This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Cranberry Meatballs are easy to make with just three simple ingredients and they can be made right on the stovetop, or for convenience, in your slow cooker. Serve these BBQ Meatballs on their own as a hearty appetizer for the holidays or serve with rice for a simple weeknight meal.
These cranberry meatballs are always a part of my holiday spread, and definitely can hold their own alongside other festive appetizers like Baked Brie with Jam, Sausage Rolls, Fried Ravioli, and Loaded Cream Cheese Dip.
Pin this recipe for later!Why We Love This Recipe
- They’re Fast and Easy – They only take 5 minutes to prep and less than 20 minutes to cook.
- Simple Ingredients – You just need meatballs, cranberry sauce, and BBQ sauce.
- Sweet and Spicy – Go with a spicy BBQ sauce for a delicious contrast.
- Versatile – Serve as a yummy holiday appetizer, or serve them for dinner with rice on the side.
- Perfect for Holiday Parties – These are similar to Grape Jelly Meatballs but with holiday flair.
recipe walkthrough
Ingredients
- Meatballs – Frozen meatballs keep things super easy. Or you can make your own beef meatballs or turkey meatballs. For homemade meatball ingredients, you will need ground beef, milk, breadcrumbs, and an egg, plus seasonings.
- Cranberry Sauce – This is really easy to make from scratch by following the instructions on the package of cranberries. Or grab a can of ready-made whole cranberry sauce (not a jellied cranberry sauce)
- BBQ Sauce – You can use any flavor you like. I love Sweet Baby Ray’s brand but go with what you love.
How To Make Cranberry Meatballs
Combine the BBQ sauce and cranberry sauce in a saucepan on the stove and bring to a simmer.
Add the meatballs and stir to coat completely. You can use fresh or frozen and just adjust the cooking time as needed. If you have the time, you can make your own homemade meatballs, but for simplicity, I often use frozen meatballs.
Cover the pan and simmer for 10-20 minutes. Fresh meatballs will take about 10 minutes to heat; frozen meatballs will take about 20 minutes.
Slow Cooker Instructions
For parties and get together, I often make these in a slow cooker. When I make them for dinner, I prefer to cook them on the stovetop.
- Pour the sauces into the slow cooker and stir them together.
- Add the frozen or fresh meatballs, put the lid on, and set the slow cooker to low.
- Cook on low for a couple of hours or until meatballs are heated through. BBQ Meatballs should be kept at the warm or low setting until ready to serve; up to 8 hours.
Serving Suggestions
We love Cranberry BBQ Meatballs as an appetizer, but also just for dinner! The sauce pairs deliciously with white rice; just add a green salad or some steamed veggies and you have a complete meal! Coconut Rice would be amazing too.
As an appetizer, serve them in a slow cooker to keep them warm.
Storage Tips
Storing Leftovers
Leftover meatballs are delicious! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freeze them in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge, then heat on the stove. If the sauce seems thin, let simmer, uncovered and on low heat, until sauce is reduced and thick.
Recipe Tips
- The sauce is too thin – If you cook the meatballs in the crockpot using frozen, you may end up with a little extra liquid in the sauce. If the sauce is too thin, make a cornstarch slurry with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water, and stir it in a little at a time. Simmer until warmed through.
- Use the right cranberry sauce – Make sure you are using whole cranberry sauce and not the cranberry jelly kind which will just melt and make your sauce too thin. Homemade cranberry sauce works too; you’ll need about 2 cups.
- Choose your favorite BBQ sauce – I recommend a nice, spicy sauce but any style/flavor will work.
- BBQ sauce substitutions – Instead of BBQ Sauce you could add a sweet and spicy chili sauce. Or, skip the BBQ sauce altogether and just use cranberry sauce. It will be sweeter but still delicious.
- Spice it Up – Use a spicy BBQ sauce or add red chili flakes.
More Meatball Recipes
- Spicy Barbecue Grape Jelly Meatballs
- Spicy Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Sausage Balls
- Meatball Marinara Poppers
- Crockpot Meatballs with Peach BBQ Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Spicy Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
Ingredients
- 28 ounces frozen meatballs if using homemade, about 50 small or 30 medium size
- 14 ounces whole cranberry sauce
- 18 ounces spicy barbecue sauce 18-20 ounce bottle, about 2 -3 cups
Instructions
- Combine sauces over medium heat in a large deep skillet and cook until bubbly.
