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Easy Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

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A festive and crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring tender meatballs simmered in a sweet, savory, and tangy cranberry sauce. Perfect for Friendsgiving or holiday gatherings, this slow cooker recipe is easy to make and consistently delicious.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend preferred)
  • 1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup finely diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
  • Oil for browning (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, diced onion, minced garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper. Mix gently with hands to avoid tough meatballs.
  2. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls, yielding approximately 24-30 meatballs.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little oil. Brown the meatballs on all sides in batches. Do not cook them through; just create a crust. Drain excess fat.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together cranberry sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
  5. Pour the sauce into the bottom of a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Place the browned meatballs on top of the sauce. Do not stir.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or on high for 2 hours, until meatballs are cooked through and tender.
  7. Optional: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and stir into the hot sauce. Cook on high for 15 minutes to thicken.

Notes

Browning the meatballs before adding them to the slow cooker is crucial for texture and flavor. Do not overcrowd the skillet when browning. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed pork rinds. The recipe is naturally dairy-free. Meatballs can be frozen raw and cooked from frozen by adding 30 minutes to the cooking time.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot meatballs, cranberry meatballs, friendsgiving appetizer, slow cooker recipes, holiday appetizers, easy dinner, sweet and savory meatballs

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/easy-crockpot-cranberry-meatballs-best-friendsgiving-appetizer/