Turkey meatballs are slow cooked in a tangy sweet and mildly smoky sauce creating a festive holiday appetizer that's easy to prepare. Can be served as an appetizer for gatherings or as a main course for a cozy dinner. Garnished with rosemary and fresh cranberries, this dish is a welcome sight for any holiday table. Can be made with plant-based meatballs for a vegetarian option.

Here's an easy appetizer that's got a festive flare so it's perfect to serve for a holiday party but it's also easy and tasty enough to serve year-round.

★ Why You’ll Love this Recipe ★

This recipe is super easy, made with frozen turkey meatballs (or you can make your own), cranberry sauce, chili sauce for some mild kick and then — garnished with a little fresh rosemary — looks as good as these taste.

The meatballs heat and the tangy cranberry-chili sauce comes together all in one step — in the crockpot.

Just toss everything in your slow cooker, heat, stir, and garnish with fresh rosemary and a few fresh cranberries if you'd like.

Serve with toothpicks or a slotted spoon.

A quick and easy appetizer for holiday parties, and is great for football Sunday game days, too!

★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

There are 3 main ingredients plus garnishes.

You truly only need three main ingredients then a few optional ingredients for garnish.

Here's everything you'll need:

Ingredients for Cranberry Turkey Meatballs

Frozen turkey meatballs. You can use beef, pork, or chicken if you prefer but the flavor of turkey pairs really nicely with the cranberry-chili sauce. If you prefer to make your own, you can easily use ground turkey to make your own meatballs if you prefer. You can even make your own meatballs in advance, bake and freeze them. Then toss them frozen into the crockpot when you're ready to make this appetizer.
Cranberry sauce. One can of cranberry sauce, which is great if you have leftover from Thanksgiving. You can use whole berry or jellied, your choice if you prefer a chunky or smooth sauce. Homemade cranberry sauce works well, too!
Chili sauce. You'll use the whole bottle! This adds some very mild spice and richness which balances out the sweetness of the cranberry sauce really nicely.
Fresh rosemary. This adds a nice aroma and some green to really dress up these meatballs before serving. If you want to add some in for flavor, let one spring cook with the meatballs and sauce. Add the rest just as a garnish when cooking is done.
Fresh cranberries. This is totally optional but a few fresh, vibrant cranberries look nice as a garnish. They are edible but are very tart so I recommend only adding a few just for looks. If you want a chunkier sauce, you can add some fresh cranberries to your slow cooker before cooking so they soften and blend with the sauce.

That's it! Super simple. Yet full of flavor.

★ How to Make this Recipe★

This recipe is very simple. Here's a look at what you need to do:

You literally just put everything into your crockpot and heat! You do want to be sure to reserve some of the fresh cranberries and rosemary for garnish, post-cooking.

The final step is just transferring the meatballs to a nice serving tray (or leave them in the crockpot) and add fresh garnishing to really make them look as good as they taste!

Meatballs — Cooked vs. Frozen

Frozen meatballs are generally cooked, so you are essentially heating them and the sauce up.

If using homemade meatballs, you can cook them in the crockpot along with the sauce or bake them beforehand.

★ FAQs & Tips ★

Make the meatballs vegetarian!

It's simple to convert this recipe using plant-based "meatballs" that you can find at almost any store nowadays.

Can I make my own turkey meatballs?

Yes. Making your own turkey meatballs adds a personal touch.

Use ground turkey, breadcrumbs, seasoning, and an egg to form the meatballs before adding them to the crockpot. For seasoning, keep it basic. Just garlic, onion, salt and pepper would be ideal.

How long do I cook the meatballs in the crockpot?

Cooking times may vary based on your crockpot model and type of meatballs. Generally, on the low setting, it takes approximately 4-6 hours, and on high, about 2-3 hours. if cooking from raw meat, ensure the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F (74°C).

Can I prepare the meatballs ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the meatballs and sauce ingredients ahead of time and store everything in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, place everything in the crockpot and follow the cooking instructions in the recipe.

Can I double the recipe for a larger crowd?

Absolutely! Adjust the quantities accordingly and ensure your crockpot has enough capacity to accommodate the increased quantity. Cooking times may need slight adjustments based on the size of the batch. To scale up the ingredients, use the slider bar which you can find on the recipe card, below.

Can I serve these meatballs as a main dish?

These turkey cranberry meatballs work well as both appetizers and main dishes. For appetizers, serve them with toothpicks, and for a main course, pair them with rice, mashed potatoes, or a side of your choice!

Can I freeze the leftovers?

Yes, you can freeze the leftover meatballs in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating.

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This easy, 5-ingredient recipe for crockpot cranberry turkey meatballs was featured on South your Mouth!