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
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2 lbs precooked frozen meatballs
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1 cup apple butter (homemade or store-bought)
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1 cup chili sauce (not spicy)
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½ cup maple syrup
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1 tablespoon molasses
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¼ teaspoon ground cloves
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½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (or allspice substitute)
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Optional: chopped green onions or fresh herbs for garnish
Instructions
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In a slow cooker, whisk together apple butter, chili sauce, maple syrup, molasses, cloves, and cinnamon until smooth.
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Add frozen meatballs and gently stir to coat with sauce.
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Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is glossy.
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Stir gently before serving. Keep warm in the slow cooker if serving as an appetizer.
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Garnish with green onions or herbs if desired. Serve as an appetizer or over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles for a main dish.
Notes
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Use pumpkin butter instead of apple butter for a fun seasonal twist.
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Homemade meatballs work too—just precook them before adding.
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Sauce too sweet? Add a splash more chili sauce. Too tangy? A drizzle more maple syrup will balance it out.
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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