Let me tell you the story of how I came up with this Slow Cooker Meatballs with Orange Marmalade Recipe. It starts many years ago…When I was a little girl, whenever we went to pot luck get-togethers, I always loved my mom’s meatballs. They were delicious, but most importantly to this sugar-aholic, they were sweet. They were my first savory-sweet food love. Years later, I asked my mom to make meatballs for a get-together, and she wasn’t sure exactly which meatball recipe I was talking about. I asked for the “sweet one”, and she asked if I was talking about the “jelly-meatballs.”
Jelly meatballs? That was crazy talk. Surely she remembered the ones she made over and over seemingly every time. And surely they weren’t made with flippin grape jelly! After going back and forth, I was horrified to learn that the meatballs I so loved were, in fact, made with jelly. Grape jelly? How was it possible that grape jelly could be mixed with meatballs to be edible let alone delicious? I didn’t understand it. I wanted to fight it. But, as it turns out, some things are better off not fighting. Sometimes things that shouldn’t go together do to create something wonderful. And that’s ok.
Mystery Meatballs
I decided to try to make these jelly meatballs, but I didn’t like what I was finding in the recipes coming up on Google. They were made with a mysterious concoction of sauces. And that didn’t bother me as much as the ingredients on these sauces. I’m talking all kinds of not-so-clean ingredients that seemed totally unnecessary for sauce.
Making a Clean Eating Meatballs Recipe
So, I decided to try to make a new meatballs recipe. A clean eating meatballs recipe, to be precise. Now, this recipe does still use some sauces, however I find this to be MUCH more clean eats than what I’ve seen before. And if you purchase your sauces at a health food store, chances are good the sauce will actually be fairly clean. For a sauce made from pre-made products. Seriously, did you know most ketchups contain high fructose corn syrup? Moving right along…
Additionally, if you opt to make the meatballs from scratch, this recipe will be even more clean eating approved. You can use store bought meatballs, but you should really check the ingredients. Or if you’re feeling lazy, just get them at a health food store, like Whole Foods, where they already sort out many of the more conventional options.
Slow Cooker Meatballs with Orange Marmalade Recipe
As mentioned above, I decided to do a play on the famous grape jelly meatball recipe.
The main ingredients of the original recipe are grape jelly, meatballs, and …wait for it…chili sauce.
I know. Random! But, hey, it works.
Anywho, I wanted to do something similar (still using jelly), but with a new flavor twist. I decided on using orange marmalade for a tangy twist on this pot luck classic to make aΒ Slow Cooker Meatballs with Orange Marmalade Recipe.
I also decided, since I had the time, to make the meatballs from scratch, but you can use frozen ones if you’re short on time. Opt for from-scratch to keep this recipe clean eating. But you can find a pretty cleanish version at your local health food store. And you can even make this recipe vegan by using vegan meatballs!
The result – a sweet meatball 10 year old me would have loved.
This Slow Cooker Meatballs with Orange Marmalade RecipeΒ would be great to make when you’re entertaining or if you need to take something to a pot luck. They’re a great appetizer but could also work well for a more tapas or small-bite kinda meal. And I love this as a finger foodΒ for a holiday party!
Slow Cooker Meatballs with Orange Marmalade Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 90 mins
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Appetiser
- Cuisine: American
Description
This recipe is a fun twist on the classic grape-jelly meatball recipe that most people have had at one pot luck or another. The orange marmalade gives the meatballs a lovely tangy flavor that still keeps the sweetness of the original version. And if you’re short on time, don’t worry about making the meatballs, just buy some frozen (and check out the alternate preparation directions below the recipe).
Make this recipe vegan or vegetarian by using vegan/vegetarian meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 13-ounce jar orange marmalade (I used Bonne Maman, which is very tangy – use brand of choice)
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- non-stick spray
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper (or non-stick spray/aluminum foil)
- Combine beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, garlic, salt and pepper. Using your hands mix until evenly combined, but try to not overmix. Form into 1 inch meatballs and place prepared baking sheet (use non-stick spray or parchment paper). Bake 10 minutes, turn, bake 10 additional minutes.
- In a large bowl, add marmalade, ketchup, soy sauce, and pepper. Stir till mixed well.
- Prepare slow cooker with non-stick spray. Add baked meatballs and sauce. Stir to coat meatballs. Cook on high one hour.
Alternate Directions for frozen meatballs
- Add frozen meatballs (no need to defrost!) to the slow cooker with the sauce from Step #3 above. Cook till meat is completely cooked/warmed through – on high for about 2 hours or low for about 6.
Notes
Note: 1 hour (cook time in slow cooker for from-scratch meatballs) / 2 hours (cook time in slow cooker for frozen meatballs).
Note: Save prep time by using frozen meatballs, but do note – they will take longer to cook.
More Healthy Recipes You’ll Love
Easy Brussels Sprouts and Cheddar Cheese Quiche
Hot Blueberry Breakfast Quinoa
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Thanks for stopping by and reading! Hope you enjoy thisΒ Slow Cooker Meatballs with Orange Marmalade Recipe.
What do you think of jelly meatballs? Love them or hate them?
PS Who’s ready for the 3rd annual Eat in Month? It’s headed your way…tomorrow! π
These are adorable in a way that makes me want to eat like 10 of them!
Orange marmalade always reminds me of my grandfather because he would eat it on toast every morning so I have a soft spot for anything including that π
I think orange marmalade must be one of those things lost on our generation. My dad loves the stuff! I never liked it till recently, but it’s one of my favorite jam/jelly flavors now!
These sound wonderful. My family’s old “stand by” for meatballs was also a grape jelly BBQ sauce combo. Sounds awful but they were amazing. π
i found if you shred the onions (with a cheese grater or in the food processor), it makes the meatballs (or burgers) more moist and hold together a little better.
Good tip! π
I will definitely have to try these. they look amazingly delicious. I could eat about 16 right now!
Sounds like a yummy twist. My family likes the Red Plum Jelly & BBQ sauce combo. We’ll have it with rice for dinner. Even on my husband’s top 10 list!
Ooh – that sounds like a great combo, too! I have yet to try red plum jelly, but I really want to soon!
Terrific! Just what I needed for my party today!
This sounds great! How many does this make? I got some delicious homemade orange marmalade from home-grown oranges from a friend. I have plenty, so was looking for recipes. Just wondering if I should double it!
Hi Shawna, I forgot to count them! π But, I think it made just over 30 pretty small meatballs. It’s been awhile, but I think I remember thinking it would be better to double if you’re entertaining a fair number of people.
Let me know how it works out! π Thanks for stopping by!
Thrilled to find this recipe! π What size slow cooker do you use for this?
Yay! I’m not sure what size it is unfortunately. It’s an average sized oval shaped slow cooker. Not one of the huge ones. HTH π
Can you skip the baking and do the cooking with the sauce in the crockpot?
Hi Ashley! Good question! I know you can put the meatballs directly into the sauce if you’re using frozen meatballs. I haven’t tried putting raw meatballs with the sauce into the slow cooker. I think the baking sort of sets them. I wonder if you skipped that if they would fall apart during cooking? Could you maybe try sauteing them to brown the outsides a little? Side note: I think the pre-slow-cooker cooking can help add a little flavor thanks to the browning. Let me know if you try an alternate preparation! Thanks for stopping by!