Description
These Slow Cooker Apple Butter Meatballs are the ultimate sweet-and-savory appetizer or main dish. Frozen meatballs simmer in a cozy blend of apple butter, chili sauce, maple syrup, and warm fall spices—all in the slow cooker for an effortless, crowd-pleasing recipe.
Ingredients
2 lbs precooked frozen meatballs
1 cup apple butter (homemade or store-bought)
1 cup chili sauce (not spicy)
½ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon molasses
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (or allspice substitute)
Optional: chopped green onions or fresh herbs for garnish
Instructions
In a slow cooker, whisk together apple butter, chili sauce, maple syrup, molasses, cloves, and cinnamon until smooth.
Add frozen meatballs and gently stir to coat with sauce.
Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is glossy.
Stir gently before serving. Keep warm in the slow cooker if serving as an appetizer.
Garnish with green onions or herbs if desired. Serve as an appetizer or over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles for a main dish.
Notes
Use pumpkin butter instead of apple butter for a fun seasonal twist.
Homemade meatballs work too—just precook them before adding.
Sauce too sweet? Add a splash more chili sauce. Too tangy? A drizzle more maple syrup will balance it out.
Perfect make-ahead: Cook, refrigerate, and reheat in the slow cooker or stovetop with a splash of water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (low) or 2 hours (high)
- Category: Appetizer, Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 meatballs
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg