These Cranberry Orange Meatballs are made with just 4 ingredients with just 5 minutes of prep work! Let your crockpot take care of the rest and serve up this delicious appetizer at your holiday and game day parties!
Cranberry Orange Meatballs
These Cranberry Orange Meatballs are going to be an instant hit with the entire family this holiday season! Easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Man, Thanksgiving sure snuck up on me this year and this month totally flew by! Although, that tends to happen when I’m traveling. I got home from Jerusalem Friday night and have been trying to just take it easy.
So much of this year has been full speed ahead when it comes to work, that I sometimes feel like I can’t breathe, so I’m throwing myself an oxygen tank this month and trying to just enjoy life.
That doesn’t really mean I’ve slowed down much, but more that I’m focusing on other things.
I had three trips on the books for November and I didn’t want to sour them with a heavy workload, nor did I want to add a lot of pressure around the holidays.
It has also given me some time to reflect and refocus on my life at home and lend a little extra support my husband’s way.
And you know what, it’s been wonderful. I feel more centered than I have in a long time, and it feels good to not have a million deadlines looming over me.
And while there’s always work to do, it’s nice being able to do it at a normal pace and not like a crazed lunatic.
Plus, I love that the freedom has allowed me to work on some larger projects and finally make and photograph some of my favorite holiday recipes to share with all of you!
One of them being my Cranberry Orange Meatballs, they’re made with just 4 ingredients and all you have to do is throw them in the crockpot, mix them up, and cook them for a couple of hours and you’re left with a holiday appetizer that won’t last long!
These meatballs were inspired by the classic grape jelly meatballs my mom always made for parties when we were growing up, and those never lasted long either.
But I love cranberries more than grapes and the addition of orange juice adds a little extra zing and holiday festiveness!
Cranberry Orange Meatballs
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Cranberry Orange Meatballs
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bottle chili sauce
- 14 ounce can whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 28 ounce bag frozen Swedish/Italian meatballs
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a crockpot, stirring together to evenly coat. Cook on high for 2 hours or until meatballs are tender and hot throughout, turn heat to low to keep warm during servings. Stir occasionally.
Video
Notes
- The bag size of meatballs might vary by brand, but anything close will do.
Kelly says
Looks delicious!! Can you give me a brand example of “chili sauce”? Is it sweet chili sauce or More like the red Heinz variety. Thanks!
Rebecca says
Hi Kelly, I use the Heinz variety! Hope that helps!
Brontie says
These look awesome! What size crock pot did you use?
Rebecca says
These were made in a 3 qt crock pot, but you can make them in any size.
Pammy Boudreaux says
Hi sweetie this looks amazing and doesnt look like they would stick around long! However I am not a fan of cranberry 🙁 Do you think you might be able to share the grape jelly recipe with me? I remember my mother making something that sounds similar, would be a hoot if they were the same ones. I havent had them since I was a kid. Recipe collecting is something I now highly advise every woman to do as when we lose our mothers so much goes with them. Its only when we are a little older and wiser do we remember the lovely thing our mothers baked, cooked and made. I miss my mother more every year especially around Christmas. She was a baker oh and omg she baked some delicious treats! She was a dab hand at taking others treats and making them her own by twisting measurements and ingredients! She was one in a million!!
Rebecca says
Hi Pammy, I have recipes from my grandmother and I am so thankful to be able to make her dishes and keep her spirit alive, especially during the holiday season. If you mom made the same grape jelly meatballs as mine, she used a 16 ounce jar of grape jelly and a bottle of the Heinz Chili Sauce! They sure are good and they’re always the first thing to go at parties this time of year… or any time of year, really.
Rebecca says
Hi Pammy, I asked my mom last night and she said sometimes she makes the grape ones by using a bottle of Jack Daniels No. 7 BBQ Sauce, Heinz chili sauce, and just 2 rounded tablespoons of the grape jelly, this is for more of a sweet BBQ flavor. Sometimes she adds a little garlic powder too she said.
Andi says
Hi there ! These look amazing . I honestly am not a fan of red meat or pork so would chicken meatballs work as well? Also would they work with the grape jelly recipe? Thank you:)
Andi
Rebecca says
Hi Andi, As long as you like chicken meatballs, either recipe will work just fine! Enjoy!
Rebecca Harrington says
Oh my these look so delicious…..I can not wait to make. Thank you for sharing…..Hope I can find the bag of meatballs…..thank-you again..
God Bless….
Dolly says
I actually made this for a cookout this past summer and the kids couldn’t help sneaking into it , before it was ready to be served. I have to say it was a hit!
Christie says
Hi. I’m making these for Christmas, do the meatballs go in the crock pot frozen or do they have to be thawed out first?
Thank you, Christie
Rebecca Hubbell says
They go in frozen 🙂
Christie says
Thank you!
Christie says
I made these on Christmas day. They turned out great. Everyone loved them. I definitely will be making them again!
Christie
Rebecca Hubbell says
Yay, I’m so glad you all enjoyed them!
LS Longwell says
I made these for a holiday party last night. Rave reviews, requests for recipe and not a meatball remained! Will be making them again for my own Christmas Eve party.
Rebecca Hubbell says
So glad you loved them!
Yvonnr says
How would you make this without a crock pot?
Rebecca Hubbell says
Hi Yvonne, You can add all of the ingredients to a large saucepan and cook it that way. Cook until the meatballs are heated through.
Kathy Wolfe says
I used to make meatballs with ketchup and grape jelly till I found your recipe and now these are the ones I make. In fact by great nephew in college wanted the recipe to make them up at school. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca Hubbell says
Yay, I’m so glad you love them!