These Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs are incredibly easy to make. They require just three simple ingredients and can be made right on the stovetop, or for convenience, in your slow cooker. Serve on their own as a hearty appetizer for Thanksgiving or Christmas, or serve with rice for a simple weeknight meal.
I can’t stop staring at that photo – isn’t that glaze just gorgeous? It’s the most simple thing too, and it tastes amazing. A can of sweet and tart cranberry sauce is mixed with a spicy barbecue sauce…and that’s it! If you have the time, you can make your own meatballs, but for simplicity I usually use frozen store bought meatballs. (Need a quick and easy meatball recipe? Try this one).
MY LATEST VIDEOSI like to cook these on the stovetop and let the sauce reduce a bit while the meatballs heat through. That’s how you get that yummy, sticky glaze. You could also use your slow cooker. It all depends on how you are serving them and how much time you have. For appetizers, the slow cooker method is probably easiest but for a meal, I like the stovetop.
Spicy Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 8 -10 appetizer servings
Ingredients
- 2 14-ounce packages frozen meatballs (if using homemade, about 55-60 small)
- 1 14-ounce can whole cranberry sauce
- 1 17-ounce bottle spicy barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Combine sauces over medium heat in a large deep skillet and cook until bubbly.
- Add meatballs in a single layer and stir to coat completely. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook until meatballs are heated through; about 15 minutes for frozen.
- Remove cover and continue to cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced and completely coating the meatballs.
- Serve on their own as an appetizer, or as a main dish over rice.
- For slow cooker method, place meatballs in the slow cooker and pour sauces over. Stir ingredients together and cook on low for a few hours or until ready to serve. Stir again just before serving.
For more holiday appetizer ideas, try these:
For all appetizers go HERE and for all recipes go HERE.
Theses look amazing!
Super easy. served this appetizer TWICE during the 2016 holidays ! A HIT. Thanks for sharing
This looks so super tasty – love the cranberry sauce addition!
We always have leftover cranberry sauce—and this may be the only way I’ll ever get my hubby to eat any! Your meatballs look terrific!
This sounds interesting. I’ve never considered using cranberry for anything other than serving with chicken / turkey etc. I will definitely have to try this out. (Awesome pictures btw!)
What kind of BBQ sauce do you prefer to use? On my meal plan this month for sure!!!
Honestly? I buy what’s on sale or what I have a coupon for!
I have made this sauce before, but I paired it with mini (hotdog-like) sausages. I couldn’t imagine how the cranberries would taste in a traditionally savory appetizer, but it was AMAZING!! Make EXTRA SAUCE, because you will find yourself “test-tasting” it a LOT!! I can’t wait to use it with MEATBALL this weekend when family is coming in for a big football game!! Thanks for your post!!!!!👍🏽👍🏽
What’s your thoughts about using fresh whole cranberries? Seems as though it would be easy enough to substitute for canned. Maybe add a little Grand Marnier. Thanks.
You could use a homemade cranberry sauce…you’d need the sweetness to counterbalance the heat of the bbq sauce.
Definitely! Easy.. one rinsed pkg of fresh cranberries 1C. Sugar.. I use a little less….grate one half orange peel and save the orange to squeeze the juice at the end of cooking. .. 1pkg cranberries usually about 4-5 C. Water.. Boil, and keep stirring.. add sugar.. keep stirring.. whole process takes about 10 minutes ..and voila. Don’t forget to add the orange zest and juice from the orange.
Always looking for differnt things to cook up and these sound very good
I have a can of the jellied cranberry, you know the one that takes the shape of the can? Would this work do you think?
Hi Sandy, I haven’t tried it with just the jellied so I can’t say it would work or it wouldn’t. I think it would melt so th sauce might be runnier.
I use a can of jellies, like you described, a jar of Heinz Chili Sauce 1 Tblsp of brown sugar and one Tblsp lemon juice! I have been making these for our family Christmas Party for at least 30 years!! They tell me that is all I should bring!!
Priss, I’ve been using that recipe for cocktail Frank’s for about 40 years now, it’s great but never
Used it for meatballs, but will definitely try this.
This is great with polska keilbasa also. Just cut into 1 inch slices, put in the crockpot with the whole berry cranberry sauce and the bbq sauce, turn it on high for 1 hour then low for 2 or 3 hours. And Bob’s your uncle! You have a great appitizer.
Anyone ever try this with ground chicken or ground turkey meat balls??
I haven’t, but I bet it would be delicious!
