These Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatballs are the perfect holiday appetizer for your next holiday party. Made in your crock-pot with a simple cranberry BBQ sauce, they are quick to make, festive, and Weight Watchers friendly. I love a delicious appetizer recipe that's both easy to make and healthy. And these homemade turkey meatballs are the ultimate in easy - just a few ingredients, 2 steps, set it and forget it, and the crock pot does all the cooking for you.
This turkey meatball appetizer is popular around the holiday season but great for any time of year. They are easy to make, festive, healthy, and Weight Watchers friendly. This Cranberry Turkey meatball recipe is 2 WW points. It's the ideal appetizer for a holiday meal, especially if you're serving something other than turkey, such as Picnic Ham and Scalloped Potatoes without Cheese.
Recipe Overview: Slow Cooker Turkey Cranberry Meatballs
- Yield: 30 meatballs (Perfect for holiday parties, potlucks, and game days!)
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 3 to 3.5 hours (Set it and forget it!)
- Calories: 79 kcals per meatball
- Weight Watchers Points: 2 WW Points per meatball
- Flavor Profile: The ultimate balance of sweet, savory, and tangy! The lean ground turkey is brightened up with fresh orange zest and savory soy sauce, then slow-cooked in a sticky, sweet cranberry BBQ glaze with just a tiny kick of heat.
- Why You'll Love It: There is no tedious pan-frying or oven-baking required! This is a true "dump and go" slow cooker appetizer. It's incredibly hands-off, leaving you free to mingle with your guests or prep other holiday dishes. Plus, because it uses lean turkey, it's a wonderfully healthy, low-fat alternative to traditional heavy beef or pork party meatballs.
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- Recipe Overview: Slow Cooker Turkey Cranberry Meatballs
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- 🥘 Ingredient Notes
- 📖Variations & Substitutions
- 🔪 How to Make Cranberry Turkey Meatballs
- ⏲️ Slow Cooking Time
- 🌡️How to Store and Freeze Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
- 🔢WW POINTS
- 🥗What to Serve with this Slow Cooker Turkey Meatball Recipe
- ❔ Recipe FAQs
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 🎄More Healthy Holiday Appetizers!
- 📋 Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatballs Recipe
The holidays are all about appetizers! When else can you justify eating only appetizers for dinner? And when we do get together with family, we like to have a few appetizer nights over the holidays. Our tradition is to have a big spread of finger foods, including food on sticks/skewered foods for our New Year's Eve celebration.
This turkey meatball appetizer fits perfectly in that spread. I also like to have a variety of hot and cold appetizers, like my Easy Layered Nacho Dip (Gluten-free), Greek-style Veggie Phyllo Pizza, as well as several healthy and Weight Watchers friendly options for grazing like this recipe (and see below the recipe card for even more healthy Christmas appetizers!)
🥘 Ingredient Notes
Ground turkey has a reputation for drying out, but the secret to perfectly moist turkey meatballs is cooking them low and slow! Smothering them in a sweet and tangy Cranberry BBQ sauce keeps them incredibly juicy. Plus, a hint of orange zest gives this dish a festive flavor profile that screams holiday party!
- Lean Ground Turkey: A fantastic, healthy alternative to ground beef or pork that pairs beautifully with the sweet sauce. It keeps this appetizer low in fat and very Weight Watchers friendly!
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: This gives the meatballs just a subtle, background kick of heat. It won't make them spicy, but it prevents the sauce from tasting overly sweet.
- Canned Cranberry Sauce: I use canned cranberry sauce (jellied) because it melts down into a beautifully smooth glaze, and it's incredibly convenient and economical.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite brand or a homemade version. I usually use President's Choice Gourmet BBQ Sauce. Pro-Tip: I recommend avoiding strongly flavored hickory or mesquite BBQ sauces, as the smokiness can easily overpower the delicate cranberry flavor.
- Orange Zest: The "secret" ingredient! A little bit of fresh citrus zest cuts through the richness and adds a bright, festive depth of flavor.
- Egg White & Fine Breadcrumbs: These act as your binders. Because ground turkey is so lean, the egg white and breadcrumbs hold the meat mixture together so your meatballs hold their shape in the slow cooker.
- Green Onion & Minced Garlic: Fresh garlic provides a savory, aromatic base, while the chopped green onions give the meatballs a fresh, mild bite and a great pop of color.
- Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce: Adds a necessary punch of savory umami flavor to perfectly balance out the sweet cranberry sauce.
* Please see recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Cranberry Sauce- you can use canned or homemade cranberry sauce
- BBQ Sauce - you can use any type of BBQ sauce you prefer, but I do NOT recommend using one with hickory flavor
- Ground Turkey - you could substitute ground chicken
🔪 How to Make Cranberry Turkey Meatballs
The original recipe required pre-cooking of the meatballs on a skillet. But if you've been following along with me for a while, you know how I feel about pre-cooking in my slow cooker recipes; it defeats the entire purpose of using a slow cooker! Unless it's absolutely necessary, I will not do it. So obviously I eliminated that step, as it really wasn't necessary. Therefore, these delicious cranberry turkey meatballs are the perfect make-ahead appetizer.
