Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs (Crockpot)

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!

Serve these delicious cocktail meatballs with cranberry sauce as an appetizer for Christmas dinner, or use it as a main dish at a holiday party. Directions for oven and stovetop too!

More great recipes for your next holiday party, New Years Eve party or game day; Rosemary Cashews, hot and cheesy Cowboy Crack Dip, or this classy Goat Cheese Log with Hot Honey, Fig, and Pistachios and no appetizer spread is complete without a bright platter of veggies and crudite dip!

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

3-Ingredient Recipes

3 ingredient recipes are the best, at least I think so, not much thinking involved and delicious results. Try my 3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip Recipe (also made in the crock pot), this amazing 3 Ingredient Sausage Dip, or make dinner super simple with this 3 ingredient raspberry Salmon recipe (so good, even Salmon haters love this recipe) and don’t forget this Easy 3 Ingredient Butter Pie Crust Recipe.

Homemade Bourbon Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Make this cranberry sauce and then use your leftover cranberry sauce to make this Cranberry Cream Cheese dip to go along with your cocktail meatball recipe. Easily make this cranberry sauce up to 5 days ahead of time, cool and store in the fridge.

• Fresh cranberries | Remember to rinse them and discard the softer ones.
• Sugar | I use organic cane sugar, but regular white sugar will also work, you might even try using honey or agave!
• Water | Water helps to make the sauce more fluid and meld the flavors.
• Bourbon (optional) | Add some bourbon to the cranberry sauce, please do, it’s so yummy!
• Cinnamon stick | A cinnamon stick brings a little warm spice to the recipe.
• Orange | Use the zest from the orange and two orange halves to add some citrus notes. If no fresh orange is available, replace up to ½ cup of the water with orange juice. For a more tangy sauce you could also use some lemon juice.
• Cloves | Whole cloves bring more warm seasonal spice to the recipe.

How to Make Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

Step 1 | Cranberry Sauce, if making

Grab a medium saucepan and pour in the fresh cranberries, sugar, water, and orange zest. For a richer taste, add the optional bourbon to your cranberry sauce. Remember to toss in the yummy cinnamon stick, too!

Next, slice the orange. Then, press the whole cloves into the two halves and push them down into the cranberry mixture. You want the spiced orange to be submerged in the sauce.

Set the stove to medium heat and stir the mixture for about 10 minutes or until the cranberries burst. Next, reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking for another 10 minutes or so. When finished, discard the cinnamon stick and orange halves. Of course, you may also skip these steps and use a can of cranberry sauce.

Now it’s time to move on to the meatballs. Consider making them in the crockpot, on the stove, or in the oven. The choice is yours!

Step 2 | Crock Pot Cranberry Meatballs

Slow Cooker cranberry meatballs can’t get any easier! All you need to do is pour the homemade or store-bought cranberry sauce, your favorite barbecue sauce, and the optional Worcestershire sauce into a crockpot.

This recipe works best when the crockpot holds at least 6 quarts. Mix the sauce ingredients thoroughly, then stir in frozen meatballs. Be sure to coat them entirely in the sweet and tangy sauce.

Now, the “hard part” is over! Cover the crockpot and cook the recipe on LOW for about three to four hours. If you prefer, cook it on HIGH for two hours. Either way, stir it occasionally to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated, and the meatballs heat evenly.

Stovetop Cranberry Meatballs

The stovetop method is also straightforward. Plus, making them in the crockpot takes a fraction of the time! A great option if you are in a hurry!

Mix the sauce ingredients into a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch Oven. Next, add the frozen meatballs, stirring to coat. Then, cover and heat the tasty recipe over low heat. It will only take about 25 to 30 minutes to cook the meatballs through. Just be sure to stir the ingredients a few times during the process.

Oven-Baked Cranberry Meatballs 

If you choose the oven-baked method, begin the recipe by preheating the oven to 325° F (165° C). Next, dump all the ingredients, stirring sauce together first, then coat frozen meatballs and place in an oven-safe pot or 9×13-inch casserole dish.

Use foil or a fitting lid to cover the recipe while it bakes for 25-30 minutes or until the meatballs are heated. Larger meatballs may take longer to heat.

Garnish

Sprinkling freshly chopped parsley or chives on this cranberry meatball recipe is a great way to add a pop of color for the holiday season.

Variations & Substitutions

• 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 | These meatballs resemble classic grape jelly meatballs. 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.
• Make your own BBQ sauce | Combine 1 ½ cups ketchup, two tablespoons brown sugar, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Mix the ingredients to create a sauce similar to barbeque or chili sauce.
• Cranberry Jalapeño Meatballs | Add 1-2 minced jalapeños 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.
• Homemade Meatballs | Make your own homemade meatballs if you prefer!

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 for up to three months.

Reheat | Thaw overnight in the fridge, rewarm in the microwave, oven (350 covered for 25 minutes), stovetop (over low heat, until warmed through), or crockpot, adding a little water if needed. 

Take it To-go | Transport your 3 ingredient cranberry meatballs directly in the crockpot or wrap in a baking dish with foil in one of these casserole transporters.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Delicious Cranberry Recipes

• Nantucket Cranberry Pie
• Easy Cranberry Spritzer
• Fresh Cranberry Relish
• Lemon Cranberry Bars
• Cranberry Christmas Cake Recipe with Butter Sauce

More Easy Appetizers

• Roast Beef Sliders Recipe on Hawaiian Rolls
• Cowboy Crack Dip (serve it hot or cold!)
• Easy Sausage and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
• Easy Pigs in a Blanket Recipe (Air Fryer or Oven)
• 3 Ingredient Chili Cheese Dip Recipe (Crockpot)
• Charcuterie Cups | How to Pack a Perfect Charcuterie Board to Go

I hope you loved these 3 ingredient crockpot meatballs — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!