With just 5 minutes of prep, these crockpot meatballs simmer in a mouthwatering cranberry bbq sauce that’s perfect for a party or holiday!
When cooking for a party, who wants to deal with a bunch of complicated recipes? Not me! This crockpot meatballs recipe takes just 5 minutes of prep time, and 3 ingredients!
Has the weather officially cooled down in your part of the world? Ours is supposed to towards the end of this week, and I can’t WAIT!! I’m so over the 90 degree weather, and ready to slide right into slow cooker season… full of soups, chilis, and appetizers. Like these cranberry bbq crockpot meatballs!
Everyone has had some version of these meatballs at a party, and they’re always one of the most popular dishes aren’t they? Some people go for straight up bbq sauce, some do the grape jelly/chili sauce combo, but either way, they’re delicious! My version uses a mouthwatering combination of your favorite bottled bbq sauce, and cranberry sauce.
That combination may seem odd to you… but I beg you, just try it once, and I’m sure you’ll love it!! Plus, using the cranberry sauce means you have a perfect use for any leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. I don’t know about your family, but in my family, no one ever wants to take the cranberry sauce… but you can bet I will be this year!
I typically use sweet baby rays or head country bbq sauce, but go for whatever kind you like the best. Here are some great flavor mix-ups:
- Use a spicy bbq sauce
- Use a honey bbq sauce
- Add canned chipotles in adobo sauce in addition to the bbq sauce
- Caramelize some diced onion and add it alongside the meatballs
These crockpot meatballs would be perfect for so many things… a football party, New Years Eve party, appetizer dinner (love fixing those!), or a standard dinner, alongside some great mashed potatoes! How do you think you’ll serve them?
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For this recipe, I’ve kept it pretty simple and easy, since most of us are in a rush pretty much from now until… hmmm…. January? I used frozen meatballs from the grocery store, but feel free to substitute your own homemade meatballs if you’d like! Just brown and cook them before adding them to the slow cooker.
Who’s ready for about 8000 of those meatballs?? Okay, maaaaybe not 8000, but I guarantee you can’t have just one! 😉
HELPFUL TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE:
- Slow Cooker – I’ve had this one for years and it works like a champ, yet is inexpensive!
- BBQ Sauce – this is the sauce we use the most.
- Cranberry Sauce – I prefer this jellied version, but the whole berry version works too!
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Ingredients
- 32 oz frozen appetizer size meatballs, thawed (approximately 60-65 meatballs)
- 17 oz bottle of your favorite bbq sauce
- 14 oz can jellied cranberry sauce (or equivalent amount of homemade cranberry sauce)
- fresh parsley, minced optional garnish
- black pepper, optional garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together bbq and cranberry sauce. Set aside.
- Add thawed meatballs to bottom of slow cooker, pour sauce over top and stir to combine.
- Cover, and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours. For a more glaze-like consistency, take the lid off during the last 30 minutes to an hour.
- If desired, garnish with a sprinkle of parsley and pepper.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Rita says
Love these recipes
Cindee Draper says
I was taken to this link when I clicked on a Low Carb meatball appetizer. While these look delicious, I don’t see any nutrition info and i does not seem to be low carb.
The Chunky Chef says
I can’t control who links to my recipes, so someone may have linked to the wrong recipe. Since this isn’t a health-focused website, and I’m not a nutritionist or dietician, I don’t provide full nutritional information for recipes as there is a potential for error, and I wouldn’t want to potentially and/or unknowingly pass along incorrect information.
Diana Caldwell says
So easy! So good! My boyfriend is not easy to please but he really did like the flavor of these. I used honey BBQ rather than regular as that is what I had on hand.
Karen says
My mom made these for a Super Bowl party. Followed recipe exactly, just doubled it. Lots of compliments; was excellent!! Out of 60 meatballs, only 10 left!! Thank you, Amanda for another winner!!
Amy says
I tried these at Christmas and everyone loved them!
Lily says
Can you make ahead and reheat them?
The Chunky Chef says
Sure can!
Rob says
Do you think it would be ok to double this recipe?
The Chunky Chef says
As long as it will fit in your crockpot, then yes 🙂
Mike says
Why do you thaw the meatballs, they come fully cooked and will thaw as they heat in the crockpot.
The Chunky Chef says
To avoid excess liquid in the crockpot.
Viv says
Omg.. I made two large pans of these meatballs for a Birthday party of 60-65 people and I didn’t have a meatball left 😁.. several people asked what was in the meatballs.. i told them I’m glad they enjoyed them.. thank you for your recipe..
Sheree says
Oh my gosh! So good! I made these for a house warming party. I made my own meatballs (my Italian heritage requires it) and used Stubbs sweet and hot bbq sauce. Easy and delicious appetizer.
CAROL DOHM says
did you bake the made from scratch meatballs before putting into crock pot or did you cook them directly in the crock pot with the sauce?
JPed says
Read the recipe; clearly says add cooked, thawed meatballs to Crock-Pot
Cathy @ Lemon Tree Dwelling says
These are so perfect for fall parties!
Krista says
These meatballs need to be at everyones Thanksgiving!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Y-u-m! We both have meatballs on the brain – I made some, too! One of my favorite things, oddly! I love this recipe – the sauce sounds so flavorful!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
I can’t wait to try this cranberry bbq sauce!!
Allyson Zea says
Wow!!!! I can’t wait to make these at my annual holiday party! YUM!
Jen says
I love any and all things cranberry. At our local sandwich shop, they have a holiday sandwich that I always order and LOVE. Do you think I could make subs out of these meatballs?
Julia says
I think these would be perfect for a holiday party!