Easy Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

meatballs covered in cranberry sauce and garnished with fresh chives in a cast iron skillet with toothpicks - 2

Whether you are in a pinch for an appetizer or are just looking for something yummy to bring to a party or potluck, these easy crockpot meatballs are perfect for you!

After Thanksgiving, there are of course a lot of leftovers. And one of my favorite ways to use up leftover cranberry sauce is in these meatballs! Plus, every party needs a Crockpot full of cranberry sauce meatballs, amiright?

Some of my other favorite appetizers and finger foods include these Italian Pinwheels , Buffalo Chicken Dip and Texas Caviar .

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Growing up, my mom always had meatballs at cocktail parties. In her meatballs, she used chili sauce and grape jelly, which is another killer combo for meatballs.

These cranberry meatballs aren’t just for holiday parties though! They are great for football parties/games, bbq season, or really just because.

Cranberry meatballs ingredients

Want to know why I love these easy Crockpot meatballs? Because you need just four ingredients to make them! Here’s what you’ll need to make this cranberry sauce meatballs recipe:

Frozen turkey meatballs: You’ll need the pre-cooked meatballs found in the frozen section at the grocery store. You can buy your favorite beef, pork or turkey meatballs. A 24 oz. bag is plenty.
Chili sauce: We love the Heinz Chili sauce. It doesn’t make the meatballs spicy, it just adds the perfect touch for sweet and tangy meatballs!
Cranberry sauce: I love making this recipe with my homemade cranberry sauce . I blend the cranberry sauce in a blender until smooth and it’s perfect for this recipe. However, a 14 oz. can of jellied cranberry sauce also works well. You will need to microwave or heat in a saucepan on the stove until melted before adding it into the crockpot.
Green onions: Optional for garnish. You can also garnish with chopped chives or fresh parsley.

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How to make cranberry meatballs

Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe instructions.

In the insert of your Crockpot, whisk together the chili sauce and cranberry sauce. Add the meatballs and stir to combine.
Pop the lid on, then cook on high for up to 2 hours, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Serve meatballs with toothpicks so they’re easier to enjoy at parties, and garnish with a few chopped green onions.

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Tips for the best Crockpot meatballs

I used homemade cranberry sauce in this recipe, but you can make these Crockpot meatballs with a can of the jellied cranberry sauce if needed. I would just add some orange juice and orange zest to give it the sweet and tangy combination we’re looking for. You could also add in a few red pepper chili flakes since my homemade cranberry sauce recipe is a little spicy!
After you add the chili sauce to the slow cooker , swish a little water around in the bottle to make sure you’ve gotten out every last drop.
You can serve these cranberry meatballs straight from the Crockpot (set the temperature to “Warm”) or spear them with toothpicks and set them on a tray for people to pick from.

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More Easy Appetizers

Cheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread with Dipping Sauce

Arancini Rice Balls

Italian Pizza Bites

Butternut Squash Bites

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