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Easy Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs: 3-Ingredient Holiday Appetizer

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A simple, sweet-savory slow cooker appetizer made with ground meat, breadcrumbs, and cranberry sauce. Perfect for holiday gatherings and busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20) or ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 jar (14-16 oz) cranberry sauce (jellied or whole berry)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine ground beef, Panko breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands until just combined; do not overwork.
  2. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls, yielding about 20-25 meatballs. If sticking, wet hands with cold water.
  3. Spray the inside of a 4-quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Pour the entire jar of cranberry sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle brown sugar over the sauce if using, and stir gently.
  5. Place the meatballs on top of the cranberry sauce in a single layer if possible. Do not stir yet.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Switch to WARM once done.
  7. Gently stir the meatballs into the sauce to coat before serving warm.

Notes

Do not overmix the meat to avoid dense meatballs. Ensure uniform size for even cooking. If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir in during the last 30 minutes. For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes. For a gluten-free version, substitute Panko with almond flour.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot meatballs, cranberry meatballs, holiday appetizer, slow cooker recipes, easy party food, 3 ingredient recipes, beef meatballs, turkey meatballs

Find it online: https://gleefulfork.com/easy-crockpot-cranberry-meatballs-3-ingredient-holiday-appetizer/