What to Serve with Grape Jelly Meatballs (11 Easy Sides)
What to serve with grape jelly meatballs?
This is a question I get asked all the time.
And it’s a good one, because there are SO many options for what to serve with grape jelly meatballs!
But sometimes we don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen cooking, so we want easy sides that only take minutes to make—and that’s where I come in.
In this article, I’m going to share with you 11 of my favorite sides that go perfectly with grape jelly meatballs.
These aren’t just any old sides; they’re side dishes that are positively bursting with flavor and are guaranteed to add something special to your meal.
So let’s get right down to it!
What to Serve with Grape Jelly Meatballs?
The best side dishes to serve with grape jelly meatballs are those that can stand up to the bold flavor of the meatballs.
The sweet and tart jelly complements the savory meatball, but you don’t want your side dish to be too sweet or it will overpower the dish.
A few good options are:
- A salad with a vinaigrette dressing.
- A fresh vegetable salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.
- A baked potato served with sour cream and chives on top.
For more ideas, keep scrolling!
1. Baked Beans
One of my favorite side dishes is baked beans, and I usually make it from scratch.
Here’s how:
- I’ll start by soaking 1 cup of dried navy beans overnight in water.
- The next morning, I’ll drain the water and rinse the beans with cold water to get rid of excess starch on their skins.
- Then I’ll cover them with fresh water and cook them until they’re soft enough to mash easily between my fingers—usually about 2 hours on low heat (or longer if you have time).
- Once they’re done cooking, drain the beans again and add them back into your pot along with a tablespoon of salt, a teaspoon of black pepper, half a cup of brown sugar or molasses (or both), one tablespoon of vinegar (I like apple cider vinegar), one tablespoon of chili powder, one tablespoon ground cumin seed… And then stir everything together until it’s evenly mixed!
- Serve warm over your grape jelly meatballs for an extra-savory meal that will leave you feeling satisfied!
2. Bread
Bread is easy to make, and it tastes amazing.
Here’s how I do this:
- I get a loaf of bread and slice it up into pieces so that they’re about the same size as my grape jelly meatballs.
- Then, I put the slices in a bowl and drizzle them with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- After that, I bake them on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes or until they’re light brown in color (but not burnt!).
- When they’re done baking, I put them on a plate next to my grape jelly meatballs and serve them up—it’s an easy way to make sure that everyone has enough food for dinner!
3. Creamed Spinach
Whether you’re eating a meal of grape jelly meatballs, or just want to make sure your guests have something delicious to snack on while they’re watching the game, creamed spinach is a great side dish option.
I love to make it myself from scratch, which is super easy and makes it taste so much better than store-bought!
Here’s how I usually do it:
- First, I heat up some olive oil in a saute pan and toss in some garlic, onion, and mushrooms.
- Then I add some chicken broth, salt and pepper, then let everything simmer until the veggies are tender.
- Now that the veggies are done cooking, it’s time to add the cream cheese! You can use whatever kind you like—I usually go for the full-fat stuff because it makes me feel like there’s more of an indulgence going on here.
- Once that’s melted into the sauce, add some spinach and let it wilt down so it looks all soft and beautiful (and not wilty).
4. Mashed Potatoes
I don’t know about you, but for me, mashed potatoes are the best thing about Thanksgiving.
And if you’re going to make them, you might as well make them from scratch!
Here’s how:
- First, I peel and chop my potatoes.
- Then I boil them until soft.
- After that, I drain the water and mash them with a fork or potato masher (or my food processor if I’m feeling ambitious).
- While they’re still hot, I add butter and milk until they’re creamy—but not so much that they’re runny.
- Then I season with salt and pepper.
Tip: If you want to add more flavor to your mashed potatoes, try adding some garlic powder or onion powder when you season them. You can also add some shredded cheese before serving—that’s a good way to get some protein into your meal without having to cook anything else separately!
5. Collard Greens
Collard greens is one of my favorite meals to make for my family—it’s simple, but it tastes so good!
Here’s how I usually make collard greens from scratch:
- Cut the ends off of the stems and discard them. Then cut the leaves into strips (about 1 inch wide).
- Put your collards in a large pot and cover them with water, then bring them to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender (about 20 minutes).
- Drain off any excess water, then add salt and pepper to taste (I like lots of black pepper!).