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place egg white in a large bowl, beat lightly, and add ground turkey, bread crumbs, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, green onion, orange zest, and soy sauce. In a large mixing bowl, mix the turkey mixture well and shape into 30 balls. Add meatballs to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Combine canned cranberry sauce in a mixing bowl with BBQ sauce and pour over meatballs. Cook on low in the slow cooker for 3- 3.5 hours, until meatballs are cooked through.
This particular cranberry sauce for meatballs is about as easy as you're going to get! You simply mix your favorite BBQ sauce with a can of cranberry sauce, pour it on, and it does its magic in the slow cooker! I like to use President's Choice Gourmet BBQ sauce, but you could use any type. I just don't recommend using anything that has a strong hickory taste.
⏲️ Slow Cooking Time
Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs are a great way to enjoy meatball appetizers because they are a set it and forget it recipe! The turkey meatballs are added to the crock pot, then you pour the sauce on top of the meatballs and walk away. 3 hours later, you have perfectly cooked turkey meatballs with cranberry sauce - easy peasy!
Expert Recipe Tips
- Don't Overmix the Meat: Ground turkey is very lean and can become tough if overworked. Mix the ingredients just until everything is combined and the breadcrumbs are incorporated. The less you handle the meat, the more tender your meatballs will be!
- Use a Cookie Scoop for Uniformity: Because these meatballs are cooking from raw in the slow cooker, it is essential that they are all the same size so they cook evenly. A small cookie scoop (about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons) makes this quick, easy, and precise.
- Stick to the LOW Setting: It might be tempting to crank your slow cooker to HIGH to get these done faster, but don't do it! Because turkey has very little fat, high heat will quickly dry it out and make the meatballs rubbery. Cooking them on LOW ensures they stay juicy and tender.
- The "No-Browning" Secret: Many recipes ask you to pan-fry meatballs before slow cooking to prevent a greasy sauce. Because we are using lean ground turkey (which produces virtually no grease), you can skip the skillet entirely! Just ensure you spray the bottom of your slow cooker well with non-stick spray so the lean meat doesn't stick.
- Use Jellied Cranberry Sauce for a Smooth Glaze: If you want a perfectly smooth, sticky BBQ glaze, buy the jellied canned cranberry sauce. It melts down seamlessly into the BBQ sauce. If you prefer a chunkier, more rustic texture, you can use whole-berry canned cranberry sauce instead.
- Use an Instant-Read Thermometer: The line between a perfectly juicy turkey meatball and a dry one is very thin. Check your meatballs at the 3-hour mark. Once the center reaches exactly 165°F (74°C), switch your slow cooker to the "Warm" setting immediately to prevent overcooking.
🌡️How to Store and Freeze Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
- These crockpot cranberry turkey meatballs can be stored with the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- This recipe freezes well for up to 3 months.
- To reheat: Simply defrost the frozen meatballs and warm in the microwave
These easy Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatballs are the perfect healthy holiday appetizer. They are quick to make, festive, and Weight Watchers friendly!
However, these flavorful meatballs aren't only for the holidays; meatballs are always popular at game day get-togethers, family gatherings, or any party, for that matter! The great thing about these juicy meatballs is that you cook them up and then place them on the warm setting until ready. They are the ultimate low-maintenance party recipe!
🔢WW POINTS
This easy crockpot turkey meatball recipe is Weight Watchers friendly at 2 WW pts per meatball. The points can be reduced by using a low-sugar or no-sugar BBQ sauce.
🥗What to Serve with this Slow Cooker Turkey Meatball Recipe
If you are serving these as a party appetizer, simply provide a cup of festive toothpicks or small skewers! They pair beautifully on an appetizer buffet alongside my Chicken Tortilla Pinwheels and Stacked Caprese Salad Sticks (shown).
If you want to turn these into a main course for dinner, here is what I recommend serving them with:
- Rice or Grains: Serve the meatballs and that delicious extra sauce over a bed of fluffy jasmine rice, brown rice, or quinoa.
- Potatoes: They are fantastic over creamy mashed potatoes or alongside roasted baby potatoes.
- Veggies: Serve with a side of steamed broccoli, roasted Brussels sprouts, or a crisp green salad to balance out the sweetness of the cranberry sauce.
❔ Recipe FAQs
No! That is the beauty of this recipe. As long as you use lean ground turkey, they will cook perfectly in the sauce without releasing excess grease. Browning them first defeats the purpose of an easy slow cooker recipe!
Absolutely. You can mix the ground turkey with the seasonings and roll them into balls 1-2 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to put them in the slow cooker with the sauce.
They have a very mild, warm kick from the ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes. If you are sensitive to spice, you can easily reduce this to ¼ teaspoon or omit it entirely.
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If you are a meatball fanatic, you'll love my Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs! It's another delicious meatball appetizer recipe and also a traditional holiday side dish for my family!
And if you still have extra cranberry sauce after making these meatballs, these Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cornmeal Muffins are a delightful way to use it up.
So, if you're looking for healthy Christmas appetizers, this Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatball Appetizer will check all your holiday boxes!
Happy Holidays!
🎄More Healthy Holiday Appetizers!
