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Cozy Fall Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Meatballs

cozy fall slow cooker cranberry BBQ meatballs - featured image
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These impossibly tender meatballs in a sticky-sweet cranberry BBQ sauce are the perfect fall comfort food. Made in the slow cooker, they’re ideal for parties, game day, or holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-style)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 can (14 oz) whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, beaten eggs, milk, minced garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder, and cayenne (if using). Mix gently with your hands until just combined.
  3. Using a cookie scoop or your hands, form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs (about 30-35 meatballs). Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.
  4. Bake the meatballs for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned on the outside.
  5. While the meatballs are baking, whisk together the cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and smoked paprika in a small bowl.
  6. Pour about half the sauce into the bottom of your slow cooker. Add the seared meatballs in a single layer if possible. Pour the remaining sauce over the top, making sure each meatball gets coated.
  7. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the meatballs are tender and the sauce is thick and bubbly.
  8. Serve directly from the slow cooker or transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or green onions if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip the sear—it helps the meatballs hold their shape. For a thicker sauce, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for 15-20 minutes at the end. The meatballs taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry BBQ meatballs, slow cooker meatballs, fall appetizer, holiday meatballs, game day meatballs

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/cozy-fall-slow-cooker-cranberry-bbq-meatballs/