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    Home » Crockpot

    Crockpot Cranberry and Orange Meatballs

    Published: Dec 11, 2015 / Updated: Sep 4, 2018 / 13 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    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

    Crockpot Cranberry and Orange Meatballs

    Sweet and sour cranberry and orange meatballs in the slow cooker.
    4 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 6 hours hrs
    Total Time 6 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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
     

    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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).
    • Serve with rice and chopped spring onions.
    Keyword cranberry orange meatballs, Crockpot meatballs
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
    Pasta with Pancetta, Mushrooms, and Garlic »

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    1. Suzanne douglas says

      December 19, 2019 at 5:50 PM

      Yummy loved them

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 20, 2019 at 10:17 AM

        Great! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Angela says

      October 11, 2018 at 6:31 AM

      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

        October 11, 2018 at 8:22 AM

        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

      July 8, 2017 at 8:19 PM

      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
      • Natasha says

        July 8, 2017 at 8:21 PM

        So happy you liked it, Christelle! 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

        Reply
    4. Beth says

      January 15, 2016 at 11:20 AM

      Mmm, these sound great! I bet they'd be great for the holidays. I might try them this weekend!

      Reply
    5. Lynn | The Road to Honey says

      December 11, 2015 at 3:38 PM

      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
      • Natasha says

        December 11, 2015 at 3:39 PM

        Thanks Lynn 🙂

        Reply
    6. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

      December 11, 2015 at 3:21 PM

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

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 11, 2015 at 3:29 PM

        Thanks Thalia! Let me know if you do try it.

        Reply
    7. Tania @ COOKTORIA says

      December 11, 2015 at 3:06 PM

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

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 11, 2015 at 3:11 PM

        Thanks Tania. They're quite sweet but I enjoyed them!

        Reply

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