Looking for a crowd-pleasing dish that’s effortless to make? This easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs recipe has you covered! Perfect for holiday gatherings, game days, or family dinners, these sweet and tangy meatballs are a breeze to prepare thanks to just three simple ingredients and your slow cooker.
By using store bought frozen meatballs you’ll end up with a mouthwatering appetizer in a delicious sauce with just a few minutes of prep time. Simply toss everything into the slow cooker, set it, and let the flavors blend into a deliciously sticky glaze.
No need to spend hours in the kitchen—this recipe lets you focus on enjoying your guests instead of managing the stove. With its ease, flavor, and versatility, this dish will quickly become a favorite in your recipe collection for any occasion.
Besides the ingredients below you’ll also want to use your favorite slow cooker. If you have one that has a warm setting then this will be perfect for keeping the meatballs at the perfect temperature for your guests during your gathering.
Double the batch and keep the extra as back up to refill the slow cooker if it starts to run low during your gathering.
Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
Ingredients for this Crockpot Cranberry Meatball Recipe
Cranberry Sauce – you’ll want to use a can of cranberry sauce (about 14 ounces). I like using whole cranberry sauce but you can also use jellied cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce or even leftover cranberry sauce for this recipe.
BBQ Sauce – use your favorite brand and flavor of BBQ sauce. We’ve tried lots of different flavors and they all taste great with the tart cranberry sauce.
Frozen Pre-Cooked Meatballs – for this recipe you’ll need a 24 ounce bag of frozen store-bought meatballs.
To make this Cranberry Meatball recipe:
Add the cranberry sauce and BBQ sauce to the slow cooker and mix until combined.
Add in the frozen meatballs and stir to coat them evenly in the sauce.
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
That’s it! The combination of cranberry and BBQ sauce creates a deliciously sticky, flavorful glaze for the meatballs. Simply toss everything in the slow cooker, give it a good stir, and let it cook for 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low. Your kitchen will be filled with a mouthwatering aroma as they simmer!
Ingredient Swaps & Tips
This recipe is super versatile, so feel free to get creative if you want to mix things up:
Cranberry Sauce Swap: If you don’t have cranberry sauce on hand, you can swap it out for jelly. Try grape jelly to create grape jelly meatballs for a similar sweet and tangy flavor. Apricot preserves and orange marmalade also taste delicious and add a unique twist to this recipe.
BBQ Swap: replace the BBQ sauce with Chili Sauce. While both sauces are tomato based BBQ sauce often includes molasses, brown sugar and has a smokey flavor while Chili Sauce is more similar to a spicy ketchup. However, they both taste delicious when combined with sweet cranberry sauce.
Meatballs Variations: While traditional beef or pork meatballs are common, try chicken or turkey meatballs for a lighter option. If you prefer homemade, just form small meatballs (cocktail meatball or party meatball sized) and freeze them before adding to the slow cooker.
What to Serve with Cranberry Meatballs
These cranberry meatballs can easily be a standalone appetizer, but here are some ideas for turning them into a meal or pairing them with complementary dishes:
As an Appetizer Platter: Serve with cocktail picks or small forks and pair with a selection of cheese, crackers, and veggie sticks for an easy and crowd-pleasing platter.
Over Rice or Mashed Potatoes: For a more filling meal, serve the cranberry meatballs over brown or white rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles. The sauce adds a wonderful flavor that soaks into these sides.
Alongside Roasted Veggies: Lighten things up by serving with a side of roasted or steamed vegetables, like green beans, carrots, or broccoli. The fresh veggies balance out the richness of the meatballs.
In Sub Sandwiches: If you’re looking to switch things up, place the cranberry meatballs in hoagie rolls with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese for a quick and easy meatball sub.
Tips for Perfect Cranberry Meatballs
Stir Occasionally: To ensure the meatballs are evenly coated and cooked, stir them every hour or so if possible.
Double the Recipe: This recipe scales up easily to feed a larger crowd. You can double the ingredients and use a larger slow cooker or even more than one if you are feeding a really big crowd.
Keep Warm Setting: If you’re serving these at a party, keep the slow cooker on the “Warm” setting to ensure they stay at the perfect temperature for hours. Be sure to give the remaining meatballs a stir now and then to keep all the meatballs evenly heated.
These cranberry meatballs are a hit no matter the occasion, and their simplicity means you can spend more time enjoying yourself instead of cooking!
Can you make this on the stovetop?
Sure you can! You can easily make this on the stove top instead of the crockpot.
Combine the BBQ sauce and cranberry sauce in a large sauce pan or stock pot and mix until combined. Add the meatballs, stir to coat them in the sauce. Turn to medium heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally until the meatballs are fully heated through.
Shut off the heat and serve.
Looking for other easy appetizer recipes? You may like some of these:
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3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs
Equipment
- Slow cooker
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 14 ounce Cranberry Sauce
- 12 ounces BBQ sauce
- 24 ounces Meatballs frozen, mini or cocktail size
Instructions
- Add the cranberry sauce and BBQ sauce to the slow cooker and mix until combined.
- Add in the frozen meatballs and stir to coat them evenly in the sauce.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
Nutrition
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