Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs (Crockpot)
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5.0
24 reviews
Excellent
Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs (Crockpot)
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Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs are tender and slow cooked in a tangy cranberry and barbecue sauce. Just dump the ingredients into your crockpot and heat!
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds meatballs frozen, fully cooked
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce canned or homemade (see below)
- 1-1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce use your favorite brand, I love Bone Suckin' Sauce
Optional
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- parsley or chives for garnish chopped
OPTIONAL Homemade Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
- 12 ounce cranberries fresh, rinsed and soft ones removed
- 1-1 ½ cups sugar More for sweeter sauce, I used less for this recipe
- ¾ - 1 cup water use full cup if not using bourbon
- ¼ cup bourbon optional, if using, use ¾ cup of water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 large naval orange zested and cut in half
- 4 whole cloves
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Instructions
Cranberry Sauce Instructions, if making
- In a medium saucepan combine cranberries, sugar, bourbon, water and zest. Push two cloves into each half of the orange and push down into the cranberry mixture.
- Stir over medium heat until cranberries start to burst, about 10 minutes, then reduce heat to simmer for about another 10 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and orange halves. May be made up to 5 days ahead of time, cooled completely and refrigerated in an airtight container.
Cranberry Meatballs
- Mix together cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce and if using Worcestershire sauce in the bottom of a 6 quart or larger crockpot. Stir in frozen meatballs making sure to coat well.
- Cover and cook: LOW 3-4 hours HIGH 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Garnish with fresh cut parsley or chives, serve hot. See below for how to make on stovetop or oven.
Equipments used:
Notes
- Stovetop Cranberry Meatballs | Pour all sauce ingredients into a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch Oven. Stir and add frozen meatballs, stir to coat. Heat low heat between 25 to 30 minutes to heat the meatballs all the way through. Stirring occasionally.
- Pour all sauce ingredients into a large, heavy-bottomed pot or
- . Stir and add frozen meatballs, stir to coat. Heat low heat between 25 to 30 minutes to heat the meatballs all the way through. Stirring occasionally.
- Oven-Baked Cranberry Meatballs | Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Stir all sauce ingredients in an oven-safe pot or 9x13-inch casserole dish. Stir and add frozen meatballs, stir to coat. Cover meatballs with foil or lid, baking for 25-30 minutes or until the meatballs are heated through. Larger meatballs may take longer to heat.
- reheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Stir all sauce ingredients in an oven-safe pot or 9x13-inch casserole dish. Stir and add frozen meatballs, stir to coat. Cover meatballs with foil or lid, baking for 25-30 minutes or until the meatballs are heated through. Larger meatballs may take longer to heat.
- Variations & Substitutions
- For Christmas meatballs with cranberry chili sauce, replace the BBQ sauce with the same amount of chili sauce.
- Storage Tips
- Refrigerate | Store cooled, leftover meatballs and sauce in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
- Freezer | These cranberry and barbecue meatballs freeze beautifully. Cool completely placing in an airtight container or baggie, up to three months.
- Reheat | Thaw overnight in fridge, rewarm in microwave, oven (350 covered for 25 minutes), stovetop (over low heat, until warmed through) or crockpot, adding a little water if needed.
- Spicy Cranberry Meatballs | For Christmas meatballs with cranberry chili sauce, replace the BBQ sauce with the same amount of chili sauce.
- Swap Out the Cranberry Sauce | To change it up, use a good preserve instead of cranberry sauce. Try grape, strawberry, raspberry, or your favorite flavor of jelly. Orange marmalade would also be delicious. Also while I prefer whole cranberry sauce to the jellied cranberry sauce it can also be used.
- Cranberry Jalapeño Meatballs | Add 1-2 minced jalapeño's for a nice kick! Or try a few shakes of red pepper flakes or ¼ cup of chili sauce to the recipe for a little more spice.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
3meatballs
Calories
343kcal
(17%)
Carbohydrates
44g
(15%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
13g
(20%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
Cholesterol
44mg
(15%)
Sodium
347mg
(14%)
Potassium
302mg
(9%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
38g
(76%)
Vitamin A
119IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
11mg
(12%)
Calcium
30mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 15-20 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 343 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 3meatballs | |
| Calories | 343kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 15% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 44mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 347mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 302mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 38g | 76% |
| Vitamin A | 119IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 30mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
24 reviews
Excellent
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