🧆 Classic Party Cocktail Meatballs
The ultimate vintage party appetizer. Tender, scratch-made beef meatballs simmered in a legendary sweet and savory chili-jelly glaze.
Ingredients
The Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ cup dried bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon snipped parsley
- 1/3 cup minced onions
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup shortening (for browning)
The Signature Sauce:
- 1 bottle (12 oz) Heinz chili sauce
- 1 jar (10 oz) Welch's grape jelly
Preparation Instructions
- Shape the Meatballs: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the ground beef, dried bread crumbs, milk, egg, snipped parsley, minced onions, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently shape the mixture into uniform 1-inch balls.
- Brown: Melt the shortening in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown them evenly on all sides. Once browned, carefully remove the meatballs from the skillet and pour off the remaining fat.
- Meltdown the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the bottle of Heinz chili sauce and the jar of Welch's grape jelly. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the jelly is completely melted and smooth.
- Simmer to Finish: Return the meatballs to the skillet, stirring gently to coat them completely in the sauce. Simmer uncovered over low heat for 30 minutes, allowing the glaze to thicken.
💡 Party Variation (Cocktail Sausages): Easily substitute the meatballs with 4 jars (4½ oz each) of cocktail sausages. Simply discard the meatball ingredients/steps, melt the sauce together in your skillet, add the sausages, and simmer for 20 minutes.