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Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

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Sweet, tangy cranberry sauce meatball appetizers are perfect for holiday gatherings! Easy to make, delicious to eat, and a little kick of jalapeno makes these a guaranteed a crowd-pleaser!
Total time for the recipe to be finished.30 minutes
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Cranberry meatballs in an iron skillet.

Searching for the perfect appetizer for game day or the holiday season? Look no further than my delicious Cranberry Sauce Meatballs recipe! This crowd-pleaser is easy to make in a slow cooker or on the stove with just a few simple ingredients.

The sweet, tangy, meaty combination is the kind of party food people remember long after a gathering has ended.

Cranberry sauce meatballs in a skillet with a serving spoon.
Table of Contents

🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite

  • This recipe takes just a few minutes of prep time and is packed with mouthwatering, savory-sweet flavor.
  • From casual family gatherings to festive holiday parties, cranberry meatballs are an easy appetizer fit for any occasion!
  • Crockpot meatballs stay warm all night long, but you can also speed up cooking time by using the stove-the choice is yours.

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for cranberry meatballs recipe.

📖 Make it your own: yummy variations

  1. Cranberry sauce gives this holiday appetizer a festive flavor, but many people like to use grape jelly instead to switch things up.
  2. Y'all know I love a little heat. To adjust the spice level of your cranberry jalapeno meatballs, simply use more or less jalapeno.
  3. Try using these candied jalapenos instead of fresh!
  4. If you can't find chili sauce, your favorite type of barbeque sauce will work in a pinch. For a spicy sauce, choose a hotter kind or use a little sriracha.
  5. Feel free to use any pre-cooked meatballs you like. Homemade or store-bought meatballs, beef or turkey meatballs-anything will do!
  6. Have some homemade cranberry sauce left over from the holidays? This party appetizer is a great way to use it up.

📖 Recipe

Cranberry meatballs in an iron skillet.

Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

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Sweet, tangy cranberry sauce meatball appetizers are perfect for holiday gatherings! Easy to make, delicious to eat, and a little kick of jalapeno makes these a guaranteed a crowd-pleaser!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American - Vintage
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings:16
Calories:236
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces jellied cranberry sauce
  • 12 ounces Heinz chili sauce, or your favorite bbq sauce
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 32 ounces frozen fully cooked home-style meatballs, thawed
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, more to taste; seeded and chopped - optional
  • sliced green onions to garnish

Instructions

Top of the stove

  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the first 6 ingredients; stir until sugar is dissolved.
  • Add meatballs; cook until heated through, 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Slow cooker

  • Heat sauce ingredients as directed. Add sauce and meatballs to slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, 2-3 hours.
  • If there's too much liquid remove cover and allow to cook and extra 30 minutes or so.

Notes

Old fashioned chili sauce is different than the Asian versions and can be hard to find, at least in my area. Heinz chili sauce is the most widely available.
If you can't find chili sauce you can use bbq sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 320mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 176IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.

The cranberry sauce ingredients in a pan.

Mix orange juice, cranberry and chili sauces, sugar, and (if using) jalapenos.

Whisking the sauce ingredients together.

Heat the sauce ingredients in a large saucepan until the sugar dissolves.

Adding the thawed meatballs to the cranberry sauce.

Add thawed meatballs to the sauce. (Optional: transfer to slow cooker if using.)

The cooked meatballs in cranberry sauce topped with green onion.

Cook on the stove for 20-25 minutes or in the slow cooker for 2-3 hours.

🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -

Try to use jellied cranberry sauce instead of a regular can of cranberry sauce. The flavor is similar, but the jellied cranberry sauce has been strained to have a silky, smooth texture.

zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive

🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat cranberry sauce meatballs

Cranberry sauce meatballs keep great in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy 'em within three or four days.

Reheat leftover meatballs in the microwave or on the stove until hot again. I like to add a splash of orange juice (or a little water) to loosen the sauce.

Like most frozen meatball recipes, I don't recommend freezing leftovers. The quality of the meat isn't as good when it's frozen and thawed twice.

Two cranberry sauce meatballs on a toothpick.

Marye's Tip o' the day

Rather than a platter, keep the meatballs in a bowl or the slow cooker. Serve with toothpicks, plates, and a big spoon. This way, the meatballs will stay warm, and guests can help themselves to more sauce if they'd like

💭 Insider tips: things to know

  1. Try to look for old-fashioned chili sauce or Heinz chili sauce-it's different from the Asian versions that are commonly sold today.
  2. If the sauce is too thin, take the lid off the slow cooker and let it heat a little longer.
  3. On the other hand, if your sauce starts thickening too much as it sits on the warm setting, add a splash of liquid and put the lid back on.
  4. This is one of my favorite appetizers, but you could turn it into a main dish by serving it over white rice with broccoli or spinach on the side.

👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!

Can I use leftover cranberry sauce in this recipe?

Yep. I like jellied cranberry sauce because it's smooth and ready to go, but I also like using up leftovers. So, go for it!

Can I use my own homemade meatballs?

Sure thing, but the meatballs have to be fully cooked before you put them in the cranberry sauce. If you're making homemade, I recommend shaping them a little smaller than usual.

Is this cranberry meatball recipe gluten-free?

For gluten-free party meatballs, you'll have to make sure that the jellied cranberry sauce is gluten-free. (Many are, but double-check to be sure.) Meatballs also usually have bread crumbs, so be sure to buy or make gluten-free meatballs.

How long can I keep slow cooker cranberry meatballs on the warm setting?

The Crockpot manual warns against keeping food on the warm setting for any longer than four hours.

How do I thaw a bag of frozen meatballs quickly?

If you don't have time to thaw the bag in the fridge overnight, fill up a large container with cool water (or plug up your sink). Submerge the bag of meatballs in the water. This method usually only takes about a half hour.

Are these meatballs very spicy?

No, my cranberry jalapeno meatballs have a good balance between sweet, savory, and just a little spicy. If you're nervous about the heat, use less jalapeno. Of course, you can always add more if you're worried it won't be spicy enough!

Cranberry sauce meatballs in a serving bowl with toothpicks.

⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -

This is one of my easy recipes that doesn't take much time as it is. Having said that, you can speed up prep more by mixing the sauce ahead of time. Keep it in the fridge for a day or so 'til you're ready for it.

📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love

  • Tangy, sweet, and just a touch spicy, Honey Garlic Meatballs with jalapenos are a versatile appetizer or dinner idea!
  • My Cream Cheese Sausage Balls recipe is a classic Southern appetizer that combines juicy meat with lots of cheese and a kick of chiles.
  • Sweet and spicy lovers rejoice-this Creamy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip is so quick to make and irresistible for the Super Bowl or New Year's Eve.

🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose cranberry sauce meatballs

Cranberry sauce jalapeno meatballs taste great...

...and more! I'd love to hear your creative ideas.

Y'all, I love these tangy little meatballs for those last-minute parties and get-togethers! They are quick, easy, and taste SO good.

Plus the cranberry gives them a festive look - what's not to love?

If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

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