Cindy, I used frozen turkey meatballs, and they were delicious.
i would use turkey instead.even would bring flavor out i would think .im using turkey..good idea thanks.
Turkey would be delicious Mary! And you could definitely just use regular BBQ sauce instead the spicy if you’re concerned.
All he time. I have been making this family favorite for 25 years or more. My recipe varies somewhat. I use Chili Sauce, small can of tomato sauce and whole cranberries (can). I am going to try it next time with Barbecue sauce. Might like it even more!!!!
I made these for the first time for a holiday party at work today. There wasn’t one meatball left, I got great reviews from my co-worker. I used frozen turkey meatballs. The barbecue sauce I used was Heinz Bold and Spicy. This will be my go to meatball recipe!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Kristin, can you use regular barbecue sauce instead of spicey? TY
Absolutely! Just pick your favorite.
I also used heinz bold and spicy (found it at target) and have made them twice with the costco meatballs. It is so easy and delicious!!! Perfect for the holidays!
I’ve made these and they are wonderful. Any not eaten at the party can make a good supper with some mac-n-cheese or corn and a few tomatoes. Our local chef suggested a chipotle catsup, and it was fantastic. The cranberry cut the “heat” of the chipotle and everyone liked them.
That sounds amazing!
now i have acid reflux bad ,plus a elderly person will be eating these will the sauce be too heated for me and him? i made it differently one year different ingredients but never tried the spicy and carnberry way but want to try it out i just dont know if it would be too strong or heated..
Using the honey bbq sauce instead of spicy might be nice.
Can this be made using a crockpot?
I’m sure that I could!
I’ve made BBQ’d meatballs before and they were a big hit. I’d always made this using grape jelly and BBQ sauce, but now i can’t wait to try it with cranberry sauce instead for our Christmas party Thank you!
Do you defrost the meat balls before putting them in a crock pot?
No, you can just put everything in together. However it could possibly create a little more liquid.
What are the instructions for the slow cooker?
Fozen or cooked meatballs in first, then pour combined sauces over the top (combine them well). Cover and cook on HIGH; the sauce will not reduce as much as on the stove, so you may want to partially uncover them after 2 hours and cook an additional hour to reduce the sauce to glaze them, You can take them to an event in the slow cooker and reheat on LOW if necessary.
Her directions say to cook on low for a few hours in crock pot, but you are saying high? Which is it? I want to make these for Christmas Eve. Thanks!
I made this for Christmas Day.They were a big hit. I definitely will use my own cranberry sauce next time. And less Barbecue sauce.
Do you think this sauce would work with cooked pulled pork for sandwiches?
I think that would be delicious!
Hi making these tonight. For homemade meatballs to you precook them before adding them to the sauce to simmer?
Yes you would use fully cooked meatballs.
Made this recipe for New Years eve. Delicious. Thank you for sharing. Next time will add the orange zest.
wow! never would have put cranberry and barbecue sauce together before I saw this recipe, now I’ll have to, thank you sharing this!
Thanks for sharing. I made these for a game night gathering. In the crockpot of course. This was a big hit.
Hi, just wondering if you can make this recipe the day before and still end up with a great sauce.
Yes I think that would be fine.
What is the best meatball brand to use for this recipe?
You know, I’ve made meatballs like this for several years but I always just bought regular BBQ sauce. After seeing your recipe I bought the spicy kind and…. YUM! The spicy kick was the perfect contrast to the sweetness of the cranberry sauce, really delicious! Thank you! 🙂
If I were to double the recipe , should I double all of the ingredients or should I back off on the BBQ or the Cranberry sauce ?
Doubling should be fine.
I tried this at the Christmas Mingle and Jingle at work, I made two huge crockpots full! and they were the first to go, handed out the recipe, and now still have some of the employees begging for me just to bring in a crockpot and make them some “just because”. The best pot luck recipe!!! I actually used Walmart Italian meatballs, cranberry sauce, and sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce and that was it!!! I highly recommend this!!!
i love cranberry family doesn,t is the recipe predominitely cranberry flavor?
I suggest buying the large bag of meatballs at a Sams Club. We just had a family party for 25 and that was plenty. I think the meatballs may have cost about 10-$12. Same basic recipe. You can use grape jelly instead as well – I also use Famous Dave’s sauce as it’s the best and the difference between a bottle for $3.75 and one on sale for $1.50 – who cares?
My Mother made the Cranberry and BBQ meatballs for years. I still make them to this day. Very few people can guess the recipe. Perfect for a Pot Luck in my Crock Pot.