Crockpot Cocktail Meatballs

Crockpot Cocktail Meatballs Recipe: Fabulous Sweet and Spicy Crock Pot Meatballs for holiday parties, made with a brilliant 3-ingredient glaze!

Crockpot Meatball Recipe

Finish this sentence.

The holidays aren’t the holidays without….

What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it family? Christmas carols? Maybe snow?

Did anyone happen to visualize MEATBALLS, or was it just me?

Slow Cooker Meatballs for the Holidays

Seriously, I cannot think of a more iconic holiday appetizer than slow-cooked meatballs in a sticky-sweet glaze.

I’ve heard stories of crockpot meatballs going 4 and even 5 generations back through family recipe boxes.

There are all sorts of recipes online for Crock Pot Meatballs. Some require only 2-ingredients, frozen meatballs and barbecue sauce. Others have long lists of ingredients.

Our family Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs Recipe is a happy medium, in my opinion.

These Sweet and Spicy Meatballs Are So Easy

Gently simmered in a simple 3-ingredient spicy-sweet sauce, you can add made-from-scratch meatballs (recipe below) to the crockpot… Or you can use frozen meatballs when you’re in a hurry.

Homemade meatballs are better, if you ask me. But the freezer meatballs are still pretty darn good!

Either way, just pile the party meatballs in the slow cooker, pour in the sauce ingredients, and press start.

Handmade Cocktail Meatball Ingredients

If making crockpot meatballs from scratch…

• Ground Beef – The traditional base of great meatballs.
• Ground pork sausage – Most meatball varieties include more than one type of meat. Adding pork sausage gives the meatballs an extra boost of flavor.
• Bread crumbs – To hold in the moisture. You can substitute gluten-free bread crumbs if needed.
• Eggs – to glue all the ingredients together.
• Onions & Garlic – For intense zesty flavor.
• Italian seasoning – To add herby punch.
• Smoked paprika – For that little extra something no one can quite put their finger on.
• Whole berry cranberry sauce – Find this in the seasonal section of your local market. It’s canned.
• Jalapeno jelly – You can use any kind of spicy jam or jelly you like. I usually go with Hot Pepper Spread.
• Barbecue sauce – Pick your favorite!

Frozen Meatball Ingredients 

If you are making quickie Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs, you just need 4-ingredients…

• Frozen meatballs
• Whole berry cranberry sauce
• Jalapeno jelly
• Barbecue sauce

How To Make Crockpot Meatballs 

1. In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, sausage, bread crumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and paprika. Mix until very even and smooth.
2. Set a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Roll the meat mixture into a tight ball, 1 1/4-inch wide. Place them in the skillet and brown on all sides.
3. Once the meatballs are cooked on the outside, move them to a 4-quart slow cooker. Continue rolling and browning until all the meatballs are in the slow cooker.
4. Pour in the cranberry sauce, pepper jelly, and barbecue sauce. Cover and set on low for at least 3 hours, or on high for at least 1 1/2 hours.
5. Set the slow cooker on warm until ready to serve.

Learn How To Make Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs From the Recipe Below. Enjoy! 

Crock Pot Meatballs Add-Ins and Substitutions

Make this appetizer meatballs recipe your own by:

• Adding sriracha sauce for heat
• Reducing the spice by using berry jelly instead of jalapeno jelly.
• Going gluten free by using gluten free bread crumbs or potato flakes, instead of regular bread crumbs.
• Substituting ground chicken or turkey for the beef and pork.
• Making 100 mini meatballs by using 1 tablespoon portions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do These Leftovers Last In The Fridge?

When stored properly in an airtight container, you can keep these meatballs in your fridge for 3 to 4 days. (Whether they were homemade or frozen to begin with). 

Do You Have To Cook The Meatballs Before Putting Them In A Crockpot?

Yes and no.

• If you are making meatballs from scratch, you should brown the meatballs in a pan before placing them in the crockpot. This creates an outer crust so they are less likely to break or stick together.
• You do not have to cook them all the way through before transferring the meatballs to the slow cooker. Just cook them until they are mostly brown on the outside.
• However, if you are using freezer meatballs as a short-cut, just throw them right in the crock pot! They are already fully or partially cooked.

How Long Does It Take To Cook Frozen Meatballs In The Slow Cooker?

Generally speaking, 4 hours on low heat.

However, fresh homemade meatballs only take 3 hours on low in the slow cooker. You spend a little extra time making them, but less time in the crockpot!

Other Great Slow Cooker Recipes

• Jamaican Oxtail Stew Recipe
• Carne Adovada (New Mexican Red Chile Pork)
• Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie (With Biscuits)
• Easy Swedish Meatballs (Crockpot & Instant Pot)
• Spicy Crockpot Barbacoa Recipe
• Ethiopian Chicken Doro Wat Recipe
• Buffalo Chicken Chili (Stovetop, Crockpot & Instant Pot)
• Crockpot Polish Cabbage Rolls Recipe (Golabki)
• The Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger Soup (Stovetop or Crockpot)

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