Easy Cranberry Meatballs (Slow Cooker Appetizer)
These 3-ingredient Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect appetizer for the holiday season, or any time you want to host a gathering! Crockpot meatballs are simple to make but loaded with flavor and taste like you spent hours slaving over them!
The holiday season is a time for gathering with family and friends, sharing laughter, and enjoying delicious food.
Among the chaos of planning festive gatherings, I find gravitate toward any easy recipe that allows me to enjoy the moment without being trapped in the kitchen.
These Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs make the perfect holiday appetizer and have become a staple dish for our family gatherings!
They are sooo good!
These tasty crockpot cranberry meatballs are effortless to prepare (only 5 minutes of prep time!) and make a no-fail crowd-pleasing easy appetizer.
With just three simple ingredients, I can whip up a sweet and tangy treat that captures the flavor of the holidays.
Whether served on toothpicks, a plate, or a bun, these meatballs are always met with smiling faces at your Christmas or New Years Eve party. They also work well for game day parties!
When time seems in short supply during the holidays, these Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs help me to remember to put my focus on where I really want it – enjoying the time together with family and friends.
If you want more holiday appetizer recipes, try my Easy Cheesy Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread Recipe or Cranberry Brie Bites!
Ingredients Needed For Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
- Meatballs – fresh or save time using frozen store-bought meatballs
- BBQ Sauce – use your favorite BBQ sauce
- Cranberry Sauce – canned cranberry sauce and homemade cranberry sauce
both work well!
NOTE – For more crowd pleaser recipe details, please refer to the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of the post!
How To Make Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
Step 1 – Add Ingredients To Crock Pot
Place all ingredients in your Crockpot and stir well to combine.
Step 2 – Cook
Secure the lid on your Crockpot. Set the heat to high and the timer to 3.5 hours.
When done cooking, stir well to coat.
Step 3 – Serve And Enjoy
Keep the crockpot on its warm setting if you plan to serve these cranberry sauce meatballs for a party.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs Recipe Notes And Tips
- This recipe is extremely easy to double or triple if serving a large crowd.
- Choose your favorite flavor of meatballs. A few of my favs are beef, turkey, pork, ground chicken, or all of the above. Turkey meatballs work really well in this recipe!
- Prefer your own homemade meatballs? They would be perfect in this recipe.
- If you need to save some time, place the meatballs in an oven-safe baking dish and pour the sauce directly over the meatballs. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1.5 hours.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatball Recipe Variations
- If you want to turn these party meatballs into spicy cranberry meatballs, add a splash of soy, hoisin, hot sauce, or a few red pepper flakes.
- Serve these yummy slow cooker cranberry meatballs as cocktail meatballs on fun cocktail picks with various cheeses and crackers.
- Include these meatballs in your holiday Charcuterie board!
- Serve these tangy meatballs on mini-hoagie buns or slider buns with a side of chips.
- Garnish with sliced green onions or fresh parsley.
- Although these 3-ingredient cranberry meatballs are one of our favorite appetizers for holiday parties, you can also serve them as a main dish over rice or mashed potatoes for an easy weeknight dinner!
- Swap out the cranberry sauce for grape jelly. YUM!
- Add a splash of orange juice for a little citrus flavor in your cranberry BBQ meatballs!
Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs FAQs
This easy recipe makes one of the most festive appetizers I can think of. Check out these answers to common questions.
Yes, you can! Add all the ingredients to a large pot and simmer over medium-low heat. You may need to add a bit of water, orange juice, or lemon juice to keep the sauce from burning. Check often and stir occasionally.
If you have any leftover meatballs (and that’s a big IF), they will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container or sealed storage bag.
I would not recommend using raw meatballs. It will take too long for them to cook completely leaving the sauce and overcooked and the meatballs an undesired texture.
If you are using pre-packaged, frozen meatballs, you should not refreeze them. Freezing them again will change the texture and possibly the flavor.
If you are using homemade meatballs, prepare the dish as directed in the recipe. Allow to cool completely and place in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 – 3 months.
Yes! It doesn’t really matter whether you use jellied or whole cranberry sauce – the taste is the same!
More Easy Holiday Dishes To Try
- Turkey Cranberry Sliders (Leftovers Recipe)
- Easy Pumpkin Bread Pudding Recipe (With Caramel Sauce)
- Easy Candy Cane Cherry Danish With Cream Cheese
- Pumpkin Chiffon Pie (Easy No-Bake Recipe)
- Cauliflower Stuffing Casserole
Pin For Later!
Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
These 3-ingredient Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs are perfect for the holiday season, or anytime you want to host a gathering! They're simple to make but are loaded with flavor and taste like you spent hours slaving over them!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs meatballs, frozen
- 2 cups BBQ sauce, of choice
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
Instructions
- Add meatballs, BBQ sauce, and cranberry sauce to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 3 1/2 hours.
- Stir to coat the meatballs well with the sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
