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Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs

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CrockPot Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs are a delicious appetizer that is always a hit! It takes just a few minutes to prepare the homemade meatballs and the slow cooker does the work! The sauce is savory 

Use lean sirloin to keep the calories down so you can enjoy without any guilt! Cranberry Cocktail Meatball are perfect for Game Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, any of your parties!

Delicious cranberry meatballs on a white platter

 

Between watching football on the weekends and it being the Holidays, appetizers are on my mind! Who doesn’t love appetizers? Sometimes my family just has a few appetizers for dinner! We call it fun food night! 

These amazing crock pot cranberry meatballs are always a part of fun food night as well as any time I am making appetizers!

Crockpot cranberry cocktail meatballs come together very quickly! My Mom always made festive cocktail meatballs using grape jelly. Years ago, I was making appetizers for a tailgate party and planned on making my Mom’s meatballs. 

I had an abundance of cranberry sauce, don’t ask me why!  I have issues with overbuying grocery items!

Back to my meatballs, I was making appetizers for a tailgate party! I figured what the heck, give cranberry sauce a go in my cocktail meatballs! Hello, Delicious!!!  Cranberry meatballs have become a staple for my family gathering!

One of the greatest things about a crock-pot is the ability to fix and forget! I don’t want 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!  

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

Ingredients You Need to Make Cranberry Meatballs:

 Cranberry sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, low-salt ketchup, why low-salt ketchup because quite frankly that is what I like! There is enough sodium in the world! My favorite little kick is from ground ginger!

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

Can Frozen Pre-Made Meatballs be used to make these Cocktail Meatballs?

Yes, you can use pre-made meatballs! I prefer to make my meatballs from scratch using lean ground beef.  I have also made these with ground turkey and chicken, both are fantastic alternatives for these meatballs! If you have an extra 10 minutes, make the meatballs fresh, so delicious!

Do the cocktail meatballs freeze well?

Absolutely. 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

What goes well with Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs?

These meatballs also make a great meal! Serving suggestions: 

Love cranberries, here are a few of my favorite cranberry recipes:

 

Meatballs with a savory cranberry sauce on a white platter

 

 

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How to Make Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs:

  1. In a large bowl combine the lean 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. cranberry meatballs in a sweet and spicy sauce in a slow cooker
  4. Serve and enjoy

 

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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 cocktail 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!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cocktail party, holiday appetizer, Tailgate Food
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 167kcal
Author: Eileen xo

Ingredients

Meatball

  • 2 pounds 90% lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup skim milk
  • 1 cup plain whole wheat bread crumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Cranberry Sauce

  • 14 ounce can cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup low-salt ketchup
  • 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • dried chopped chives, optional garnish
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Meatballs

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

Cranberry Sauce

  • In the crockpot, combine the cranberry sauce, low-salt ketchup, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the meatballs. 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.
  • Meatballs can be prepared ahead and reheated. Meatballs can also be frozen and used at a later date.

Notes

Note 1: 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. 
Note 2: 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: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 223mg | Potassium: 201mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 3.2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 2mg
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Comments

  2. Our favorite go-to meatball appetizer. Every time we make these, I have to double or triple the recipe and they disappear immediately.

    Reply

  5. I’ve never had cranberry cocktail meatblls before. Ill have to try these next time I make some. i always do mine in the crockpot. Definitely my go to way to cook meatballs

    Reply

  14. These look outstanding! I’ve never heard of meatballs make with cranberry, but it sounds intriguing. I’ll have to make these for the family soon!

    Reply

  15. I don’t usually make meatballs for the super bowl, but these look awesome! I tend to stay in the clearly Mexican food genre, I’m not sure why. This year I am going to try and branch out a bit though.

    Reply

  20. These meatballs look so good! I’ve been searching for a good crock pot meatball recipe for my Super Bowl party. I’m planning on using frozen meatballs as a base though, partly because I’m lazy and partly because there’s lots of other cooking to do!

    Reply

  21. I love crockpot meatballs. These would be perfect for the big game this weekend. I know whenever I make crockpot meatballs for parties, they are one of the first things gone!

    Reply

  23. I am going to have to try this recipe out. They sound divine. I haven’t had them and my mother in law makes a very tasty cranberry sauce that would be perfect for them.

    Reply

  28. I made meatballs for the first time last month. I had no idea how easy they were to make, so I swore to make them more often. I’ll have to try this recipe.

    Reply

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