This Crock Pot Beef Cocktail Meatballs recipe is a sweet and tangy party favorite, which uses lean ground beef and cranberry chili sauce. It’s a great choice for holiday parties, ready in about 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Crock Pot Beef Cocktail Meatballs Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons minced onion
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 large egg
- 1 (8-ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce
- ¾ cup chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
How To Make Crock Pot Beef Cocktail Meatballs
- Prepare the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, water, and egg. Roll into small 1 to 1½-inch meatballs.
- Brown the meatballs (optional): For firmer meatballs, brown in a skillet for 3–5 minutes or bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes.
- Make the sauce: In a small saucepan (or directly in the slow cooker), stir together cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice over low heat until smooth.
- Slow cook: Spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of the crock pot. Add meatballs and pour remaining sauce over top. Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1½–2 hours. Stir gently halfway through.
- Serve: Keep warm in the crock pot and serve as appetizers, party snacks, or over rice.
Recipe Tips
- Can I use frozen meatballs? Yes, just skip the mixing step and cook frozen meatballs directly in the sauce.
- How to keep meatballs from falling apart: Browning them first helps hold their shape and adds flavor.
- Can I make this ahead? Yes, prepare the meatballs and sauce up to a day in advance and refrigerate until ready to cook.
- Can I double the recipe? Yes, just make sure your slow cooker can handle the volume and stir occasionally.
- How to make it spicier: Add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the sauce.
What To Serve With Cocktail Meatballs
These meatballs are great for entertaining or a cozy dinner:
- Toothpicks for serving at parties
- Over white rice or noodles
- Alongside mashed potatoes
- With slider buns for mini sandwiches
- On a party platter with pickles and cheese
How To Store Cocktail Meatballs
Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze cooked meatballs and sauce together for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Reheat: Warm in a saucepan over low heat or microwave until heated through.
Cocktail Meatballs Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 193
- Total Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 53mg
- Sodium: 85mg
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 10g
- Protein: 10g
- Potassium: 183mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I bake these instead of using a slow cooker?
Yes, bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes in a covered dish with sauce.
What kind of chili sauce should I use?
Use a classic tomato-based chili sauce like Heinz.
Are these sweet or savory?
They have a balanced sweet and tangy flavor—great for party appetizers.
Can I use turkey instead of beef?
Yes, ground turkey works well, but you may need to reduce the cooking time slightly.
How do I prevent the sauce from burning?
Stir halfway through cooking and keep the heat on LOW if cooking longer.
Try More Recipes:
Crock Pot Beef Cocktail Meatballs
Course: AppetizersCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy10
servings10
minutes4
hours193
kcalA sweet and tangy slow cooker appetizer made with beef meatballs and a cranberry chili glaze.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
½ cup bread crumbs
3 tbsp minced onion
2 tbsp water
1 egg
1 can (8 oz) cranberry sauce
¾ cup chili sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1½ tsp lemon juice
Directions
- Mix beef, crumbs, onion, water, and egg. Roll into small meatballs.
- Optional: brown meatballs in skillet or bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes.
- Stir together sauce ingredients until smooth.
- Add a layer of sauce to crock pot, add meatballs, top with remaining sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours. Serve warm.