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Crockpot Cranberry and Orange Meatballs

Published / Updated / 13 Comments

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These tender Crockpot cranberry and orange meatballs are easy to make, sweet, and comforting.

bowl with Crockpot cranberry and orange meatballs in a sweet and sour sauce

Sometimes it's nice to dust off the slow cooker. I like simple recipes and I love the aroma that fills my kitchen as these meatballs cook.

These pork meatballs are tender and flavorful, and the sauce is sweet with a little bit of sour.

The meatballs and sauce go well with jasmine rice, and spring onions sliced on top complete the dish.

This recipe makes about 35 meatballs and a generous amount of sauce, so there are plenty of leftovers to be had. Work lunches solved for the week!

bowl with slow cooker cranberry and orange meatballs and bowl of rice

Will you make these easy Crockpot cranberry meatballs?

Crockpot Cranberry and Orange meatballs - an easy, comforting meal with tender pork meatballs and a sweet and sour sauce. - Salt & Lavender
4 from 1 vote
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Crockpot Cranberry and Orange Meatballs

Sweet and sour cranberry and orange meatballs in the slow cooker.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword cranberry orange meatballs, Crockpot meatballs
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 25 minutes
Servings 6
Author Natasha Bull

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

  • 2 pounds lean ground pork
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup milk (I used skim)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste

For the Sauce:

  • 1 (11.8 fluid ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce (I used Ocean Spray)
  • 1 (8.5 fluid ounce) jar orange marmalade
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauceServe with:
  • Jasmine rice
  • Spring onions chopped

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine meatball ingredients, mixing gently with your hands and forming 1.5 inch balls (recipe should make 30-40). Set aside.
  2. Add sauce ingredients into your slow cooker. Stir until mostly combined (it's ok if the cranberry jelly doesn't completely break up, it will once it cooks). Set on low heat.
  3. Add meatballs to slow cooker. I find it works best to add a few at a time, and carefully mixing with the sauce as you go along so meatballs are coated.
  4. Close lid and let cook for 5.5-6 hours on low or until meatballs are cooked through. I stir it periodically, but it's not necessary (i.e. if you're not home).
  5. Serve with rice and chopped spring onions.

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  2. Angela says

    These sound delicious. Could you substitute ground turkey or chicken in place of the pork? How would that impact cooking time, etc.? Thanks so much.

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Thanks, Angela! Ground turkey or chicken should definitely work. I haven't tested it, so I can't say for sure on cooking time. I'd probably leave it the same to start with (you can always reduce it the next time, for example). Let me know how it goes!

      Reply

  3. Christelle D. says

    4 stars
    Just made that recipe and it was delicious. As mentioned it is sweet so I just poored less sauce on my bowl 🙂
    Thanks for this quick and simple recipe.

    Reply

  5. Lynn | The Road to Honey says

    What an interesting flavor combination for meatballs Natasha. They sound so festive and I love that you can whip the up in the crock pot. A must make.

    Reply

  6. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    Never made my own meatballs before and definitely need to give this recipe a go. Love how easy it is!

    Reply

  7. Tania @ COOKTORIA says

    I will definitely try these meatballs, Natasha! The combination of cranberry sauce, orange marmalade and soy sauce sounds very interesting.

    Reply