Is it the holiday season without cocktail meatballs? If you're looking for an easy appetizer recipe that's sure to be a crowd favorite, you have to make these 3 ingredient cranberry meatballs!
You'll love these cranberry meatballs
They're so easy to make. With just three ingredients, these BBQ cranberry meatballs come together in no time! They're the perfect holiday appetizer, but they're also a great easy weeknight dinner recipe, too!
They're the perfect appetizer. Who doesn't love a bite-sized appetizer? When you bring these in a slow cooker, you can have them sit on the "warm" setting and they can sit out at all your holiday parties to snack on all night!
They're delicious. With the combination of BBQ sauce and cranberry jelly, these party meatballs are so flavorful and such a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
Cranberry Sauce. I recommend using a jellied cranberry sauce, I like how the jellied sauce combines with BBQ sauce to make the perfect consistency for the sauce.
BBQ Sauce. You can use whatever BBQ sauce is your favorite! I really like Sweet Baby Ray's, but don't be afraid to experiment with different BBQ sauces.
Frozen Meatballs. I love using AmyLu's Cranberry Jalapeno Chicken Meatballs for this recipe! They add that extra sweetness of cranberry and the jalapeno gives it a little kick.
Fresh Jalapenos. If you want a spicy cranberry sauce, I recommend adding some diced fresh jalapenos to this recipe! I think 1 jalapeno will be just fine.
How to make cranberry meatballs
There are two ways you can cook these cranberry meatballs, depending on your preference!
Cranberry meatballs on the stovetop
- In a large pan over medium heat, combine your two sauces.
- Add your frozen meatballs and stir until covered.
- Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes.
- Uncover, and turn the heat up to high and cook for 10 minutes.
- Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and serve as an appetizer or with rice and veggies for a meal.
Crockpot cranberry meatballs
If you are bringing these to a party, I recommended making these as slow cooker cranberry meatballs. That way you can bring the crockpot to the party, and set it on "warm" to serve these Crock-Pot meatballs.
- Combine your two sauces and place your frozen meatballs into the crockpot.
- Stir until the meatballs are covered.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Tips for making cranberry meatballs
Cornstarch. If your sauce isn't as thick as you want it to be, don't be afraid to add a bit of cornstarch! I recommend mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water. This all depends on what kind of cranberry sauce and BBQ sauce you use, and how thick you prefer your sauce.
Store-bought Meatballs. I recommend using frozen pre-cooked meatballs to make this recipe even easier! You can of course use homemade meatballs, I personally have never done that knowing that homemade meatballs tend to be a bit softer than frozen.
Serving cranberry meatballs
I recommend serving these immediately in a large bowl, or having them sit in a Crockpot on the "warm" setting to make sure the cranberry meatballs recipe stays hot all night! If you aren't looking to serve them as an appetizer, I recommend roasting some of your favorite veggies and serving these with a side of veggies and rice! Not only do they make a great appetizer for family gatherings, but they're also such an easy dinner recipe.
Substitutions and variations
Meatballs. I recommend using frozen meatballs, and you can use whatever kind you like! Ground turkey meatballs, ground beef meatballs, or chicken meatballs.
Extra Flavor. If you want to add a bit of extra flavor, here are somethings you can include in the recipe! 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, pinch of red pepper flakes, bit of orange zest, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or 1-2 tablespoon of garlic powder or onion powder.
Spicy Sauce. If you want
Storing leftover meatballs
Store any leftover meatballs you have in an airtight container in the fridge.
FAQs
What is the difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry jelly?
Cranberry sauce is a bit thinner compared to cranberry jelly! I prefer using cranberry jelly for these 3-ingredient cranberry meatballs.
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Want more easy appetizer recipes?
3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs
Is it the holiday season without cocktail meatballs? If you're looking for an easy appetizer recipe that's sure to be a crowd favorite, you have to make these 3 ingredient cranberry meatballs!
Ingredients
- 20-25 oz frozen meatballs (this is about 20-25 meatballs)
- 1 ½ cup BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Instructions
Cranberry meatballs on the stovetop
- In a pot over medium heat, combine your two sauces.
- Add your frozen meatballs and stir until covered.
- Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes.
- Uncover, and turn the heat up to high and cook for 10 minutes.
- Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and serve as an appetizer or with rice and veggies for a meal.
Crockpot cranberry meatballs
If you are bringing these to a party, I recommended making these as slow cooker cranberry meatballs. That way you can bring the crockpot to the party, and set it on "warm" to serve these Crockpot meatballs.
- Combine your two sauces and place your frozen meatballs into the crockpot.
- Stir until the meatballs are covered.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Notes
Tips for making cranberry meatballs
Cornstarch. If your sauce isn't as thick as you want it to be, don't be afraid to add a bit of cornstarch! I recommend mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water. This all depends on what kind of cranberry sauce and BBQ sauce you use, and how thick you prefer your sauce.
Store-bought Meatballs. I recommend using frozen pre-cooked meatballs to make this recipe even easier! You can of course use homemade meatballs, I personally have never done that knowing that homemade meatballs tend to be a bit softer than frozen.
Serving cranberry meatballs
I recommend serving these immediately in a large bowl, or having them sit in a Crockpot on the "warm" setting to make sure the cranberry meatballs recipe stays hot all night! If you aren't looking to serve them as an appetizer, I recommend roasting some of your favorite veggies and serving these with a side of veggies and rice! Not only do they make a great appetizer for family gatherings, but they're also such an easy dinner recipe.
Substitutions and variations
Meatballs. I recommend using frozen meatballs, and you can use whatever kind you like! Ground turkey meatballs, ground beef meatballs, or chicken meatballs.
Extra Flavor. If you want to add a bit of extra flavor, here are somethings you can include in the recipe! 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, pinch of red pepper flakes, bit of orange zest, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or 1-2 tablespoon of garlic powder or onion powder.
Spicy Sauce. If you want to add a bit of heat, I recommend adding 1 fresh jalapeno, diced to the sauce!
Storing leftover meatballs
Store any leftover meatballs you have in an airtight container in the fridge.
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