Description
Slow Cooker Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs combine spicy, sweet, and savory flavors to create a festive appetizer or satisfying main course. This easy recipe uses ground beef, flavorful spices, and a homemade cranberry sauce cooked together in a slow cooker for a hands-off, delicious meal perfect for gatherings or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp Coconut Aminos
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
Sauce
- 1 pack Amy Lu Jalapeno Cranberry Meatballs (for reference, optional if making from scratch)
- 2 jars (13 oz each) BBQ sauce (recommended The New Primal or Primal Kitchen brands)
- 12 oz bag fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, almond flour, coconut flour, sea salt, Coconut Aminos, dijon mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Form the mixture into meatballs of desired size.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Place the meatballs carefully into the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, mix the BBQ sauce, cranberries, water, and honey or maple syrup until well combined. Pour this sauce mixture over the meatballs in the slow cooker.
- Cook the Meatballs: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for 8 hours, allowing the meatballs to cook fully and the cranberry BBQ sauce to thicken and meld flavors, resulting in tender meatballs with a tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce.
- Serve: Once cooked, gently stir the meatballs to coat them in sauce. Serve warm as an appetizer or as a main dish alongside your preferred sides.
Notes
- This recipe is ideal for making ahead; you can prepare the meatballs and sauce mixture the night before and let it slow cook the next day.
- If fresh cranberries are unavailable, frozen cranberries work well and do not need to be thawed before cooking.
- Adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup based on how sweet you prefer your cranberry sauce.
- For a lower carb version, reduce or omit the honey/maple syrup and use a sugar-free BBQ sauce.
- For gluten-free preparation, verify that your BBQ sauce is certified gluten-free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 meatballs
- Calories: 246 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 42 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg
