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Instant Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs made with sweet chili sauce and grape jelly are perfect for a quick and easy appetizer recipe for parties or game day!
We were watching the playoffs the other day, and I made a bunch of Instant Pot appetizers to munch on. Seriously, all of the appetizers were Instant Pot recipes, including these easy 3 ingredient Instant Pot grape jelly meatballs. Good times!
These little appetizer meatballs have been around forever. Chances are, you’ve probably had slow cooker grape jelly meatballs made with Heinz sweet chili sauce or bbq sauce at a party or potluck. But these sweet and spicy Instant Pot meatballs are so much faster to make, and they taste just as good as the slow cooker version.
You can use frozen meatballs for this recipe, or you can make your own. As much as I love homemade cocktail party meatballs, I took the easy route this time. I had some Instant Pot queso dip and pineapple teriyaki chicken wings cooking, so it was frozen meatballs to the rescue!
How do you make meatballs with grape jelly in the Instant Pot?
I like to add a little oil to the bottom of the pot whenever I make Instant Pot meatballs. Then, you add the meatballs, water, grape jelly and sweet chili sauce. I only used a little over a cup of jelly here to cut down on the sweetness, but you can always add more if you want. You can also add a pinch of hot pepper flakes for added spice.
How long do you cook meatballs in the Instant Pot?
Both fresh and frozen meatballs take just 5 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot. If you want to make your own meatballs, I recommend browning them first.
After the meatballs are done, you can hit the Saute button to reduce the sauce. You can leave the meatballs on the Keep Warm setting until you’re ready to serve them — just like with a slow cooker.
Or, you can add the meatballs to a serving bowl and pour the sauce over them. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
And that’s it, folks! You’ve just made a batch of sweet and spicy meatballs in the pressure cooker in about 30 minutes!
What do you serve with grape jelly meatballs?
For appetizer meatballs, serve them on their own. You can also serve them over pasta or rice for an easy main dish.
Instant Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs Recipe
Instant Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 36 frozen meatballs
- .5 cups water
- 1.5 cups grape jelly
- 1 bottle Heinz chili sauce
Instructions
- Add the oil to the bottom of the inner Instant Pot, then add the meatballs and pour water over and around meatballs
- Add the grape jelly and chili sauce over the meatballs, but do not stir
- Place lid on Instant Pot, and turn vent to Sealing position, then hit PRESSURE COOK for 5 minutes
- Pot will take a few minutes to reach pressure, then begin counting down and cook for 5 minutes
- When pot beeps, do a quick release. When pin drops, open lid, and stir meatballs well.
- Optional -- to thicken sauce hit SAUTE and cook for about 5 minutes to reduce sauce. Hit Keep Warm and keep in pressure cooker until ready to serve or place in a large serving bowl
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I hope you enjoy these quick and easy grape jelly meatballs as much as we do!
I have frozen uncooked meatballs that I want to use. Should I change anything?
I’ve never tried using uncooked meatballs for this recipe, so I’m not sure how well those would work.
Do I need to add more water if I have a 8qt IP?
Yes, you would need more water, probably 1.5 cups for the 8 quart.
The only Heinz Chili Sauce at my supermarket did not say “sweet” on it so I bought a different brand of sweet chili sauce. The one I purchase is an orangeish color and jelly consistency but it looks like in your picture that the chili sauce looks more like a ketchup. Which one iscorrect?
Regular Heinz chili sauce is fine. You can use any chili sauce or sweet chili sauce, which might be a little spicer.
Sauce tasted a little watered down and texture of the meatballs were spongy, Loved cutting time from from 3 hours to less than half hour prep but I’m going back to crockpot method.
The sauce does thicken as it sits, but the Crock-Pot method is awesome if you have the time.
I will be using the biggest insta pot I can borrow and probably will be cooking 8-10 lbs of meatballs.
How much water do you recommend . I have never cooked in one before.
It depends on the water needed for the size you use and if you are doubling or tripling the ingredients. Frozen meatballs will also release liquid as they thaw, so you would probably need around 1 1/2 cups at the most.
Great recipe! Is the addition of the oil so that the sauce doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot? I sometimes have that problem as my pot has a ‘hot spot’ but the oil might help!
Yes! I just like to add a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking, and it works. 🙂
Perfect, thanks!
Making these now, i missed the “do not stir” message in the recipe… hoping for the best!
Hope it worked out for you, Rick! 🙂
Are these suppose
To be put on the rack
Or place directly in
The water?
They go directly in the pot — no trivet needed.
Can I use barbecue sauce instead of chili sauce?
Yes, that would be fine.
I’ve made these in the crock pot. This is so much quicker and just as good.
Thanks, Cheryl! I love that the IP makes cooking so much faster! 🙂