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📋 Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatballs Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Sauce ingredients
- 1 ½ cups canned cranberry sauce 348 ml can
- ⅔ cup Your favorite BBQ sauce * I use President's Choice Gourmet BBQ sauce (from Superstore)
Meatball ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 2 lb lean ground turkey (900 g) )
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon reduced sodium soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup fine bread crumbs
Garnish
- additional crushed red pepper flakes
- additional chopped green onion
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray.
- Place egg white in bowl, beat lightly and add ground turkey, bread crumbs, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, green onion, orange zest, and soy sauce. Mix well and shape into 30 balls. *You can use a small cookie scoop to do this, if you prefer.1 egg white, 2 lb lean ground turkey, 2 green onions, chopped, 2 tsp orange zest, 1 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce, ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1 cup fine bread crumbs, 1 tsp minced garlic
- Add meatballs to bottom of slow cooker.
- Combine canned cranberry sauce in a bowl with BBQ sauce and pour over meatballs.1 ½ cups canned cranberry sauce, ⅔ cup Your favorite BBQ sauce
- Cook on low in slow cooker for 3- 3.5 hours until meatballs are cooked through. The internal temperature should read 165 degrees F (or 74 degrees C).
- Keep warm until ready to serve. Can be reheated prior to serving.
Garnish
- Garnish with additional chopped green onions and crushed red pepper flakes, as desired.additional crushed red pepper flakes, additional chopped green onion
Notes
- Don't Overmix the Meat: Ground turkey is very lean and can become tough if overworked. Mix the ingredients just until everything is combined and the breadcrumbs are incorporated. The less you handle the meat, the more tender your meatballs will be!
- Use a Cookie Scoop for Uniformity: Because these meatballs are cooking from raw in the slow cooker, it is essential that they are all the same size so they cook evenly. A small cookie scoop (about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons) makes this quick, easy, and precise.
- Stick to the LOW Setting: It might be tempting to crank your slow cooker to HIGH to get these done faster, but don't do it! Because turkey has very little fat, high heat will quickly dry it out and make the meatballs rubbery. Cooking them on LOW ensures they stay juicy and tender.
- The "No-Browning" Secret: Many recipes ask you to pan-fry meatballs before slow cooking to prevent a greasy sauce. Because we are using lean ground turkey (which produces virtually no grease), you can skip the skillet entirely! Just ensure you spray the bottom of your slow cooker well with non-stick spray so the lean meat doesn't stick.
- Use Jellied Cranberry Sauce for a Smooth Glaze: If you want a perfectly smooth, sticky BBQ glaze, buy the jellied canned cranberry sauce. It melts down seamlessly into the BBQ sauce. If you prefer a chunkier, more rustic texture, you can use whole-berry canned cranberry sauce instead.
- Use an Instant-Read Thermometer: The line between a perfectly juicy turkey meatball and a dry one is very thin. Check your meatballs at the 3-hour mark. Once the center reaches exactly 165°F (74°C), switch your slow cooker to the "Warm" setting immediately to prevent overcooking.
- Cranberry Sauce- you can use canned or homemade cranberry sauce
- BBQ Sauce - you can use any type of BBQ sauce you prefer, but I do NOT recommend using one with hickory flavor
- Ground Turkey - you could substitute ground chicken
Mishl says
How many meatballs equals one serving?
Terri Gilson says
Hi Mishl,
A serving is 1 meatball with sauce and that's 2 pts.
Hope that helps!
Terri
Laila Z. says
Made these last year and they were a hit! Any recommendations on if someone wants to double the recipe? I'm not sure how it works with slow-cooker recipes.
Terri Gilson says
Hi Laila,
I'm so glad you loved them! Yes, if you want to double just cook as normal - it shouldn't affect the cooking time. However, you'll just want to double check the internal temperature is in the safe range 165 degrees F and above.
Enjoy!
Terri
Sabrina says
So good! I love all the healthy swaps but these are still so rich in flavour. Thanks!
Kristen says
What a great recipe for this year especially....not sure we need a whole Turkey for just the two adults and the babies, so we might just do this instead.
Terri Gilson says
They could definitely replace a turkey dinner, Kristen!
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man! says
I could really go for these turkey meatballs!
Terri Gilson says
I hope you enjoy them!
Lynnmp says
Making now mixed With veal weiners.
Very easy to make on a snowy day.
Making rice with peas and carrots on the side,
Terri Gilson says
Sounds good - enjoy!
Julia Pinney says
What a great holiday recipe. I would never think to use a slow cooker for this, fantastic idea. I love the cranberry sauce too!
Colleen says
Great recipe! I love that cranberry sauce addition, and the slow cooker is a fantastic way to make meatballs! Delicious.
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Colleen! Yes, I'm a HUGE fan of that helpful little appliance 🙂
NANCY WU says
love these healthier options then just beef or chicken all the time! thanks for the easy recipe!
Terri Gilson says
You are welcome! Yes, it's a nice change up from beef or chicken!
Joss says
It's nice that these are so easy to make, especially for the holidays! A tasty, stress free recipe.
Terri Gilson says
That's what I love about them too, Joss!