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Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs

Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs, an easy sweet and spicy cocktail meatball appetizer for holiday parties or game day.

Blackberry jalapeno meatballs in serving bowl.

I brought a jar of blackberry-jalapeño conserves home this summer because someone told me it makes great BBQ meatballs.  You know, the sweet and spicy sticky ones often found on the party buffet table.   So I mixed the conserves (jelly/jam) with BBQ sauce and frozen cocktail meatballs, and made in the pressure cooker.  Super easy, super fast, and super good.

Hand holding meatball with toothpick.

We're talking three ingredients here, hello?  I never realized how those sweet and spicy cocktail meatballs were actually made.  I just loaded my plate up with them at Super Bowl parties, graduation parties and holiday open houses.  They are tasty and gone in a flash.

Closeup of BBQ meatballs in serving bowl.

I'm not sure why my jar of blackberry-jalapeño stuff is called conserves, I got it from a small Amish farm in Illinois.  It looks like and has the consistency of a cross between jam and jelly.  Use whatever it is called, as long as it's sweet and spicy like blackberry~jalapeño.

HOW TO MAKE SWEET AND SPICY BBQ COCKTAIL MEATBALLS IN THE INSTANT POT

Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs, step by step collage photo.

  1. Place trivet in the Instant Pot insert and some water.  Add frozen meatballs and cook for 5 minutes under high pressure.
  2. Remove meatballs and discard water.  Add jelly and BBQ sauce.  Turn on sauté setting.
  3. Stir until jam/jelly is melted and sauce is smooth.
  4. Add cooked meatballs back to sauce and toss and coat.  Yum!

Overhead photo of meatballs in white bowl.

If you can't find blackberry jalapeño jam or jelly, try something else that's spicy.  I've seen strawberry jalapeño, raspberry jalapeño or just mix regular pepper jelly, the green stuff, with a berry fruit jam.  That'll work!  Look in the specialty areas in the grocery stores or your favorite fruit and vegetable stand for these specialty jams and jellies.

Blackberry jalapeno BBQ meatballs in serving bowl.

I'm pretty sure this mixture of blackberry-jalapeño jam and BBQ sauce is similar to the gazillion slow cooker cocktail meatball recipes made with grape jelly.  It's the same thing, except changed up to blackberry jelly with a spicy kick from the jalapeño and made in about a half hour total in the Instant Pot.  Pretty cool! 

Next time you're tasked with making or bringing an appetizer for a crowd, you can't go wrong with these sweet and spicy BBQ meatballs.  Have a good one, Kelly

Bowl full of meatballs with tootpicks in them.

Need more ideas for a crowd?  Try this Texas Caviar, it, too, disappears fast!  And you can never go wrong with this favorite, Chipped Beef Dip!

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Overhead photo of meatballs in white bowl.

Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs

Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs, an easy sweet and spicy cocktail meatball appetizer for holiday parties or game day. They disappear fast!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Bring to pressure: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 60 meatballs
Calories: 74kcal

Ingredients

  • 32 ounces frozen cocktail meatballs
  • 16 ounces blackberry jalapeno jelly/jam/conserves (2 cups)
  • 16 ounces BBQ sauce (2 cups)

Instructions

  • Place trivet in Instant Pot insert and 1 cup water.  Add frozen meatballs.  Seal and cook under high pressure for 5 minutes.  Quick release pressure.  Remove meatballs and set aside.  Discard cooking water.
  • Add blackberry jalapeño jelly and BBQ sauce to insert.  Set to low on sauté feature.  Stir until jelly is melted and sauce is smooth.
  • Return meatballs to Instant Pot and toss to coat thoroughly.  Switch to warm and serve, or remove to serving bowl and serve.

Recipe Notes

This makes plenty of sauce, you can certainly make more meatballs, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 74kcal Carbohydrates: 8g Protein: 3g Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 11mg Sodium: 89mg Potassium: 67mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 6g Vitamin A: 18IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 6mg Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

 

Recipe Rating




KathyB

Sunday 6th of November 2022

Omg, these are FABULOUS! I combined a cup of plain blackberry jam with a cup of jalapeño pepper jelly dice it was what I had in the fridge. And Duke’s Southern BBQ sauce. I served them with plain white rice. So SO good!

Pam

Tuesday 4th of October 2022

Also try Major Grey's Chutney as the sauce. Sooo good.

Meathead

Thursday 27th of December 2018

You'll hit the Jackpot with these Instant Pot Meatballs!