Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese Dip

If you need an easy appetizer that feels a little special (but takes almost no time), this pepper jelly cream cheese dip is the one. It’s sweet, a little spicy, and always disappears fast—whether you’re hosting friends, headed to a potluck, or putting together a last-minute snack board.

We love making this with our Cherry Habanero Pepper Jelly for that perfect balance of fruity sweetness and real habanero heat. It’s one of those “keep a jar in the pantry” recipes you’ll come back to again and again.

Thank you so very much for supporting our small business and letting us be part of your table.

Prep time: 5 minutes

• Cook time: 0 minutes

• Serves: 6–10 (depending on how snacky your crowd is)

• Best for: parties, holidays, grazing boards, last-minute guests

• Made with: pepper jelly (we love using our Cherry Habanero)

Get the pepper jelly we use: HERE

Quick Recipe Snapshot

• Prep time: 5–10 minutes

• Cook time: 2–4 hours (slow cooker)

• Serves: about 8–10 as an appetizer

• Best for: parties, potlucks, game day, holiday appetizers

• Made with: pepper jelly (we love our Cherry Habanero)

Ingredients

• 2 lbs frozen fully-cooked meatballs (or homemade, cooked)

• 3/4 cup pepper jelly

• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite)

• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (or a squeeze of lemon)

Optional (but delicious):

• 1–2 tsp garlic powder

• pinch of red pepper flakes (if you want extra heat)

• sliced green onions or chopped parsley for serving

Instructions

1. Add the meatballs to your slow cooker.

2. In a bowl, whisk together pepper jelly, BBQ sauce, and vinegar.

3. Pour sauce over the meatballs and stir to coat.

4. Cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1.5–2 hours, stirring once or twice if you can.

5. Serve warm with toothpicks.

Tips & Variations

• Make it sweeter: add a little extra pepper jelly.

• Make it tangier: add another splash of vinegar.

• Serving idea: set out with a small stack of slider buns for “mini meatball sliders.”

• For entertaining: keep the slow cooker on WARM and let guests help themselves.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or microwave.

Where to Buy Pepper Jelly (and thank you)

If you’d like to make these with that sweet fruit + habanero kick, you can grab our Cherry Habanero Pepper Jelly right here.

We appreciate you so very much for supporting our small business.

Shop Cherry Habanero Pepper Jelly → https://www.southernpreserved.com/shop/p/cherry-habanero-pepper-jelly