Description
These Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are sweet, tangy, and savory with a glossy cranberry-orange glaze. Perfect for holiday parties, potlucks, or as a festive appetizer that stays warm in the slow cooker.
Ingredients
MEATBALLS
- 2 lbs frozen fully-cooked meatballs (beef or turkey)
— OR —
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated onion
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
CRANBERRY SAUCE
- 1 can (14 oz / 397 g) whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (sweet or smoky)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Zest and juice of 1/2 orange
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1–2 tbsp apple cider vinegar for brightness
GARNISH
- Fresh parsley or thyme
- Extra orange zest
Instructions
1. If using homemade meatballs: In a bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, grated onion, egg, garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire. Mix just until combined. Form 1-inch meatballs. Brown in a skillet with a little oil until lightly golden. Set aside.
2. Make the sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, Dijon, orange zest, and orange juice. Warm 3–5 minutes until smooth and glossy.
3. Add meatballs to slow cooker. Pour warm cranberry sauce over the top and toss to coat.
4. Cook on LOW 3–4 hours or HIGH 2 hours, stirring once or twice, until meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened into a glaze.
5. Keep on WARM setting for serving. Garnish with fresh herbs and orange zest. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.
Notes
Make ahead: Assemble everything in the slow cooker insert, refrigerate overnight, then cook the next day.
Storage: Refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a saucepan or slow cooker; add a splash of water if sauce is too thick.
Freeze: Freeze cooked meatballs with sauce up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat.
Serving idea: Keep in the slow cooker on WARM for holiday parties so they stay saucy and hot.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Appetizer, Holiday
- Method: Slow Cooker, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 65mg