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Sweet and Tangy Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs
4.85 from 96 votes

Cranberry Meatballs Recipe (Crock-Pot)

Cranberry Meatballs are made by slow-cooking frozen meatballs in a sweet and tangy homemade cranberry bbq sauce. So easy to make, these delicious little meatballs are the perfect holiday or party appetizer!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 84 mini meatballs (varies)
Calories: 50kcal

Tools

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh cranberry sauce - homemade or store bought
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoon brown sugar
  • tablespoon hot sauce - I used Frank's RedHot (optional)
  • 5 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne - optional
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 40 oz frozen party meatballs
  • Fresh chopped parsley - to garnish

Instructions

  • Make the sauce: In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the cranberry sauce, hoisin sauce, ketchup, red wine vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, hot sauce (optional), minced garlic, ground ginger, and cayenne (if using). Mix until fully combined and add fresh cranberries (you may also mix everything together directly in your slow cooker).
  • Add everything to the slow cooker: Add the frozen meatballs to the bowl of a 6-8 quart slow cooker. Pour in the cranberry sauce and stir well to combine.
  • Cook: Turn on the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours, or until the sauce is bubbly and the meatballs are heated through.
  • Keep warm and serve:. Once fully cooked, place your slow cooker on the warm setting until ready to serve. Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Notes

  • If you're extremely sensitive to spicy foods, or you're preparing these for a large group of people, consider starting with 1 tablespoon of hot sauce or holding off and adding it at the end.
  • Pro tip- make your own cranberry sauce! It's super easy and tastes like a million bucks.

Nutrition

Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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