Description
These juicy cranberry meatballs are flavor packed and cooked in a beautiful sweet-tangy cranberry glaze – these are sure to become your favorite party appetizer and holiday staple. Totally gluten-free and dairy-free too.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup plain gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup gluten-free chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- water
Instructions
- Combine Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, place the ground meat, finely chopped onion, breadcrumbs, salt, paprika, egg, dill, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix Well to Get Meatball Mixture: Mix everything thoroughly with clean hands or a spoon until the mixture is well combined. Be sure the seasonings and onion are evenly distributed throughout the meat.
- Shape Mixture into Balls: Wet your hands with a little water to prevent sticking. Scoop out small portions of the mixture and gently roll them into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Try to keep them uniform in size so they cook evenly.
- Sear Meatballs: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add a little oil. Place the meatballs in the skillet and cook for 5–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until they develop a golden-brown crust on the outside. This step will seal in the juices and help keep the meatballs tender.
- Transfer Seared Meatballs to Bowl: Once browned, remove the meatballs from the skillet and transfer them to a clean bowl. They don’t need to be fully cooked at this stage, as they’ll finish cooking in the slow cooker.
- Prepare Cranberry Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cranberries will begin to burst and release their juices, forming a tart, rich sauce. (If you prefer a smoother sauce, strain the mixture through a sieve or blend with an immersion blender. If you like texture, leave the cranberries slightly chunky. Stir in the chili sauce and mix well to balance the sweetness and tanginess.)
- Place Meatballs and Sauce in Slow Cooker: Place the browned meatballs into a 6-quart slow cooker and pour the cranberry sauce over the top. Gently stir so all the meatballs are coated with the sauce.
- Cook Until Juicy: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low for about 4 hours. The meatballs will absorb the flavors of the sauce and become tender and juicy.
- Garnish & Serve: Serve these gluten-free cranberry meatballs hot, sprinkled with fresh herbs, and pair them with creamy mashed potatoes, white rice, or crusty bread for a complete meal.
Notes
Ground Beef: I used ground beef, but feel free to use other types of ground meat (such as ground turkey, ground pork, ground chicken, or ground lamb).
Onion: I used a yellow onion, but you can also use white onion or red onion if you prefer.
Panko Breadcrumbs: I used plain gluten-free panko breadcrumbs to keep this recipe gluten-free, but if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, go ahead and use regular panko breadcrumbs instead.
Paprika: I’ve added a bit of ground paprika for a little heat, but feel free to leave it out if you can’t tolerate heat. Alternatively, if you prefer to have a bit more heat, you can also add some cayenne pepper as well.
Egg: The egg helps to bind the ingredients together, so make sure you add it in.
Dill: I added fresh chopped dill to the meatball mixture, but you may use other fresh herbs that you prefer instead (such as parsley, chives, spring onions, etc).
Worcestershire Sauce: I used gluten-free Worcestershire sauce to keep this recipe gluten-free. However, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, go ahead and use regular Worcestershire sauce instead.
Chili Sauce: I used gluten-free chili sauce to keep this recipe gluten-free. However, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, go ahead and use regular chili sauce instead.
Sugar: I used light brown sugar, but you can also use white sugar, cane sugar, or dark brown sugar if you prefer.
Cranberries: You can either use fresh or frozen cranberries.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American



