These cranberry meatballs are the perfect addition to any party, but they also make a fantastic dinner any night of the year.
Made with just 4 ingredients, this spin on traditional grape jelly meatballs has a great sweet-and-spicy flavor that everyone loves. Since they’re made in a slow cooker, they save on oven space, too — perfect for holiday gatherings!
I love adding my own unique twist to classic holiday recipes. Of course, these Slow Cooker Spicy Cranberry Meatballs are no exception!
I can still remember the first time we had glazed jelly meatballs. It was at an office Christmas party about fifteen years ago and Shawn couldn’t get enough. He kept going back for seconds and thirds and raved about them so much that my boss finally gave me the recipe.
Shawn made them for a Superbowl party later that year and, again, they stole the show. Everyone was obsessed.
Of course, I can never leave well enough alone.
These meatballs are traditionally made with grape jelly and chili sauce but I wondered how they’d come out if I used cranberry sauce and gochujang instead.
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The answer?
FANTASTIC. We both love this spicy cranberry meatball recipe even better than the original version.
They’re are perfect for holiday parties as tasty bite-sized appetizers, but I also love turning them into a full meal.
There are few things that are cozier on a cold winter day than the smell of cranberry and gochujang wafting through the house. Bursting with flavor, these tasty bites are perfect for enjoying while watching your favorite holiday movie or sitting by the fireplace after a long walk in fresh snow.
They only take minutes to prep and will cook themselves so you can chill while dinner is being made!
Ingredients
To make these meatballs in cranberry sauce, you’ll need a few simple ingredients:
- Meatballs. I typically make these with frozen turkey meatballs but, if you prefer, you can also use homemade meatballs. Air fryer chicken meatballs make a great addition to this recipe! You could also try venison meatballs.
- Cranberry Sauce. I love using whole berry cranberry sauce for this recipe, but you can also use jellied cranberry sauce if that’s what you prefer. Either way, I like to check the ingredient list and steer clear of sauces that contain high fructose corn syrup. Some of my favorite cleaner brands are Cadia and Woodstock. You can also use homemade cranberry jelly.
- Gochujang. Gochujang is a pungent fermented paste made from chili peppers, glutinous rice, soybeans, sugar and salt. It has a sweet and spicy flavor that varies from tangy to even nutty. It balances out the tart cranberries so well!
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce. A splash of soy sauce adds another level of rich umami flavor to this recipe. Be sure to use low sodium soy sauce to keep the overall flavor balance in check!
- Sesame seeds (optional). I love finishing off these meatballs with a sprinkle of sesame seeds for added color.
How to make sweet and spicy cranberry meatballs in a Crock Pot
These meatballs are so easy to make! Just add everything to your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, or until they’ve reached an internal temperature of 165F.
If you’re short on time, you can also make these on the stove by combining all of the ingredients in a large pot or Dutch oven and heating until the meatballs are cooked through. Then transfer everything to your slow cooker to keep warm.
I like to serve the cooked meatballs directly from my crock pot so they stay warm as people mingle and nibble. Place a plate of toothpicks next to the pots so everyone can have free range when they please!
Pro Tip: To prevent the sweet sauce from burning, layer the meatballs into the slow cooker first, then stir in the remaining ingredients. This will limit the amount of sauce that comes into direct contact with the crock.
What to serve with cranberry meatballs
These spicy cranberry meatballs are great on their own as holiday appetizers.
You can also serve these cocktail meatballs with other ingredients to make a complete meal. Here are some options to consider:
- Serve them over egg noodles, spaghetti, or other pasta of your choice. There should be more than enough sauce in the slow cooker to add to your pasta as well. with a complementary sauce or use the sauce from the slow cooker.
- Serve them over mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower (this is one of my favorite dinners!)
- Create a turkey cranberry meatball sub
- Bake a Spicy Cranberry Meatball casserole for a family-sized meal;
- If you’re looking for a lighter meal, pair your meatballs with a light green salad.
How to store u003cstrongu003eLEFTOVER SLOW COOKER SPICY CRANBERRY MEATBALLSu003c/strongu003e
You can store any leftover cranberry meatballs either in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. u003cbru003e
u003cstrongu003eREHEATING Glazed MEATBALLSu003c/strongu003eu003cbru003e
Reheating your stored slow cooker meatballs is pretty straightforward. u003cbru003eIf you’ve stored leftover meatballs in the refrigerator then simply reheat them on the stovetop. Covering the pot add while they reheat will help prevent them from drying out.u003cbru003eIf you froze your meatballs, you can reheat them right from frozen or thaw them in the fridge overnight.
More Irresistible Meatball Recipes To Try
- Spicy Pork Meatballs With Parmesan Risotto
- Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatball Subs
- Slow Cooker Meatballs In Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce
- North African Meatballs with California Prunes and Pine Nuts
- Thanksgiving Meatballs
- Tandoori Chicken Meatballs
- Meatballs in Homemade Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen turkey meatballs
- 1 can 14 ounces whole berry cranberry sauce
- ¼ cup gochujang korean red pepper paste
- 2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- Add the meatballs to your slow cooker. Pour in the cranberry sauce, gouchoujang, and soy sauce. Give everything a stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or until the meatballs have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
