Slow Cooker Barbecue Cranberry Meatballs

These Slow Cooker Barbecue Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect holiday or game day appetizer! The meatballs are homemade, but you could use frozen and the sauce is just 4 simple ingredients! This crock pot recipe is also great for dinner served over rice!


meatballs scooped by a spoon in a slow cooker.


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meatballs in a red casserole dish.



This recipe was revised, photographed and updated 9/2021.


I hope your week started off fantastic so far! It's been low key around here the last couple days, but we will have a full house tomorrow for New Years Eve. We have some friends and family stopping by to hang out. Can't wait to make some appetizers and have a couple glasses of wine! 

Speaking of appetizers... I have a great recipe for you today! 

Barbecue Cranberry Meatballs! We did appetizers for Christmas at my Dad's house this year and this was what I brought to share. 

They were a hit. Only a few left in the slow cooker at the end of the evening. The sauce is super easy to put together. The meatballs take some time, but they are so tasty and so worth it. 

This recipe can easily be doubled for a large crowd.

We love these meatballs for dinner too! They are wonderful served over some white, brown or a mixture of brown and wild rice.

Hope you love these as much as we did!


Keep scrolling for tips, process photos, additional holiday appetizer recipes and more! 


Thanks so much for supporting a small business and visiting our family owned blog 💕


meatballs scooped by a spoon in a red casserole dish.


What are the ingredients in this recipe?


  • ground turkey
  • eggs
  • breadcrumbs
  • onion
  • steak seasoning
  • cranberry sauce
  • barbecue sauce
  • garlic powder
  • black pepper


Scroll down to the printable recipe card for measurements and instructions!


Recipe tips:


  • Lean ground beef or chicken can be used instead of turkey.
  • Frozen meatballs can be used instead of making your own. Cooking time may need to be increased.
  • These meatballs can be made ahead and frozen for future use. Bake as directed, cool completely, then place in a freezer bag in a single layer. Freeze flat for up to 3 months. Thaw, then cook with the slow cooker with the sauce as directed.
  • Homemade cranberry sauce can be used instead of canned.
  • It is important to bake the meatballs before putting them in the slow cooker. It adds extra flavor and prevents the sauce in the slow cooker from being oily. 



meatballs in a red casserole dish with a slow cooker in the background.


More holiday appetizer recipes you might like:



You can add or substitute with these ingredients:


  • Use homemade cranberry sauce instead of canned
  • Use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper to the sauce for some heat
  • Use ground beef or chicken instead of turkey
  • Use frozen meatballs instead of homemade
  • Top with sliced green onions for garnish
  • Use spicy barbecue sauce instead of regular


I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!


Slow Cooker Barbecue Cranberry Meatballs in a red casserole.

Slow Cooker Barbecue Cranberry Meatballs

Yield: 8 servings
Author: Hot Eats and Cool Reads
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 4 H & 20 MTotal time: 4 H & 30 M

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients until mixed. 
  3. Shape the mixture into 1 1/2 inch meatballs, and place onto a lightly greased baking sheet. 
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
  5. In a bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, garlic powder and black pepper. 
  6. Add meatballs to the slow cooker and pour sauce over top. 
  7. Cover. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Notes:

Lean ground beef or chicken can be used instead of turkey.


Frozen meatballs can be used instead of making your own. Cooking time may need to be increased.


These meatballs can be made ahead and frozen for future use. Bake as directed, cool completely, then place in a freezer bag in a single layer. Freeze flat for up to 3 months. Thaw, then cook with the slow cooker as directed.



Nutrition Facts

Calories

552.25

Fat (grams)

22.29

Sat. Fat (grams)

5.79

Carbs (grams)

55.22

Fiber (grams)

2.06

Net carbs

53.16

Sugar (grams)

36.14

Protein (grams)

33.19

Sodium (milligrams)

1124.21

Cholesterol (grams)

166.70

Hot Eats and Cool Reads is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you try from this blog/website. You may not always have the same results I do due to variations in ingredients, humidity, altitude, cooking temperatures, typos, errors, omissions, or individual cooking abilities. 


You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful. I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual's dietary needs and restrictions are unique to the individual.



Slow Cooker Barbecue Cranberry Meatballs scooped by a spoon with a recipe title text overlay.


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