Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs with Frozen Meatballs

These Crock Pot meatballs with cranberry sauce are the easiest holiday appetizer I make. Frozen meatballs go straight into the slow cooker with jellied cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar and Worcestershire, and that's it.

The sauce melts into a sticky, sweet and tangy glaze that tastes way fancier than five ingredients and about 15 minutes of work.

I make these for every Christmas party, potluck and cookie swap on the calendar. They hold on the warm setting for the whole party, so I'm not stuck in the kitchen. The first year I brought these to our family Christmas party, the slow cooker was scraped clean before dinner was even on the table. Now I'm on meatball duty every December.

Love an easy meatball appetizer? You'll also love my Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs, these Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs and my Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs.

Things to Know Before Making

• No thawing needed. The meatballs go in frozen, which is what makes this so easy.
• Use fully cooked meatballs. The bagged frozen kind is already cooked, so the slow cooker just heats them through and glazes them.
• Stir every 30 minutes. The cranberry sauce starts as a solid block, and stirring helps it melt evenly and coat every meatball.
• Slow cookers vary. Start checking at the low end of the time range, especially if yours runs hot.
• Doubling it? Use a 6 quart or bigger slow cooker so the meatballs are in a single layer or close to it, and plan on the longer end of the cook time.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Frozen homestyle meatballs - a 26 oz bag of fully cooked meatballs. Plain homestyle or beef meatballs pair best with the sweet sauce. Turkey meatballs work too.
• Chili sauce - the bottled kind that sits near the ketchup, not Asian sweet chili sauce. It brings the tangy, tomato side of the glaze.
• Jellied cranberry sauce - the smooth canned kind melts into a silky sauce. Whole berry cranberry sauce works, but the sauce stays chunkier.
• Brown sugar - light or dark both work. Dark brown sugar gives the sauce a deeper caramel flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce

How to Make Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs

1. Add everything to the slow cooker

Add the frozen meatballs, chili sauce, jellied cranberry sauce, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce to your Crock Pot. Give it a stir so the meatballs are coated.

2. Cook and stir

Cover and cook on high for 1 to 2 hours or on low for 3 to 4 hours. Stir about every 30 minutes so the cranberry sauce melts into the chili sauce.

3. Serve

They're ready once the cranberry sauce has completely melted into a smooth, glossy sauce and the meatballs are hot all the way through (165°F in the center). Switch the slow cooker to warm and set out toothpicks.

Substitutions and Variations

• Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce for a sweet and spicy version.
• Swap the chili sauce for your favorite BBQ sauce for a smokier glaze.
• Stir in a little orange zest right before serving for a bright, Christmas-y twist.
• Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or rosemary over the top for a pop of green on a holiday table.

What to Serve With Cranberry Meatballs

As an appetizer, set them out right in the slow cooker with toothpicks and small plates. For dinner, spoon the meatballs and sauce over white rice or mashed potatoes.

Building a whole party spread? Pair them with my Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Wings, Slow Cooker Creamed Corn and these 25 Easy Christmas Party Snacks for Adults.

Storage and Freezing

• Fridge: Store leftover meatballs in their sauce in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
• Reheat: Warm them in a saucepan over medium-low or in the microwave, stirring often. Add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened.
• Freeze: Cool completely, then freeze the meatballs and sauce in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

FAQs

Do I need to thaw the frozen meatballs first?

Nope. Add them straight from the freezer. Just stir every 30 minutes so the sauce melts evenly.

Can I make cranberry meatballs ahead of time?

Yes. Cook them, let them cool and keep them in the fridge. Reheat them in the slow cooker on low until they're hot, stirring now and then.

Can I use whole berry cranberry sauce?

You can. The flavor is the same, but the sauce will have bits of cranberry in it instead of being smooth.

How do I keep them warm at a party?

Once they're cooked, switch your slow cooker to the warm setting and give them a stir every so often.

Is chili sauce the same as sweet chili sauce?

No. Chili sauce is a tomato-based sauce like a tangy ketchup. Sweet chili sauce is the Asian-style sauce and would change the flavor completely.

For more slow cooker party food, grab ideas from my 24 Easy Crock Pot Appetizers and 25 Christmas Potluck Ideas.