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3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs – Easy Slow Cooker Recipe

These 3-ingredient cranberry meatballs come together easily in the crockpot. With frozen meatballs, cranberry sauce, and chili sauce, this recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. They’re the perfect appetizer for holiday parties or potlucks, or an easy weeknight dinner.

A 3-ingredient cranberry meatball in a bowl stabbed with a toothpick.

Easy Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

I love the versatility and ease of these cranberry meatballs. They work great as an appetizer for parties or potlucks, but they’re also perfect as a main dish served over rice or mashed potatoes. Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or just need a simple meal, this recipe fits the bill.

What I love most about this easy recipe is its “dump and go”—there’s less than five minutes of prep. Seriously, all you do is open the bag of meatballs and jars of sauce and mix everything right in the slow cooker—no extra steps, no complicated prep, just like my Grape Jelly Little Smokies. Plus, since it’s made in the crockpot, it keeps the oven and stove free, which is always a bonus during busy holiday cooking.

A bowl full of cranberry meatballs on the counter with a slow cooker in the background.

Simple Ingredients

  • Frozen meatballs – The star of the show. Using frozen pre-cooked meatballs saves so much prep time.
  • Cranberry sauce – Adds a sweet and tart flavor that complements the savory meatballs. I used a can of cranberry sauce, but leftover cranberry sauce works well too!
  • Chili sauce – Brings a tangy, slightly spicy element to balance the sweetness of the cranberry sauce.
Frozen meatballs, cranberry sauce, and chili sauce in bowls on the counter.

Making the Crockpot Meatballs

  1. Dump – Add the frozen meatballs, cranberry sauce, and chili sauce into the crockpot.
  2. Stir – Mix everything together until the meatballs are evenly coated in the sauce.
  3. Cook – Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4 hours or high for 2 hours, stirring once or twice during cooking.
  4. Serve – Serve warm as an appetizer or over rice or mashed potatoes for a quick meal.
Collage showing the meatballs and sauce ingredients in the slow cooker.

Variations and substitutions

Meatballs – Use turkey, chicken, pork, or plant-based meatballs instead of beef.

Cranberry sauce – Swap with grape jelly or apricot preserves for a different sweetness.

Chili sauce – Substitute with BBQ sauce or ketchup for a milder flavor.

Spicy kick – Add a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes for extra heat.

Spoonful of 3-ingredient cranberry meatballs being removed from the crockpot.

Tips for Success

  • Stir occasionally – Stir the meatballs once or twice during cooking to ensure even coating and heating.
  • Don’t overcook – Avoid leaving the meatballs on warm for too long, as they can dry out.
  • Use pre-cooked meatballs – Stick with frozen pre-cooked meatballs for the best results. Fresh meatballs will need longer to cook and may fall apart in the slow cooker.
  • Use a liner – For easier cleanup, use a crockpot liner.
Slow cooker full of meatballs in cranberry chili sauce.

How to store the leftovers

Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated through.

Cranberry meatball on a wooden toothpick.

Looking for more easy appetizer recipes?

Check out these easy recipes.

Did you love these cranberry sauce meatballs? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

3-ingredient slow cooker cranberry meatballs in a white bowl.

3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs

Author: Mandy
These sweet and tangy cranberry meatballs are made with just three ingredients and come together easily in the crockpot. Perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or a quick family dinner, they require minimal prep and make cleanup a breeze. Serve them as an appetizer or over rice or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 199 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds frozen pre-cooked beef meatballs 32 ounce bag
  • 1 (14 ounces) can cranberry sauce whole berry or jellied
  • 1 (12 ounces) bottle chili sauce

Instructions
 

  • Add the frozen meatballs, cranberry sauce, and chili sauce to the crockpot.
  • Stir until the meatballs are evenly coated in the sauce.
  • Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours, stirring once or twice during cooking.
  • Once done, serve warm as an appetizer or over rice or mashed potatoes for an easy meal.

Notes

  • Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 0.1gProtein: 13gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 43mgPotassium: 217mgFiber: 0.003gSugar: 0.04gVitamin A: 6IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.

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