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Holiday Cranberry Orange Meatballs

Delightful meatballs coated in a sweet and tangy cranberry orange sauce, perfect for festive gatherings.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 15 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Festive
Keyword: Cranberry Orange Meatballs, Easy Recipes, Holiday Meatballs, Party Food, Slow Cooker
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 350kcal

Ingredients

For the meatballs

  • 2 lbs 2 lbs (900 g) fully cooked beef meatballs Use frozen meatballs if preferred.

For the sauce

  • 1 can 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) whole cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar Can be substituted with coconut sugar or honey.
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp (5 g) garlic powder
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp (5 g) onion powder
  • 1 zest Zest of 1 orange Enhances flavor.
  • a pinch Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) Add for additional heat.

Instructions

Preparation

  • Start by placing the fully cooked beef meatballs into your slow cooker.

Making the Sauce

  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cranberry sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and orange zest until well combined.

Combining

  • Pour the sauce over the meatballs, and gently stir to coat them evenly with the sauce.

Cooking

  • Cover your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3 hours, or on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remember to stir occasionally for even heating.

Final Touches

  • Once the meatballs are hot and the sauce has thickened, they’re ready to serve!

Notes

Serve on a platter with toothpicks for easy snacking. For a heartier meal, serve over rice or mashed potatoes.