Slow Cooker Cranberry Chili Meatballs
If you’re looking for an easy and mouth watering appetizer to make this holiday season, try these yummy Cranberry Chili Meatballs that you make in the slow cooker! They are the perfect combo of sweet, sour, & smoky and are sure to be a big hit at your next gathering.
Cranberry Chili Meatballs Recipe
yield: 8 SERVINGS
prep time: 5 MINUTES
cook time: 4 HOURS
total time: 4 HOURS 5 MINUTES
Yummy and easy crockpot recipe for Cranberry Chili Meatballs that will be a great protein addition for any meal!
Ingredients
- 32 ounce package of pre-cooked frozen cocktail sized meatballs
- 12 ounce jar Chili Sauce
- 14 ounce can of Cranberry Sauce, jellied
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Directions
1
In a small bowl, combine chili sauce, cranberry sauce, lemon juice, and brown sugar.
2
Pour sauce over meatballs in a slow cooker. Cover & cook for 3-4 hours on high until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.
3
Keep meatballs warm in a slow cooker during your party and serve with toothpicks.
I turned these meatballs into a quick meal by serving them over brown rice and adding a veggie. Meatball sandwiches would be a great option too! Yum!
These are so easy and so good.
Even easier–2 lbs meatballs, 32 oz grape jelly, 16 oz chili sauce
I make these too!
Also, the meatballs at Sams are almost the same price as a bag half the size at Walmart. We buy a bag and use half the bag for this recipe.
Great recipe. Have been making them for years and still a crowd pleaser.
Hey are these really spicy? My family is not a fan of spicy but we love meatballs and cranberries!!
No. My kids don’t do spicy at all and they loved!
chili sauce isn’t spicy hot. Its mostly tomatoes, vinegar, minced onion, and spices. Its found right next to the ketchup in the grocery store and its almost $2 for a jar. Here’s a make you own recipe – 1 (6 ounce) can quality tomato paste, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup light corn syrup (Karo), 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar (Heinz), 1 tablespoon minced onion flakes, 1 teaspoon unseasoned sweet chili powder, 1 teaspoon plain salt, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/8 teaspoon red chili flakes, 1/8 teaspoon white pepper.
Funny story- one year my friend made this… She thought chili meant hot sauce so she dumped a whole bottle of siracha in! I was the one who told her that’s not what the recipe meant!! Then we tried to tone it down by adding brown sugar, it ended up being the most delicious thing ever! Every year after that we tried to replicate it and couldn’t lol!
Lol – That is funny!
I’ve also made these with only chili sauce and grape jelly. They are a hit at office potlucks.
Thanks Lina.
Thanks! This looks yummy and super easy! I’m gonna try this soon 😄
We do 1 jar grape jelly and 1 bottle BBQ sauce (usually sweet baby rays). Can also do this with little smokies.
Does anyone make this on low? I’m guessing I could just double the time on low and they’d be ok but I want to make sure they won’t fall apart.
Sounds delicious like the use of slow cooker.
Can’t wait to make this recipe!!!
What size crock pot is this recipe for? From the pic it looks like one of those tiny crock pots, like for one or two people, but after reading ingredient amounts, will it fit? Making this on Saturday, so not sure what size to use! 😁
Hi Gina! You’re correct! For better looking pictures I photographed using my small white one. I have a medium sized taller shaped crock I normally would normally cook them in but it’s black in color 😊 So yes use a Med-Larger size. – Thanks for the question!!