12 Easy Meatball Appetizers For Any Party

Meatballs are the BEST party appetizer to serve guests! They stay moist for hours and can pair with so many different sauces! All of these meatballs are easy to make and most can be made ahead. Some you can put in a crock pot and some you can serve straight from the oven! I also included recipes that use frozen, mini cocktail meatballs and some using homemade! I hope you find a recipe you like!

In The Slow Cooker

Below you will find more than just your typical grape jelly meatball recipe. I’m sharing multiple cocktail party meatballs ALL of which can be made or heated using your crock pot!

How Do You Cook FROZEN Meatballs?

Almost ALL frozen meatballs you purchase in the store are already cooked. So you don’t need to cook them. You just need to REHEAT them. Depending on the size of your meatball, will depend on how LONG you need to reheat them. Here are general guidelines:

Reheating In The Microwave

To reheat in the microwave, add your frozen meatballs to a plate with a little bit of water. This will help prevent them from drying out. I always add a damp paper towel over top of them too. This creates a steam effect and helps lock in the moisture.

Then set it on high for 2-4 minutes depending the size of your meatballs.

Reheating In The Oven

Add your frozen meatballs to a shallow baking dish or baking sheet. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes depending the size of your meatballs.

Reheating Using A Crock Pot

Add your frozen meatballs to a crock pot or slow cooker and set it on high. Leave them in with the lid on for an hour. If you are using a sauce, add the sauce in as well.

“Should I Thaw My Meatballs Before Adding Them To A Crockpot?”

No you do not have to! There is no advantage to doing this. If you are using a sauce, add the sauce to your slow cooker and let it all warm up together for about an hour on high heat.

Looking for MORE crock pot appetizers? Check out this awesome round up of slow cooker appetizers.

How Do You Keep Meatballs Warm For A Party?

Keeping meatballs warm is NOT hard to do. Especially if you have a 3 quart crock pot or electric ch a fing dish! These two items are my favorite types of food warmers to set out at parties! I get a lot of compliments on the electric server!

Just make sure you understand that crock pots and food warmers are meant to keep the food warm, they are not meant to cook food.

Add them to either of these and set to warm. Add a delicious sauce and they will stay moist and juicy for hours!

Here are some crock pots you might love from Amazon!

If your serving more than meatballs, check out my recent post on HOW TO KEEP FOOD WARM for a party.

What Are The Best Frozen Meatballs?

I can’t answer this for you because there are so many different brands out there. Plus, it depends on your location.

When choosing meatballs for an appetizer, I recommend buying meatballs that are cocktail meatballs. Cocktail meatballs are smaller in size and great for serving on toothpicks or skewers!

I like to find the ‘Bite Size’ meatballs that my grocery store offers. You can choose turkey, beef, pork, chicken or a combination of those meats.

Easy Recipes

Honey Garlic Meatballs

This recipe uses frozen meatballs making them super quick to whip up. They are then drenched in a delicious honey garlic sauce.

Cook Time: 2 hours

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Homemade Italian Meatballs

This recipe is for making your traditional Italian meatballs all from scratch! Serve these with skewers or with mini buns on the side for cute appetizer sliders!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 7 hours

Swedish Meatballs

This recipe uses frozen meatballs so your focus can be all about that lusciously creamy sauce!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

buffalo chicken meatballs with a side of blue cheese and skewers

Brown Sugar Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

These meatballs are baked and made from scratch using ground chicken. The sauce is made with brown sugar, hot sauce and butter. A delicious combination that sticks to the meatballs so well.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Sweet n’ Sour Meatballs

These are the perfect cocktail meatball recipe for parties! They are made with frozen mini meatballs and tossed directly in the crock pot. The sweet and sour sauce is super easy to make!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Grape Jelly Meatballs

These Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs are a classic party appetizer! They are full of addictingly tangy flavors, and are perfect for keeping the party going all night long since the slow cooker keeps them hot and ready! Use them for the holidays, a pot luck, or anytime you are feeding a crowd.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook times: 2 hours

BBQ Meatballs

Grape Jelly BBQ Meatballs.. easy to make in the crock pot with only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep! Doesn’t get better than that.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hrs 55 min

Cranberry Meatballs

These slow cooker cranberry meatballs are a 5 ingredient appetizer made with cranberry jelly and chili sauce! They are sure to be the hit of any party!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Beer BBQ Meatballs

Ditch that grape jelly cocktail meatball recipe. And spoil your guests with beer BBQ meatballs instead! Juicy tender meatballs in smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. The BEST!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

chicken meatballs with mini skewers on plate

Fire Cracker Chicken Meatballs

This is my favorite way to eat chicken meatballs. They’re spiced up with a sweet, savory, and spicy firecracker sauce. They’re tender, filled with flavor, and require minimum work!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Apple Butter Brandy Meatballs

The name tells you all you need to know. These luscious meatballs are smothered in a sweet and tangy apple butter brandy sauce that will bring you to your knees. Technically for the cocktail hour, no one will complain if you serve them for dinner.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes