Easy Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Meatballs: 5-Ingredient Appetizer
These 5-ingredient slow cooker cranberry BBQ meatballs are the perfect party appetizer. Sweet, tangy, and totally addictive, they’re made with frozen meatballs, cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce for an effortless crowd-pleaser.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours (low) or 1.5-2 hours (high)
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes to 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 lbs frozen fully cooked meatballs (homestyle or Italian-style)
- 1 can (14 oz) whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (smoky, slightly sweet variety recommended)
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Lightly spray the insert of a 4-6 quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
- Place the frozen meatballs directly into the slow cooker. Pour the sauce mixture over the top and stir gently to coat all meatballs evenly.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1.5-2 hours, until meatballs are heated through and sauce is bubbly and slightly reduced. Stir once halfway if desired.
- Check the sauce consistency. If too thin, remove lid and cook on high for an additional 15-20 minutes. If too thick, stir in a tablespoon of water or beef broth.
- Serve warm directly from the slow cooker or transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with parsley or green onions if desired. Spear with toothpicks for serving.
Notes
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free meatballs and check BBQ sauce and Worcestershire sauce labels (Lea & Perrins is gluten-free). For lower sugar, use sugar-free BBQ sauce and reduce brown sugar to 2 tablespoons. For heat, add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or hot sauce. These meatballs taste even better the next day as flavors meld. Make ahead: refrigerate in airtight container, reheat in slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs with s
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 720
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 14
Keywords: cranberry BBQ meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, party appetizer, 5-ingredient recipe, frozen meatballs, game day food, holiday appetizer