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CHRISTMAS CRANBERRY MEATBALLS centered hero view, clean and uncluttered
Yesica Andrews

Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe Easy and Irresistible

Enjoy this Christmas Cranberry Meatballs recipe, an easy cranberry BBQ sauce meatballs holiday appetizer that brings a perfect sweet and savory balance to your festivities. Whether served as mini cranberry meatballs toothpick appetizers or warmed in a slow cooker cranberry meatballs grape jelly cocktail style, this gluten free cranberry sauce meatballs oven baked option is a crowd-pleaser that's quick to prepare and absolutely delicious.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 appetizer servings
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can (14 oz) jellied cranberry sauce
  • 1 bottle (12 oz) chili sauce
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 bag (about 32 oz) frozen pre-cooked meatballs (beef or turkey)

Method
 

  1. Combine the jellied cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper in a large skillet or saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is uniform and hot, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the frozen meatballs directly into the sauce and stir so each meatball is coated well. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and let everything simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the meatballs to heat through.
  3. Once heated, move the meatballs and sauce to a serving dish or keep warm in a slow cooker set to warm. Optionally, sprinkle with chopped parsley or rosemary before serving to add a fresh touch.

Notes

  • No need to thaw the meatballs before adding them to the sauce, which makes this recipe super convenient for last-minute parties. For homemade meatballs, bake or cook them fully before simmering in the sauce. You can enhance the flavor by stirring in some Dijon mustard or a splash of orange juice. Keep leftovers in a sealed container; the flavors improve after resting overnight. Use a slow cooker on warm to keep the dish ready for guests.