Holiday Cranberry Orange Meatballs
These holiday cranberry orange meatballs are sweet, tangy, and perfect for parties, potlucks, or festive family gatherings. The bright citrus flavor pairs beautifully with cranberry and savory meatballs, creating a crowd-pleasing appetizer or easy main dish with almost no prep.
Ingredients:
2 pounds fully cooked beef meatballs
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Optional garnish: sliced green onions or fresh parsley
Instructions:
Place the fully cooked meatballs in a slow cooker.
In a bowl, whisk together the cranberry sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, orange zest, and ground ginger until well combined.
Pour the sauce over the meatballs and gently stir to coat.
Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring once halfway through if possible.
Once heated through and coated in the thickened sauce, the meatballs are ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks.
Serve over rice or mashed potatoes for a festive main dish.
Pair with roasted vegetables or a simple salad.
Tips for Best Results:
Use frozen or refrigerated fully cooked meatballs for convenience.
Adjust sweetness by reducing or increasing the brown sugar.
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a sweet-and-spicy version.
Sweet, tangy, and bursting with holiday flavor, these cranberry orange meatballs are easy to make and always disappear fast at gatherings.