There’s nothing like meatballs as a game day treat, a party appetizer, or served over rice with a side of veggies as the main dish for dinner. The 2 classic meatball recipes we all know are Swedish meatballs and spaghetti and meatballs. But, have you ever tried chipotle meatballs? Once you do, you might just be making this recipe all the time!

To make this yummy dish, you’ll need to start by making the basic meatball recipe, which has grated parmesan cheese that adds depth of flavor. After combining all the meatball ingredients, they are ready for a short bake in the oven.

To make the savory-sweet honey chipotle BBQ sauce requires two ingredients you might not casually have in your pantry, but they make all the difference in the world: cherry preserves and chipotle chilis in adobo sauce.

While some meatball recipes use grape jelly to add sweetness and a brighter flavor, the cherry preserves in this recipe act similarly. The spice level of this recipe isn’t too hot, but you can always add some rooster sauce or dried chipotle if you want to go for something even spicier.

Once the sauce ingredients are combined and the meatballs cooked, it’s time to layer them in the slow cooker and set it to low. After 2 hours, with one stir in the middle of cooking, the meatballs are ready to be served. They look (and taste) really nice with a garnish of chopped green onion or parsley.

This recipe can be served as an appetizer or as the main dish- it’s up to you! Either way these flavorful and tender meatballs are a crowd-pleaser.