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Easy Slow Cooker Cranberry Chipotle Meatballs: Best Party Appetizer

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These slow cooker cranberry chipotle meatballs are the perfect party appetizer with a sweet and smoky sauce that’s easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs frozen homestyle meatballs
  • 14 oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 14 oz can jellied cranberry sauce
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
  • ¼ cup sliced green onions (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together both cans of cranberry sauce (break up the jellied one with a fork first), minced chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, chili garlic sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder until smooth.
  2. Place the frozen meatballs directly into the slow cooker in an even layer.
  3. Pour the cranberry chipotle sauce over the meatballs and gently stir to coat each meatball.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours. Stir gently after 2 hours.
  5. Check for doneness: meatballs should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or vinegar if needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro and green onions just before serving.
  7. Serve warm directly from the slow cooker or transfer to a serving dish with some of the sauce.

Notes

For a milder version, use one chipotle pepper and skip the chili garlic sauce. For extra heat, add a third pepper. These meatballs taste even better the next day. To thicken the sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir in; cook on HIGH for 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker meatballs, cranberry chipotle meatballs, party appetizer, holiday appetizer, easy meatballs

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