These tender Crockpot cranberry and orange meatballs are easy to make, sweet, and comforting.
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!
Will you make these easy Crockpot cranberry meatballs?
Crockpot Cranberry and Orange Meatballs
Sweet and sour cranberry and orange meatballs in the slow cooker.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 25 minutes
Servings 6
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.
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.
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!
Christelle D. says
Just made that recipe and it was delicious. As mentioned it is sweet so I just poored less sauce on my bowl π
Thanks for this quick and simple recipe.
Natasha says
So happy you liked it, Christelle! π Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Beth says
Mmm, these sound great! I bet they’d be great for the holidays. I might try them this weekend!
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.
Natasha says
Thanks Lynn π
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!
Natasha says
Thanks Thalia! Let me know if you do try it.
Tania @ COOKTORIA says
I will definitely try these meatballs, Natasha! The combination of cranberry sauce, orange marmalade and soy sauce sounds very interesting.
Natasha says
Thanks Tania. They’re quite sweet but I enjoyed them!