Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs (Easy 5 Ingredient Appetizer)

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Crockpot cranberry meatballs are an easy holiday appetizer made with frozen meatballs, whole cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. You stir the sauce together in your slow cooker, add the meatballs, and cook them on low for 4 hours. A quick and easy holiday appetizer.

Crockpot cranberry meatballs glazed in a glossy cranberry chili sauce in a white bowl, topped with chopped chives, with fresh cranberries on a white marble surface.

From Grape Jelly to Cranberry Meatballs in the Crockpot

Our family has always made the traditional holiday meatballs in the crockpot with grape jelly and chili sauce. They show up at our Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings every year, and they are a family favorite.

You can find that recipe here: Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce.

I kept seeing recipes online that used whole cranberry sauce in place of the grape jelly. So I decided to try it myself. We liked it just as much as the grape jelly version, and that has me thinking we may need to start alternating the two.

I may make the cranberry ones this Christmas. They carry a little bit of Thanksgiving right into the Christmas season.

Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

Only 5 ingredients, and one of them is a can of cranberry sauce
Frozen meatballs go straight into the slow cooker, so there is no browning
The crockpot keeps them warm for a party, which frees up your oven
Sweet from the cranberry sauce and brown sugar, with a little tang from the chili sauce
A great Thanksgiving appetizer and a Christmas appetizer too

Ingredients for crockpot cranberry meatballs on a white surface, including a bowl of frozen meatballs, a can of whole cranberry sauce, a bottle of chili sauce, and small glass bowls of brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce

Ingredients You’ll Need

32 ounces frozen meatballs
1 can (14 ounces) whole cranberry sauce
1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Meatballs: I used a 32-ounce bag of frozen meatballs. Use your favorite brand, and pick whatever size fits your crowd.

Cranberry sauce: I used whole cranberry sauce, so you get a few cranberries in the sauce. I have not tried jellied cranberry sauce in this recipe, so I can’t tell you how it turns out.

Chili sauce: This is the bottled kind found near the ketchup, not a hot sauce.

Frozen meatballs in a white crockpot, the first step for making crockpot cranberry meatballs, on a white marble counter

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Equipment Needed

Crockpot or slow cooker
Easy-open can opener
Large spoon
Mixing bowl

Cranberry chili sauce poured over frozen meatballs in a white crockpot, ready to stir for crockpot cranberry meatballs

How to Make Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

Add the Meatballs: Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Add the frozen meatballs.
Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, stir together the cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir gently until every meatball is coated.
Pro tip: Break up the cranberry sauce with your spoon as you stir. That helps the sauce come together smoothly.
Cook on Low: Put the lid on and cook on low for 4 hours.
Serve: Give the meatballs one more stir. Serve them warm with toothpicks.
Pro tip: Switch the crockpot to the warm setting once the meatballs are done, and they will stay ready all through your party.

Whole cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce stirred together in a glass mixing bowl with a pink spatula, the sauce for crockpot cranberry meatballs

Tips and Tricks

Stir the meatballs once or twice during cooking if you are home. It is not required, but it helps coat them evenly.
Use a larger crockpot for a big crowd so the meatballs sit in a single layer or close to it.
Making a double batch? Double the sauce, mix it in a large bowl, and pour it over the meatballs in a larger crockpot.

What to Serve with Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

Storing Leftovers

Put leftover meatballs in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. Try to get them chilled within 2 hours of serving.

Reheat them in the microwave or on the stove until hot. They make great leftovers for an easy dinner.

Close up of crockpot cranberry meatballs glazed in a sticky cranberry chili sauce on a white scalloped plate, topped with chopped chives, with fresh cranberries on the side for an easy holiday appetizer

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you cook cranberry meatballs in a crockpot?

I cooked mine on low for 4 hours using frozen meatballs. That worked well for this recipe.

Do I need to thaw the meatballs first?

I used frozen meatballs and added them straight to the crockpot, so there is no thawing step.

Can I use jellied cranberry sauce instead of whole?

I made this recipe with whole cranberry sauce, so that is the version I can vouch for. I have not tested it with jellied.

Are these an appetizer or a main dish?

They are mainly an appetizer. Serve them with toothpicks at a party, or spoon them over mashed potatoes if you want a dinner.

Can I use my homemade meatballs for this recipe?

Yes, you can. For years, I used my own homemade meatballs, sometimes freshly made and sometimes ones I had frozen. If you use fresh homemade meatballs, check that they reach 160°F inside so you know they are cooked through.