This sweet and tangy cranberry meatball recipe is a great party appetizer that uses up leftover or canned cranberry sauce. This easy recipe is made in the crockpot or slow cooker with frozen meatballs, bbq and chili sauce. Ready in about 3 hours.
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Why you'll love this recipe
It's so easy! You know that easy recipes are the jam around here! And this one couldn't be easier. Just dump the ingredients into the crockpot, set and forget it!
It's made with seasonal ingredients. You'll love this yummy way to use up that leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce. I use this Fresh Cranberry Sauce recipe. Or, if you're into the canned variety, just buy and extra and use that!
Great for parties or anytime you need to feed a crowd. This cranberry meatball recipe is great for feeding family and friends during the holidays. It's also a nice take along for pot lucks and buffets.
Ingredients
How do I make crockpot cranberry meatballs
Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray. Toss frozen meatballs in.
Combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, bbq sauce, and pineapple together.
Pour the sauce over the meatballs. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
Garnish with sliced green onions or chopped parsley. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over rice or pasta as a main dish.
Recipe notes and tips
I used frozen meatballs that came in a 32 ounce bag. There were about 60 meatballs total that were about half an ounce each. Feel free to use homemade. Be sure meatballs are pre-cooked.
This cranberry meatball recipe is versatile. No cranberry sauce? No problem. A small jar (12-20 ounces) of grape, strawberry, or (seedless) raspberry jam, will make a great substitute.
A spicy BBQ sauce will give this dish the most tang. However, you can use your favorite even if it's more on the sweet side. Ketchup will also work!
Crushed pineapple is optional, but I like the added sweetness it gives the dish. You can use ¼ cup brown sugar instead.
Add some water to the crockpot if the sauce is getting too thick. Start with about ⅛ of a cup and add more as necessary. Stir to combine.
More crockpot/slow cooker recipes to try
Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
Crockpot Loaded Mashed Potatoes
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 32 oz pkg pre-cooked frozen cocktail meatballs, or homemade about 60 meatballs that are .5 oz each
- 1 to 2 cups leftover cranberry sauce or 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
- 12 oz jar chili sauce
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- 8 oz can crushed pineapple undrained or 1 cup fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray. Toss frozen meatballs in.
- Combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, bbq sauce, and pineapple together. Pour over meatballs.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
- Garnish with sliced green onions or chopped parsley. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over rice or pasta as a main dish.
Notes
- This cranberry meatball recipe is versatile. No cranberry sauce? No problem. A small jar (12-20 ounces) of grape, strawberry, or (seedless) raspberry jam, will make a great substitute.
- A spicy BBQ sauce will give this dish the most tang. However, you can use your favorite even if it’s more on the sweet side.
- Crushed pineapple is optional, but I like the added sweetness it gives the dish. You can use ¼ cup brown sugar instead.
- Add some water to the crockpot if the sauce is getting too thick. Start with about ⅛ of a cup and add more as necessary.
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