Description
These Cranberry Meatballs are a perfect holiday or party appetizer that combines tender frozen meatballs with a sweet, tangy homemade cranberry BBQ sauce. Slow-cooked to perfection in a crock-pot, they offer a delightful balance of flavors with hints of hoisin, garlic, and spices, garnished with fresh parsley for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cranberry sauce (homemade or store bought)
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 3½ tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2½ tablespoon hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot, optional)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Main Ingredients
- 40 oz frozen party meatballs
- Fresh chopped parsley (to garnish)
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cranberry sauce, hoisin sauce, ketchup, red wine vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, hot sauce (if using), minced garlic, ground ginger, and cayenne (if using). Mix until fully combined, then fold in the fresh cranberries. You can also mix all ingredients directly in the slow cooker if preferred.
- Add everything to the slow cooker: Place the frozen meatballs into the bowl of a 6-8 quart slow cooker. Pour the prepared cranberry sauce over the meatballs and stir well to combine, ensuring all meatballs are coated.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours, until the sauce is bubbly and meatballs are heated through.
- Keep warm and serve: Once cooked, switch the slow cooker to the warm setting to keep the meatballs hot until ready to serve. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving to add color and freshness.
Notes
- Cranberry Meatballs are a perfect blend of savory and sweet, ideal for holiday gatherings or casual parties.
- Using frozen meatballs makes this recipe incredibly convenient and easy to prepare.
- You can adjust the spiciness by adding or omitting the cayenne and hot sauce according to your taste.
- For an extra burst of freshness, garnish generously with chopped parsley before serving.
- If preferred, homemade cranberry sauce can be used instead of store-bought for a more natural flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 5 mini meatballs)
- Calories: 50 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 56 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
