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Ultra close-up macro of bubbling cocktail cranberry jalapeno meatballs in slow cooker with glossy ruby glaze and diced green jalapenos

Cocktail Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs in Crockpot

These easy 3-ingredient slow cooker cocktail meatballs simmer in a luscious sweet, tart, and spicy glaze made with whole-berry cranberry sauce, smoky barbecue sauce, and fresh diced jalapenos. The ultimate hands-off crowd-pleaser for game day and holiday parties!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 245
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

Meatballs & Sweet-Tart Glaze
  • 2 lbs beef cocktail meatballs fully cooked
  • 1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce 14 oz
  • 1 cup smoky barbecue sauce sweet and smoky
  • 2 medium fresh jalapenos seeded and diced
  • 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
Festive Garnishes & Serving
  • 1 medium fresh jalapeno sliced for garnish
  • 2 stalks green scallions chopped
  • 1 pack cocktail skewers for serving

Method
 

Combine Meatballs & Glaze
  1. Place the frozen or thawed homestyle beef cocktail meatballs directly into the basin of a 4-to-6-quart slow cooker.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the whole-berry cranberry sauce, smoky barbecue sauce, finely diced jalapenos, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder until smoothly blended.
  3. Pour the cranberry barbecue glaze evenly over the meatballs in the slow cooker. Use a large spoon to gently stir and toss until all meatballs are thoroughly enrobed in the vibrant sauce.
Slow Cook to Tender Glazed Perfection
  1. Cover tightly with the slow cooker lid. Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours, until the meatballs are steaming hot, juicy, and heated through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  2. Give the meatballs a gentle stir halfway through cooking to ensure even heat distribution and allow the sauce to reduce into a sticky, glossy lacquer.
Garnish & Party Presentation
  1. Switch the slow cooker setting to WARM. Scatter thinly sliced fresh jalapeno rings and chopped green scallions over the top.
  2. Serve straight from the slow cooker with wooden cocktail skewers for guests, or transfer to a holiday party serving platter with extra sauce spooned over top.

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 14.5gFat: 11.2gSaturated Fat: 4.1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 490mgPotassium: 290mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 210IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1.8mg

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