These Christmas Meatballs are so simple to prepare for the holidays! Swimming in a spiced cranberry and orange sauce, they are perfectly festive for your holiday spread! And there's virtually no "cooking" for this simple recipe, just set it and forget it!
It's a non-negotiable to have a mini crockpot of either meatballs or mini smokies on our counter for every holiday, so I love to get creative with sauce flavors. Cranberry, orange, brown sugar, and cinnamon are a merry combination of flavors for this seasonal treat!
What ingredients are needed to prepare Christmas Meatballs?
- 1 lb Frozen Meatballs
- 1 14.5 oz can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- 2 Oranges, juiced and zested
- 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- Dash of Kosher Salt
Is there any equipment necessary?
- I recommend a small crock pot for this!
How to Prepare Christmas Meatballs?
- In the base of your slow cooker, combine the cranberry sauce, orange zest, juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the frozen meatballs, stir to coat completely in the sauce and cook on LOW for 4 - 6 hours or HIGH for 2 - 3 hours. Switch crock pot to warm for your event.
- How to Prepare Christmas Meatballs on the Stove:
- Prepare the frozen meatballs as directed on the package, I recommend baking in the oven.
- Then combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and dash of salt in a pot and warm over medium high heat until warm, bubbly and slightly reduced (about 10 minutes). Pour over meatballs and garnish with orange zest.
Storage:
Store the Christmas Meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I do not recommend reheating the meatballs in a crockpot. Reheat them quickly in the microwave or on the stove and then transfer them to a crockpot on the "keep warm" setting.
Looking for other recipes for entertaining this Christmas?
To grab everything in one go, subscribe to A Toasted Crumb to download the FULL 'So You're Having a Christmas Party' E-Book for FREE! It's packed full of 12 entertaining recipes for all of your holiday gatherings!
But if you're just looking for more Christmas Appetizers, I recommend these others from the blog!
I hope you loved my Christmas Meatballs recipe! If you try it, be sure to leave a comment or tag me @atoastedcrumb on all socials! I’d love to see your work!
Christmas Meatballs: Cranberry and Orange Crockpot Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb Frozen Meatballs
- 1 can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- 2 Oranges, juiced and zested
- 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- Dash Kosher Salt
Instructions
Slow Cooker Method
- In the base of your slow cooker, combine the cranberry sauce, orange zest, juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the frozen meatballs, stir to coat completely in the sauce and cook on LOW for 4 - 6 hours or HIGH for 2 - 3 hours. Switch slow cooker to warm for your event.
How to Prepare Christmas Meatballs on the Stove
- Prepare the frozen meatballs as directed on the package, I recommend baking in the oven.
- Then combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and dash of salt in a pot and warm over medium high heat until warm, bubbly and slightly reduced (about 10 minutes). Pour over meatballs and garnish with orange zest.
