Description
These Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are the ultimate festive appetizer—sweet, tangy, savory, and irresistibly easy. Made with tender meatballs coated in a glossy cranberry BBQ sauce, they’re perfect for holiday parties, potlucks, and Christmas dinner spreads.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1–2 lbs frozen homestyle meatballs
- 1 can (14 oz) whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (sweet, smoky, or hickory)
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes or hot sauce
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley
Instructions
- Add the frozen meatballs to a slow cooker or large pot.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir to coat evenly.
- Cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.
- If cooking on stovetop, simmer on low for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm with toothpicks.
Notes
These meatballs are perfect for holiday parties because they stay warm in a slow cooker. For a sweeter sauce, add more brown sugar. For more tang, add extra cranberry sauce. Make ahead-friendly—simply reheat before serving!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 610mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: cranberry meatballs, holiday appetizers, Christmas meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, party food, festive recipes