This title tells exactly how I feel on some nights when it comes time to cook dinner. I am sure you have had nights like that too, right? I have a few tricks up my sleeve to get a tasty, sort of home-cooked dinner on the table lickity-split. It is called cheating. I usually make my own meatballs and in my family it is always a good discussion about who makes the best- my Ma, my brother Rob, or me. Now on nights when I am pooped and don’t have a pint of energy to whip up my own meatballs, I have found that Costco carries “good enough” prepared Italian meatballs in the freezer section. I add this ridiculous but yummy sauce, simmer, and serve this meatball recipe over rice. Done. Add a little green salad and some fresh fruit and I have a complete meal. My children- at least two of them- love to take the leftovers in their lunch box because they enjoy telling their classmates that grape jelly and ketchup make the sauce. They love to see the other kids’ confused faces.
I’m Tired and Don’t Feel Like Cookin’- Meatballs
1 cup ketchup
1 cup grape jelly
1/4- 1/2 t. allspice
2-3 pounds prepared frozen meatballs- depends on family size
Cooked Jasmine or Basmati rice
Place all ingredients, except rice, in a large sauce pan and cover. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer about 15 minutes or until nice and hot. Serve over cooked basmati or jasmine rice.
*For those of you who cook for large crowds, big batches of this recipe can be made in crockpots. Fairly cheap too.
I am sure there are other variations of this sauce. Share yours.
Robin Sue
31 Comments
You are right Robin Sue. My variation is a bottle of chili sauce and a can of cranberry sauce with 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. We have always called it Aunt Pat's Piquant Meatballs. She made a huge batch for my cousin's wedding years ago.
My sauce variation: 1 bottle chili sauce, 1 cup grape jelly, juice of 1 lemon. In my family these are everyone's favorite on Christmas Eve.
Such a favorite! Perfect for football tailgates too!
The Costco meatballs are good.
We have also used the Costco meatballs, esp. for bit parties. They are quite good and the perfect size. We use a very similar recipe but use Heinz Chili Sauce in place of ketchup. I like the idea of serving it over rice to make a meal out of it.
i've had this with apricot preserves and it was good, but i think using grape jelly sounds AWESOME! i haven't had grape jelly on anything since a pb&j approximately 15 years ago, and now i'm craving it like mad!
I have a similiar sauce like that but no allspice in it. I will add that next time.
I usually use chili sauce or bbq sauce instead of ketchup, and have been known to use whatever flavor of jam we have on hand!
Meatballs are one of my go-to crockpot meals because the kids love them and you can pair them up with so many different sides. It has been so hectic since school started that we usually have them once a week. My daughter has started saying "Yay! Meatball night!"
I think this is an old recipe, isn't it? I seem to remember seeing this as appetizers for dinner parties. Some things just never go out of style!
We always have a package of those meatballs in the freezer for nights like that.
I must say when I saw you add grape jelly to your sauce, it made me smile. Back in high school, my cooking class teacher suggested adding it to spaghetti sauce and everyone was like "eeew"… but, after trying it, we loved it!
Oh yummy, yum!
Hi Robin! Email me if you want to be my guest on RE.
Hugs!
Robin Sue – Rob makes the best meat balls. I have used this sauce with min. meatballs, cut up kielbasa, or cocktail hot dogs as an appetizer. Mom
I had this at a pot luck one time and was astonished at how good it was! Although they used barbecue sauce and hot pepper jelly – yum!
Thanks for the reminder! Perfect for football games.
Biz- now that sounds like a good combo!
Thanks for the reminder about this recipe. Like a lot of other commenters, our recipe calls for chili sauce. It was the PERFECT dinner for my swine-flu battling family! Thanks!
I usually do th costco meatballs with hoisen sauce and they disappear. This sounds yummy too!
Ah, I've been making these for years – they are awesome! I love telling people what's in the sauce when they say how delicious they are – LOL!
These meatballs look so lovely & tasty!!
Yum yum Yum,…
The past two nights, I've sent my husband out for sandwiches. Know exactly how you feel. I remember a recipe my mom used to make decades ago with ketchup, grape jelly and hamburger meatballs–she called them Swedish meatballs and they were great!
That really is a great recipe! I've made it before, using chili sauce instead of ketchup, and no allspice. Next time I'll add the allspice though, to give it a little punch!
I've named "Big Red Kitchen" for the "One Lovely Blog" award over at my blog! It's been a pleasure to read through your posts!
http://fuzzykoalacakecompany.blogspot.com/2009/10/feeling-and-sharing-love.html
I've done the same thing with Costco meatballs! I do meatballs with a can of cream of mushroom soup, a can of consomme beef, a package of onion soup mix and a can of water. Dump it in the crock pot or cook it on the stove top. Serve over mashed potatoes.
I found you through Foodie Blogroll, by the way!
ahh I feel like that all the time…This sounds like a perfect "lazy" meal, love the sauce!
Hey, Robin Sue. I left a "surprise" for you at my blog. Go see! : )
~Michelle
This is one of those great recipes that every kitchen should have.
Mimi
My mom did those meatballs also only she used currant jelly with chili sauce