Description
These Quick Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are a festive, sweet, and savory holiday appetizer made with frozen meatballs and a simple cranberry-barbecue sauce. Perfect for parties, potlucks, and last-minute gatherings.
Ingredients
1 (32 oz) bag frozen meatballs
1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Fresh parsley or rosemary for garnish
Instructions
1. In a saucepan or slow cooker, whisk together cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, orange juice, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and cinnamon.
2. Add frozen meatballs and stir to coat.
3. Stovetop: Simmer covered on low for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Slow Cooker: Cook on high for 2–3 hours or low for 4 hours.
5. Taste and adjust sweetness or tanginess as desired.
6. Garnish with chopped parsley or rosemary and serve warm.
Notes
Use spicy barbecue sauce for a kick.
Great for holiday gatherings, game day, or potlucks.
Leftovers reheat beautifully and can be served over rice or mashed potatoes.
Can be made ahead and reheated before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop or Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Christmas Meatballs, Cranberry Meatballs, Holiday Appetizer, Quick Party Food