatballs keep in the slow cooker for another 1-2 hours.