This easy crockpot BBQ Meatballs recipe could not be more simple with homemade or store-bought meatballs, cooked in a simple BBQ cranberry sauce. They are sweet, tangy, and the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer!
Crockpot BBQ Meatballs prepped in 5 minutes.
Crockpot BBQ Meatballs prepped in 5 minutes.Everyone loves an appetizer of warm meatballs and I love a crockpot appetizer I can prep ahead and forget! This has got to be the easiest appetizer out there since you just toss everything in the slow cooker and walk away. You can use frozen store-bought meatballs (I recommend the Costco brand) or make and freeze homemade meatballs. It takes just 5 minutes to throw everything in, then come back when it’s time to enjoy them.
Don’t miss my other appetizer recipes, like Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Pizza Sliders, Toasted Ravioli, and Air Fryer Chicken Wings! If you’re hosting Game Day, check out the Top 5 Superbowl Foods.
How to make BBQ meatballs:
Make Sauce: Pour frozen meatballs in slow cooker and mix together cranberry sauce, cocktail sauce, brown sugar, water, and bbq sauce.
Cook: Pour sauce over meatballs and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Storing and Reheating Instructions:
Store leftover crockpot bbq meatball leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To Reheat: Add meatballs and sauce to a saucepan and reheat on the stove until warm.
Recipe Variations:
- Stovetop Instructions: Pour bbq meatball sauce ingredients into a saucepan, stirring until smooth. Add the meatballs and toss them in the sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes if the meatballs are thawed, 14-16 minutes for frozen meatballs.
- Meatballs: I recommend pre-cooked frozen meatballs for this recipe. I like to make a big batch of my homemade meatballs and keep in the freezer to make this recipe anytime. If you want to use fresh uncooked meatballs, I recommend using a lean meat or else it will add extra grease to the sauce.
More Recipes with Meatballs:
- Hawaiian Meatballs
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs
- One Pan Meatball Casserole
- Meatball Subs
- Swedish Meatballs
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Meatballs Arrabbiata
- Mediterranean Meatball Bowl
- Green Curry Meatballs
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Recipe
BBQ Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 50-60 frozen meatballs (store bought or homemade)*
- 14 ounce whole cranberry sauce
- 12 ounces cocktail sauce , or homemade
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- green onion , finely chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Spray the bottom of your slow cooker lightly with cooking spray. Add frozen meatballs to the bottom of pot.
- In a large bowl, stir together cranberry sauce, cocktail sauce, brown sugar, water, and barbecue sauce then pour over meatballs.
- Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- Serve warm garnished with chopped green onions, if desired. You could also serve over rice.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe October 2016. Updated October 2020 and January 2025.
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I want to make this recipe for a Christmas party tomorrow but my grocery store was sold out of whole cranberry sauce and only had jellied! Do you think it would be okay to sub jellied in the recipe? I’m curious if you’ve tried that.
I Love this recipe but want to change it up to make more of an Asian flare.
Would you recommend substituting any of the ingredients for soy sauce and adding a little spice? Need your expertise….
Thanks Laura! Love your website!
Sounds great. What would be good to have with them?
Made these over the weekend and they were a big hit! Loved that I could make them in the slow cooker and loved all the leftovers. So easy and delicious!
When you say cocktail sauce, do you mean like shrimp cocktail sauce?
Yes.
This was super easy and super delicious!
Had these for guest last Thanksgiving. Easy to make as a side and everyone loved them. Thanks for sharing.
I used turkey and everyone loved them! Easy to make as well. I’m going to add only 1/2 cup of water next time to see if the sauce remains a little thicker.
Can we freeze leftovers?
Sure, that should be fine!
These were sooo good! I made them for a potluck and they were gone by the end of it. I used frozen turkey meatballs and they turned out great in the crock pot. This will be my go-to potluck meal from now on!