Apple butter meatballs are a unique and delicious dish that combines the savory flavor of meatballs with the sweet and spicy notes of apple butter. This dish is perfect as an appetizer or served as a main course with sides.
❤️ Why You’ll Love Apple Butter Meatballs
This is such an easy dish that is perfect for serving as a holiday appetizer. The flavors are versatile and easily interchangeable to fit any seasonal occasion. You can travel with these meatballs and serve them warm in the crockpot with toothpicks and other appetizers. But if you want to eat these as dinner, it pairs well with rice and greens.
🍲 Ingredients
Meatballs – Frozen meatballs are the best for this crock pot recipe, but if you make your own from scratch that will work too! This is a very forgiving recipe, use one bag from your local grocery store, or half of a big bag at Costco.
Apple Butter – Any apple butter will do, but I am partial to homemade apple butter!
BBQ Sauce – My family likes Sweet Baby Rays but use your favorite BBQ sauce. Although I would stay away from mustard-based sauces.
Apple Juice – This is what would be in leu of broth in other crock pot recipes, The apple juice keeps the sauce that coats the meatballs thin and sweet.
Chili Powder – This is totally optional, but I like the well-rounded flavor this gives.
👩🍳 How to Make Apple Butter Meatballs
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together your BBQ sauce, apple juice, apple butter, and chili powder until smooth.
- In your crock pot bowl, spread an even layer of sauce on the bottom of the bowl. Dump your meatballs and the rest of the sauce in. Lightly toss, close the lid and cook on low for 3 hours.
- Stir every 30 minutes to 1 hour to mix up all the ingredients to ensure that everything is getting evenly coated.
- Serve warm with bread, rice, or veggies and enjoy!
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- You can add chopped apples for extra texture and flavor.
- Adding fresh herbs like parsley or chives can enhance the taste. Other spices such as smoked paprika or Italian seasoning can add depth. If the sauce is too thick after mixing in the meatballs, add a splash of broth, water, or more apple juice to reach your desired consistency.
🗒 Substitutions
- Apple Butter:
- Store-Bought: If you don’t have apple butter, use apple sauce mixed with a bit of brown sugar and perhaps a splash of vinegar for tanginess.
- Homemade Apple Butter: You can make a quick version by cooking down apple sauce with cinnamon and sugar.
- Meatballs:
- Homemade meat options:
- Ground Turkey/Chicken: A leaner alternative to beef or pork.
- Ground Pork: Often used with beef for added flavor and fat.
- Ground Beef (Lean or Regular): Common choice, can be mixed with other meats.
- Instead of using apple juice, you can use more BBQ sauce and a splash of water to thin the sauce out in the crockpot.
🗒 Best served with
- Skewers or Toothpicks: Serve the meatballs on skewers or with toothpicks for easy eating. You can place them on a platter with a small bowl of extra apple butter or your favorite dipping sauce on the side.
- Over Rice or Grain: Serve the meatballs over a bed of rice, quinoa, or couscous. The grains will soak up the apple butter sauce, adding extra flavor.
- With Mashed Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes: Pair the meatballs with creamy mashed potatoes or roasted sweet potatoes for a comforting meal.
- On a Bed of Greens: Toss mixed greens and roasted vegetables together as a base and place the meatballs on top. Drizzle with a light vinaigrette for a fresh contrast.
- Meatball Sliders: Place the meatballs on mini slider buns, adding a touch of apple butter or even some cheese for a delicious twist.
- Wraps: Use a tortilla or flatbread to wrap the meatballs, along with greens and your choice of sauces.
- Platter Style: Arrange the meatballs on a serving platter, garnished with fresh herbs or apple slices for a beautiful presentation.
- Serving Bowl: A rustic bowl can add warmth to the presentation, especially if you’re serving in a family-style setting.
👝 How to Store Leftovers
Place the meatballs in an airtight container. If you want to ensure they don’t stick together, you can lay parchment paper between layers. They can typically be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Freezing: Arrange the meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze them for about 1-2 hours until they are solid. This prevents them from sticking together. Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Be sure to label the container with the date. Frozen meatballs can last for up to 3 months for the best quality.
🤔 Common Questions
From Refrigeration: Reheat meatballs in a microwave, on the stove in a skillet, or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through.
From Freezing: You can cook them straight from frozen. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time, or you can thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Apple Butter Meatballs
Equipment
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 26 oz frozen meatballs
- 1 ½ cup apple butter
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 cup apple juice
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together your BBQ sauce, apple juice, apple butter, and chili powder until smooth.
- In your crock pot bowl, spread an even layer of sauce on the bottom of the bowl. Dump your meatballs and the rest of the sauce in. Lightly toss, close the lid and cook on low for 3 hours.
- Stir every 30 minutes to 1 hour to mix up all the ingredients to ensure that everything is getting evenly coated.
- Serve warm with bread, rice, or veggies and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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