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Home » Appetizers » Cranberry Meatballs (Slow Cooker)

Published: September 14, 2017 Last Modified: August 7, 2019 By Sara 52 Comments

Cranberry Meatballs (Slow Cooker)

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Cranberry Meatballs Recipe | Slow Cooker Meatballs | Slow Cooker Appetizer | Crockpot Meatballs #meatballs #cranberry #appetizer #slowcooker #crockpot #dinneratthezoo
Cranberry Meatballs Recipe | Slow Cooker Meatballs | Slow Cooker Appetizer | Crockpot Meatballs #meatballs #cranberry #appetizer #slowcooker #crockpot #dinneratthezoo Cranberry Meatballs Recipe | Slow Cooker Meatballs | Slow Cooker Appetizer | Crockpot Meatballs #meatballs #cranberry #appetizer #slowcooker #crockpot #dinneratthezoo

These slow cooker cranberry meatballs are a 5 ingredient appetizer that are sure to be the hit of any party!

A crock pot full of cranberry meatballs.

I am sooooo tired of this crazy heat we’ve got going on here in California. It is hot and humid with no sign of it letting up any time before November. I’m dreaming of cooler weather and fall food, like these amazingly easy slow cranberry meatballs. These meatballs take just minutes to put together and they’re sweet, savory and absolutely delicious. I’m thinking this will be the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving or really any fall get together!

A slow cooker full of cranberry meatballs with cocktail forks.

How To Make Cranberry Meatballs

Here’s what you need to make this recipe: frozen meatballs, cranberry sauce, chili sauce, orange juice and brown sugar. That’s it!! You can add a little parsley for color like I did here, but that’s totally optional. You can use your favorite variety of frozen pre-cooked meatballs in this recipe. I like to use turkey meatballs, because turkey and cranberry is a classic combination that can’t be beat. Not to mention, turkey meatballs tend to be a little lighter than their beef and pork counterparts, so you won’t fill up too much before the main course. I use a jellied cranberry sauce because I like a smooth sauce for my meatballs, but you could use a whole berry sauce if you prefer.

Cranberry meatballs in a crock pot topped with parsley.

Remember those old school meatballs with grape jelly sauce? This is a similar concept expect the cranberry sauce keeps things on the more savory side because it’s not as sweet as grape jelly. While these cranberry meatballs are perfect for appetizer hour, they also make a great dinner served over rice with a side of broccoli.

I am so excited to serve these easy meatballs all fall and winter long, I know my family and friends are going to adore them!

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A crock pot full of cranberry meatballs.
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5 from 12 votes

Cranberry Meatballs

These slow cooker cranberry meatballs are a 5 ingredient appetizer that are sure to be the hit of any party!
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 306kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 2 lb bag frozen pre-cooked meatballs I recommend turkey meatballs
  • 1 12 ounce bottle chili sauce
  • 1 14 ounce can jellied cranberry sauce
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • optional: 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Place the cranberry sauce in a bowl and microwave at 45 second intervals until just melted.
  • Whisk in the chili sauce, orange juice and brown sugar; stir until mostly smooth.
  • Place the meatballs in a slow cooker and pour the sauce over them.
  • Cook for 4 hours on LOW then serve, topped with parsley if desired.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Ocean Spray.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 623mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g
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Filed Under: Appetizers, Slow Cooker

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    Comments

    1. Lauren says

      February 14, 2022 at 8:23 am

      5 stars
      I made these for superbowl yesterday; They were so easy to throw together and absolutely delicious! They were such a hit! You know it’s good when you get asked for the recipe!

      Reply
    2. Frances H. Backhaus says

      December 30, 2021 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      Can you use fresh cranberries sauce?
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        December 30, 2021 at 4:37 pm

        Yes that’s fine!

        Reply
    3. Nancy says

      December 11, 2021 at 10:13 am

      The recipe says Cook Time 3 hours, but the instructions say to cook for 4 hours. Which is it?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        December 13, 2021 at 8:37 am

        It is 4 hours

        Reply
    4. Boston Baking Bear says

      December 10, 2021 at 3:56 pm

      Do you use frozen Italian meatballs or Swedish meatballs for this? I was thinking the garlic and cheese in Italian would clash with the flavors in this recope…

      Reply
      • Sara says

        December 13, 2021 at 8:29 am

        You want a neutral flavored meatball!

        Reply
    5. Carin says

      November 26, 2021 at 4:32 am

      The chili sauce makes me nervous. Are these spicy or more savory?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 26, 2021 at 8:21 am

        The recipe calls for Heinz chili sauce, which is very similar to ketchup and not particularly spicy!

        Reply
    6. MountainLady says

      April 7, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      5 stars
      I made this at the holidays and it was fantastic. It’s now going to be a holiday appetizer staple at my house. Easy, delicious and zero leftovers = WINNING!

      Reply
    7. Terry Linetsky says

      September 18, 2020 at 6:08 pm

      By mistake I added toooo much brown sugar. How do I doctor up the sauce to take away the sweetness ?
      HELP.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 19, 2020 at 9:53 pm

        You could try adding more cranberry and chili sauces!

        Reply
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