Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs make the perfect appetizer or a simple dinner when served with rice. Only a few simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep time for this delicious slow cooker meatball recipe!
Crockpot recipes are the best. Spend a few minutes in the morning for a dinner that is completely ready right when you are ready to eat later! This meatball recipe is perfect for fall with a little bit of cranberry and a little bit of apple flavoring. The perfect balance of savory and sweet!
I love this Crockpot Cranberry Meatball recipe because it starts with frozen meatballs. Can’t get much easier than that. We use this recipe as an appetizer for large parties because it makes so many! Just add a toothpick to each meatball and watch them disappear.
But we also love to eat this for dinner. Just make a batch of rice and serve the meatballs on top – really filling and absolutely delicious!
Ingredients in Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
Frozen meatballs – You will need one (48 oz) package of frozen meatballs. There should be about 80 meatballs in a package. You can use any type of meatball that you want – usually Homestyle meatballs work the best. You probably don’t want to use Italian meatballs because they already have quite a bit of flavors that don’t necessarily pair very well with the flavors in the recipe.
Apple jelly – Use one (10 oz) jar. Just dump the whole thing in there!
Cranberry juice – You don’t need much, but the flavor is just incredible. Even if you don’t love cranberries or cranberry juice – I promise!
Ketchup – Adds a little bit of thickness and flavor to the sauce.
Brown sugar – Adds some richness and sweetness. Don’t leave it out!
Chili sauce – You’ll need a 12 ounce bottle. Choose whatever variety you like the best. You can choose a sweet variety if you aren’t a big fan of spice, but you can use hot chili sauce if you like a little bit of heat!
Lemon juice – I like to use the kind in the bottle because it’s easy and I always have some in the fridge, but you are welcome to freshly squeeze some lemon juice if you’d like!
How to make Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
In a large bowl, mix everything but the meatballs together and then add in the meatballs and stir together. Put it all in a crockpot and then cook for 3 hours on high or about 4-5 hours on low. Serve over rice.
Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pkg frozen meatballs about 80 meatballs
- 1 10 oz jar apple jelly
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 12 oz bottle chili sauce sweet if you don’t like spicy, hot chili sauce if you do!
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix everything but the meatballs together and then add in the meatballs and stir together. Put it all in a crockpot and then cook for 3 hours on high or about 4-5 hours on low. Serve over rice.
Nutrition
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How to make perfect rice in the Instant Pot
My favorite way to make rice these days is in the Instant Pot. Really fast and simple and the rice comes out perfectly every time. I know there is a rice button on the Instant Pot, but I’ve found a better way.
Add the rice in a 1:1 ratio with water or chicken broth. Close and seal the Instant Pot and set to Manual High for 5 minutes. Let the rice cook and then just leave everything sealed until the pressure releases naturally – don’t do a quick release!
LIKE THIS EASY CROCKPOT RECIPE? TRY THESE OTHER CROCK POT RECIPES ~
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- Crockpot Chili
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- Best Pork Tenderloin Marinade recipe
- Easy Slow Cooker Pork Recipe
Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs make the perfect appetizer or a simple dinner when served with rice. Only a few simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep time for this delicious slow cooker meatball recipe!
LIsalia says
Yummy! Holiday flavors + crockpot = always a winner!! These are easy to make and so delicious.
Katie says
Looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one!