Crockpot Cranberry Turkey Meatballs
Crockpot Cranberry Turkey Meatballs are sweet, tangy, and perfectly tender little bites that practically make themselves. Simmered in a cranberry barbecue sauce, they’re the easiest festive appetizer.
Servings 60 meatballs
Calories 437kcal
Equipment
- slow cooker 4.5 quart minimum
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground turkey
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
- 1 cup white onion grated
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons ground sage
- 2 teaspoons thyme leaves fresh, chopped
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 14 oz jellied cranberry sauce 1 can
- 14 oz whole berry cranberry sauce 1 can
- 1 teaspoon orange zest about 1 large orange
- 1/2 cup orange juice about 1 large orange
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, eggs, bread crumbs, grated onion, olive oil, garlic powder, sage, thyme, salt, and black pepper.
- Roll the mixture into about 60 meatballs, roughly 1 1/2 tablespoons of the turkey mixture each.
- Place the meatballs at least a half-inch apart onto your prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until firm, but just undercooked.
- Place the meatballs into the crock of a large slow cooker.
- In a large bowl, whisk together both cranberry sauces, orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce until fully combined.
- Pour the cranberry sauce mixture over the meatballs and toss to coat.
- Turn your slow cooker on high and cook for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
- Serve hot with toothpicks or cocktail picks.
Notes
Notes:
- You can skip the slow cooker if needed and heat the sauce over medium heat on the stove, then toss the meatballs in the sauce and simmer over medium-low for 10-15 minutes, until the meat is heated throughout.
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
- You can freeze these cooked meatballs in the sauce for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 432mg | Potassium: 568mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 188IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3mg