- Add meatballs in a single layer and stir to coat completely. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook until meatballs are heated through; about 15 -20 minutes for frozen, 10 minutes for fresh.
- Remove cover and continue to cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced and completely coating the meatballs.
- Serve on their own as an appetizer, or as a main dish over rice.
- For slow cooker method, stir sauces together in the pot, then add meatballs and stir to coat. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through and ready to serve. Stir again just before serving.
Notes
- If sauce is too thin, add a little bit of a cornstarch slurry and cook to thicken. (slurry=1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water).
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop.Â
- Can be frozen for up to 6 months in the sauce.Â
- I like to use a spicy BBQ sauce, but you can use any sauce you like.
- Add red chili flakes for a spicier sauce.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
Just have to tell you, made these for Christmas and New Years made a dbl batch each time. Totally gone!! Everyone loved them! Not too spicy not too sweet. So easy to make too!! Thank you! Will use this often!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
I made these for a Friendsgiving party in November, and have been making them for every get together since! They are such a hit. Thanks so much!
Hey there Kristin!
Just tried out your recipe today at home and my husband just loved them! Take lots of love and best wishes from us! They just tasted awesome.
Thank you Nicki! glad your family loved it.
This sounds REAL GOOD……!
Thank you Linda!
I got the meatballs from Costco but they are Italian flavored with spices and cheese. Would that work?
They will probably be fine; the sauce is pretty sweet and will cover the other flavors.
Can’t wait to try these as they contain only ingredients that I love.
Thanks for sharing your recipe!!
Thank you DELVA!
I will definitely make these for an appetizer thanks for the recipe
Would you use this cranberry bbq sauce on chicken as well as meatballs?
I think it would be delicious on chicken!
My Mother made the Cranberry and BBQ meatballs for years. I still make them to this day. Very few people can guess the recipe. Perfect for a Pot Luck in my Crock Pot.
I suggest buying the large bag of meatballs at a Sams Club. We just had a family party for 25 and that was plenty. I think the meatballs may have cost about 10-$12. Same basic recipe. You can use grape jelly instead as well – I also use Famous Dave’s sauce as it’s the best and the difference between a bottle for $3.75 and one on sale for $1.50 – who cares?
@Jimbo : The sauce to be used in order for you to get Kristen’s intended experience is definitely important. Grape jelly vs Cranberry Sauce – in my experience that would make a huge difference to the overall taste. I’m trying these for two fussy toddlers tonight (sans the spicy version) and hope they lick the plates afterwards !!!
i love cranberry family doesn,t is the recipe predominitely cranberry flavor?
I tried this at the Christmas Mingle and Jingle at work, I made two huge crockpots full! and they were the first to go, handed out the recipe, and now still have some of the employees begging for me just to bring in a crockpot and make them some “just because”. The best pot luck recipe!!! I actually used Walmart Italian meatballs, cranberry sauce, and sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce and that was it!!! I highly recommend this!!!
If I were to double the recipe , should I double all of the ingredients or should I back off on the BBQ or the Cranberry sauce ?
Doubling should be fine.
You know, I’ve made meatballs like this for several years but I always just bought regular BBQ sauce. After seeing your recipe I bought the spicy kind and…. YUM! The spicy kick was the perfect contrast to the sweetness of the cranberry sauce, really delicious! Thank you! 🙂
What is the best meatball brand to use for this recipe?
Hi, just wondering if you can make this recipe the day before and still end up with a great sauce.
Yes I think that would be fine.
Thanks for sharing. I made these for a game night gathering. In the crockpot of course. This was a big hit.
wow! never would have put cranberry and barbecue sauce together before I saw this recipe, now I’ll have to, thank you sharing this!
Made this recipe for New Years eve. Delicious. Thank you for sharing. Next time will add the orange zest.
Hi making these tonight. For homemade meatballs to you precook them before adding them to the sauce to simmer?
Yes you would use fully cooked meatballs.