Cranberry Jalapeño Meatballs

5 from 48 votes

Cranberry Jalapeño Meatballs are an updated version of that timeless party favorite, cocktail meatballs. These meatballs are glazed with a sweet and spicy sauce and each meatball is coated with the flavor of tangy cranberries.

Prep Time10

Cook Time4

Total Time4 10

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 422kcal

Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

Ingredients

2, 24-ounce bags of frozen meatballs pork, turkey or beef

Sauce Ingredients

2 jalapenos - diced about ½ cup
2 14-ounce cans cranberry sauce jellied
1 12-ounce jar chili sauce Heinz Chili Sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup jalapeno jelly

Instructions

Dice the Peppers

Dice the jalapenos into very small chunks. Set aside about 1 tablespoon to sprinkle on top of the meatballs after cooking, for garnish.
Note: Please be careful when handling jalapeno peppers, they are hot. Always avoid touching your eyes after chopping peppers.

Combine Ingredients

Place all of the sauce ingredients in a 7-quart slow cooker or Crockpot. Stir or whisk to combine everything and create a smooth sauce. Cover the slow cooker and switch it to high, cook for 20 minutes. This helps the sauce ingredients melt and blend before adding the meatballs.
Add the frozen meatballs and stir to ensure all the meatballs are coated with the sauce.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or high for 2 hours, or until the meatballs and the sauce are thoroughly heated.

Serve

Switch the slow cooker to warm, stir the meatballs and the sauce then sprinkle the reserved diced peppers on top of the meatballs. Serve directly from the slow cooker.
Or, spoon the meatballs into a serving bowl, top with plenty of the sauce and sprinkle the peppers on top.
Serve with toothpicks so folks can easily handle the meatballs even without silverware.

Notes

You can also prepare this on the stovetop. Follow the same process, but add the ingredients to a large saucepan instead of a slow cooker. Bring the sauce ingredients to a low simmer over medium-high heat, then add the frozen meatballs. Stir to combine. Cover the pan and turn the heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 45 minutes or until the meatballs and sauce are thoroughly heated through.

Nutrition