- Now that they’re cooked throughly, you can easily add some other things to this meal if you want more variety: just toss in some bacon bits or diced ham before serving!
6. Green Beans
If you’re looking for a delicious side dish to go with grape jelly meatballs, why not consider green beans?
They’re easy to make from scratch, and they go well with sweet and savory dishes alike.
You can also make them as spicy or mild as you want.
Here’s how I make them:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rinse the beans and cut off any bad parts of the stem end (if any).
- Put them in a bowl of water and let them soak for about 30 minutes before cooking them in boiling water for about 15 minutes (or until tender).
- Drain out the water and add some salt, pepper, and butter or margarine while they are still hot enough to melt it all over the surface of each individual bean so that every bite will be seasoned evenly!
7. Buttered Corn
Buttered corn is a great side dish to go with grape jelly meatballs.
I usually make this side dish from scratch, but it’s also easy to get pre-made at the store if you’re in a hurry.
If you have time, I recommend making it from scratch because it’s pretty simple and tastes better than the pre-made stuff!
You can add butter, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to make your own recipe for buttered corn.
Here’s how to do it:
- Just melt some butter in a pan on low heat and add some salt and pepper to taste (I recommend about a teaspoon of each).
- Bring your corn out of the freezer and pour it into the pan with the melted butter mixture until it’s all coated with butter—that way all the flavors will stick together when you cook them up!
- Then turn up the heat so that everything gets nice and hot before serving.
If you’re short on time or don’t feel like cooking from scratch, then buy already prepared buttered corn at your local grocery store or farmers market—just make sure it has no added ingredients besides butter!
8. Mac and Cheese
This side dish is easy to put together and sure to please any group of picky eaters.
I typically make it from scratch, but if you’re short on time, you can use boxed macaroni and cheese to save some time.
Either way, here are some tips for how to prepare it:
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain it well.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt 3 Tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 Tablespoons flour and whisk until smooth. Let cook for 1 minute without browning or burning the roux.
- Whisk in 2 cups milk (whole milk will give your sauce more body), 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper until combined.
- Bring mixture to a boil over high heat while whisking constantly (this will help keep lumps from forming).
- Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until thickened (about 5 minutes), stirring often so as not to burn the bottom of your pot!
9. Rice Pilaf
A simple rice pilaf is one of my favorite sides.
It’s super easy to make, and it goes great with the sweet and savory flavors of the meatballs.
Here’s how I usually make this side dish from scratch:
- Boil 1 cup of rice in 2 cups of water
- Once the rice has cooked through, drain it and add 1 tsp of butter and 1 tsp of salt
- Stir until it all melts together, then add 1 cup of frozen peas (or whatever kind you have on hand) and stir again
- Serve warm alongside your grape jelly meatballs!
10. Potato Salad
When I make potato salad, I always try to make it from scratch.
It’s the best way to be sure that you’re using fresh ingredients, and it’s also really fun!
But if you don’t have time for all that, you can use your favorite jarred brand of potato salad.
Here’s how I do it:
- When I’m making potato salad, I usually boil my potatoes and then cut them into cubes.
- Then I throw some mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper into a bowl and stir it all together.
- Next, I add the cubed potatoes and mix it up again.
- In this meal, however, we’re going to be using grape jelly meatballs instead of plain meatballs—so instead of adding ketchup or barbecue sauce, we’ll be adding grape jelly!
This is going to make for an unusual but delicious side dish that will go perfectly with the grape jelly meatballs!
11. Coleslaw
I love to make coleslaw from scratch, but it’s also pretty easy to just get a bag of pre-shredded cabbage and carrots from the store.
The only thing you have to be careful about with that is making sure the dressing you put on the coleslaw isn’t too sweet—that can clash with the sweetness of the grape jelly meatballs!
I usually add some vinegar and mustard to my dressing when I’m making it from scratch, but if you’re using pre-made dressing, just make sure it’s not too sweet.
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What to Serve with Grape Jelly Meatballs (11 Easy Sides)
Ingredients
- Baked Beans
- Bread
- Creamed Spinach
- Mashed Potatoes
- Collard Greens
- Green Beans
- Buttered Corn
- Mac and Cheese
- Rice Pilaf
- Potato Salad
- Coleslaw
Instructions
- Pick your favorite side dish from this list to serve with your meatballs.
- Prepare the ingredients according to the recipe.
- Be ready to munch in no time!
Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.