• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Travel Palate
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About Me
  • Meal Plan
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
cranberry meatballs
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
cranberry meatballs
×
Home ≫ Appetizers

Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

By Nikole Berg Nov 21, 2020 · Updated: Mar 18, 2024

5.4K shares
  • Facebook
Pin Recipe Jump to Recipe
cranberry meatballs

This sweet and tangy cranberry meatball recipe is a great party appetizer that uses up leftover or canned cranberry sauce. This easy recipe is made in the crockpot or slow cooker with frozen meatballs, bbq and chili sauce. Ready in about 3 hours. 

A bowl of cranberry meatballs.
A simple appetizer you can make in the crockpot!

Email me the recipe!

Enter your email and I'll send it to your inbox!

Plus get all our new recipes too!


Why you'll love this recipe

It's so easy! You know that easy recipes are the jam around here! And this one couldn't be easier. Just dump the ingredients into the crockpot, set and forget it!

It's made with seasonal ingredients. You'll love this yummy way to use up that leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce. I use this Fresh Cranberry Sauce recipe. Or, if you're into the canned variety, just buy and extra and use that!

Great for parties or anytime you need to feed a crowd. This cranberry meatball recipe is great for feeding family and friends during the holidays. It's also a nice take along for pot lucks and buffets.

Ingredients

Frozen meatballs, bbq sauce, chili sauce, cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple.
Put leftover cranberry sauce to good use!

How do I make crockpot cranberry meatballs

Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray. Toss frozen meatballs in. 

Combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, bbq sauce, and pineapple together. 

The frozen meatballs in the crockpot. The sauce next to the crockpot.

Pour the sauce over the meatballs. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. 

The sauce poured over the frozen meatballs.

Garnish with sliced green onions or chopped parsley. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over rice or pasta as a main dish.

Recipe notes and tips

I used frozen meatballs that came in a 32 ounce bag. There were about 60 meatballs total that were about half an ounce each. Feel free to use homemade. Be sure meatballs are pre-cooked.

This cranberry meatball recipe is versatile. No cranberry sauce? No problem. A small jar (12-20 ounces) of grape, strawberry, or (seedless) raspberry jam, will make a great substitute.

A spicy BBQ sauce will give this dish the most tang. However, you can use your favorite even if it's more on the sweet side. Ketchup will also work!

Crushed pineapple is optional, but I like the added sweetness it gives the dish. You can use ¼ cup brown sugar instead.

Add some water to the crockpot if the sauce is getting too thick. Start with about ⅛ of a cup and add more as necessary. Stir to combine.

A bowl of cranberry meatballs topped with sliced green onions.
An easy appetizer that feeds a crowd.

More crockpot/slow cooker recipes to try

Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

Slow Cooker Meat Sauce

Crockpot Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Thank you for reading this recipe! If you make it, I’d love for you to give it a ★ rating  below. This lets me know what you like and want to see more of.

And since you made it this far, let’s connect on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! I appreciate your support.

📖 Recipe

Email me the recipe!

Enter your email and I'll send it to your inbox!

Plus get all our new recipes too!

A bowl of cranberry meatballs.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs

Recipe by Nikole Berg
This sweet and tangy cranberry meatball recipe is a great appetizer that uses up leftover or canned cranberry sauce. This easy recipe is made in the crockpot or slow cooker with frozen meatballs, bbq and chili sauce. Ready in about 3 hours.
4.92 from 12 votes
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 4 hours hrs
Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 310 kcal

Equipment

Crockpot/Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 32 oz pkg pre-cooked frozen cocktail meatballs, or homemade about 60 meatballs that are .5 oz each
  • 1 to 2 cups leftover cranberry sauce or 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 12 oz jar chili sauce
  • 1 cup bbq sauce
  • 8 oz can crushed pineapple undrained or 1 cup fresh, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray. Toss frozen meatballs in.
  • Combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, bbq sauce, and pineapple together. Pour over meatballs.
  • Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
  • Garnish with sliced green onions or chopped parsley. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over rice or pasta as a main dish.

Notes

  • This cranberry meatball recipe is versatile. No cranberry sauce? No problem. A small jar (12-20 ounces) of grape, strawberry, or (seedless) raspberry jam, will make a great substitute.
  • A spicy BBQ sauce will give this dish the most tang. However, you can use your favorite even if it’s more on the sweet side.
  • Crushed pineapple is optional, but I like the added sweetness it gives the dish. You can use ¼ cup brown sugar instead.
  • Add some water to the crockpot if the sauce is getting too thick. Start with about ⅛ of a cup and add more as necessary.

Nutrition

Serving: 5meatballsCalories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 14gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 679mgPotassium: 347mgFiber: 1gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 170IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
Keyword appetizers, cocktail meatballs, party food
Tried this recipe?Click here to leave a helpful tip!

more Appetizers recipes

  • Mango pineapple salsa.
    How to Make Mango Pineapple Salsa
  • Balsamic vinegar bread dip.
    Balsamic Vinegar Bread Dip
  • Ground beef Doritos nachos casserole in a white baking dish with garnishes.
    Ground Beef Doritos Nachos Casserole
  • Air fryer slider on a plate with burger sauce dripping over the patty.
    Air Fryer Sliders with Caramelized Onions

About Nikole Berg

Nikole is the creator and photographer behind The Travel Palate, a food and travel blog featuring quick and flavorful recipes and getaway guides. Nikole hopes to inspire your inner foodie whether you're in the kitchen or traveling on your next adventure.

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

4.92 from 12 votes (12 ratings without comment)

Did you make the recipe? Share a tip here! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

cranberry meatballs
a young lady with a hat on smiling

Welcome! I'm Nikole, the blogger, photographer, and recipe developer dedicated to bringing you recipes that maximize flavor with minimal effort.

More about me →

Trending

  • Stuffed zucchini with ground beef and melted cheese.
  • Greek chicken pasta salad.
  • Crockpot chicken and rice casserole.
  • Easy Chicken Dorito Casseorle.
See more Main Dish →

Footer

cranberry meatballs

↑ back to top

About

  • About
  • Privacy Policy

Subscribe

  • Sign Up! for the latest recipes delivered via email

Connect

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

As an Amazon Affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Copyright © 2018-2025 The Travel Palate

All Rights Reserved

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.