• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Everyday Eileen
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Let's Go Shopping
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Let's Go Shopping
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Let's Go Shopping
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Recipes » Appetizer & Snacks

Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs

Published: Dec 18, 2018 · Modified: Dec 6, 2020 by Eileen xo

Thank you for sharing!

688 shares
  • Share67
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

CrockPot Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs, these are delightful little treats that are a little tangy yet  savory. They are are slow cooked in blend of cranberry sauce, ketchup and spices that tenderize the meat. It takes just a few minutes to prepare the sauce and meatballs. These tasty treats are perfect for Game Day, Christmas, New Year's Eve, any of your family gatherings.

Delicious cranberry meatballs on a white platter

CrockPot Cranberry Meatballs

Between watching football on the weekends and it being the Holidays, appetizers are on my mind. Sometimes my family just has a few appetizers for dinner. We call it fun food night.

My Mom always made festive cocktail meatballs using grape jelly. Years ago, I had an abundance of cranberry sauce and I decided to try this recipe with cranberry sauce. Hello Delicious!

Cranberry meatballs have become a staple for my family gathering.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

One of the greatest things about a crock-pot is the ability to fix and forget. No one wants to spend the entire game, party, or Holiday in the kitchen and miss all the fun.

These little babies are a quick fix and no fuss so I can focus on my family and friends.

These flavors make a great combination of tangy and sweet and everyone is just plain happy.

Mouthwatering cranberry meatballs on a platter with fresh thyme ready to be served as an appetizer

FAQs and Tips

Can I use frozen pre-made meatballs?

Yes, you can use pre-made meatballs. I prefer to make my meatballs from scratch. If you have an extra 10 minutes, make the meatballs fresh, so delicious.

Storage

These meatballs are an awesome make ahead recipe. You can prepare the meatballs and once cooled, keep the crockpot vessel in the fridge until ready to reheat. They can alsp be placed in an oven save casserole dish to reheat later.

After they are cooked, store the leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for up to 3 days.

These meatballs freeze really well. Either store in freezer safe bags or use a food saver to preserve the meatballs. They keep in the freezer for 3-4 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and warm either in the oven or on low in the slow-cooker until heated through.

Cranberry meatballs have been slow cooked for hours in a sweet/spicy sauce on a platter ready to be served

Serving Suggestions

We enjoy these meatballs as a meal over any of the following:

  • Egg Noodles
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Low-Carb Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
  • Roasted Spaghetti Squash

Some other cranberry recipes

  • Cranberry Orange Relish
  • Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast
  • Cleansing Cranberry Tea

 

Meatballs with a savory cranberry sauce on a white platter

Step by Step Instructions

  1. In a large bowl combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, onion and garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper. Combine well. Set aside.
  2. In a crockpot, mix together cranberry sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire Sauce.
  3. Add in meatballs. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.A crockpot full of meatballs in cranberry sauce.
  4. Serve and enjoy

When you make this recipe, take a pic and tag me on Instagram @everyday_eileen or #everydayeileen

Keep up to date with recipes and posts by following me on:

FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, TWITTER

Love this recipe, it would be awesome if you give it a 5-star rating and share comments below.

The most delicious crockpot cranberry meatballs that have been slow cooked and now served on a platter with a sweet and spicy sauce.

Crock Pot Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs

A delicious treat for any party. These cranberry meatballs are slow cooked in cranberry sauce. These are fantastic prepared a day ahead and reheated for your guests. Always a party favorite. A wonderful recipe that is freezer friendly to have a batch ready any time.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberry meatballs, easy cranberry meatballs, tangy cranberry meatballs
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 189kcal
Author: Eileen Kelly

Equipment Needed:

  • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

Meatball

  • 2 pounds 80% ground beef
  • ¼ cup milk Note 1
  • 1 cup plain bread crumbs Note 2
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper

Cranberry Sauce

  • 14 ounce can cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup ketchup low-salt ketchup can be used
  • 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • fresh chopped parsley, optional garnish
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Meatballs

  • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, milk, plain bread crumbs, eggs, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt and pepper. Gently combine all ingredients to blend. Shape into meatballs approximately 1 inch round.

Cranberry Sauce

  • In the crockpot, stir together cranberry sauce, ketchup, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Gently place the meatballs in the slow cooker with the prepared cranberry sauce, recipe below
  • Cook on low for 3 hours, check for tenderness and meat should be cooked through. Should take no more than 4 hours to complete cooking.
  • Ready to serve. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, optional
  • Meatballs can be prepared ahead and reheated. Meatballs can also be frozen and used at a later date.

Notes

Note 1: 80/20 ground beef is my preferred choice for best flavor. 80% or leaner can be used. 
Note 2: Plain whole wheat or Panko breadcrumbs can be used. 
Note 3: Cranberry Meatballs can be made ahead and frozen for a later date. Defrost in the fridge and warm in the slow cooker or in the oven until warm. Slow cooker about 1 hour and oven 20 minutes.
Note 4: For variations, feel to swap chili sauce or BBQ sauce for the ketchup.
  • Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 259mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 97IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

More Easy Appetizer and Snack Recipes

  • Chicken Taquitos Recipe, Air Fryer or Baked
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Stromboli
  • Keto Taco Cups Recipe
  • Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Recipe

Thank you for sharing!

688 shares
  • Share67
  • Tweet
  • Yummly

The cookbooks are on sale via Amazon

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Eileen! This is where I share all my family-tested recipes! Mostly quick and easy recipes with the occasional indulgence we all need.

More about me →

  • Mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Reader Favorites

  • Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
  • The Best Chicken Rub Recipe
  • Homemade Air Fryer Fish Sticks
  • Pecan Sandies Recipe
  • Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
  • Easy Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

Soups to warm you!

  • Broccoli Beer Cheese Soup
  • Crockpot Corn Chowder Recipe
  • Creamy Mushroom Barley Soup Recipe
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
Copyright © 2023 · everydayeileen.com · Privacy Policy