This slow cooker meatballs recipe is super easy to make and delicious. Adding only 4 ingredients to your slow cooker, you simply set and forget. It’s a great addition to your list of appetizers to pull from for your next celebration or family event.
If you’re looking for tailgating recipes or appetizers for your upcoming celebrations, this slow cooker meatballs recipe is a fabulous choice. They’re a huge hit at our house and are so easy to throw together by keeping just 4 ingredients and your slow cooker on hand.
If you’re in a hurry, you can easily just throw everything together and let it cook on low for a few hours. However, I think the sauce tastes even better the next day after the flavors have merged a bit. So, if possible, make the sauce the night before and leave in the fridge until you’re ready to make it.
To keep this recipe super simple, I chose to use premade frozen meatballs. However, make sure you purchase plain or homestyle meatballs for this one. You don’t want the Italian flavored or any other flavors competing with the sauce. Not a good mix. Choose plain frozen meatballs to make this one work.
If you aren’t sure about the chili sauce, I use the Heinz brand. It comes in a bottle that looks similar to their cocktail sauce. It’s clearly labeled chili sauce and you should be able to find it on the condiments aisle at most grocery stores. I like to stick to the same brands for my sauces because sometimes there is a slight difference in flavoring.
I’m including a picture of the ingredients I use to give you a visual so you know what you’re looking for when you head to the store.
In the past when I’ve made the slow cooker meatballs recipe that uses grape jelly, I would always measure according to an old version I kept with my party foods. Again, I really wanted this recipe to be a quick grab and go appetizer, so I used the entire can of cranberry and the whole bottle of sauce. I then measure my lemon juice, of course, and I’m happy to say that the sauce came out wonderfully.
Here’s how I made mine.
Slow Cooker Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
2lb. bag of frozen meatballs
1 bottle of chili sauce
1 can of jellied cranberry sauce
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
Directions
Whisk together the chili sauce, cranberry sauce, and lemon juice. For best results, set the sauce in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
When ready to make, add the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker and cover with the sauce.
Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 3 – 4 hours. Enjoy!
These Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs are fabulous! Click To Tweet
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
- 2lb. bag of frozen meatballs (plain)
- 1 bottle of chili sauce
- 1 can of jellied cranberry sauce
- 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
- Whisk together the chili sauce, cranberry sauce, and lemon juice. For best results, set the sauce in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
- When ready to make, add the frozen meatballs to the slow cooker and cover with the sauce.
- Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 3 - 4 hours. Enjoy!