Easy Weeknight Cranberry Ginger Meatballs
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Frozen meatballs are the GOAT
These cranberry ginger meatballs are tender, juicy, and perfect for parties — made with frozen homestyle meatballs, pantry ingredients, and ready in less than 30 minutes!
The sauce is sweet, tangy, and lightly spiced with fresh ginger, making this recipe a great alternative to classic grape jelly meatballs.
I LOVE how quick and easy these meatballs are, and my kids LOVE eating them for dinner over hot steaming rice. The versatility of this recipe makes it ideal not just for weeknight dinners, but for holidays, potlucks, and game day too!
Why my Cranberry Ginger Meatballs recipe is a keeper:
- 5 simple ingredients from your freezer and pantry
- Use up leftover cans of cranberry sauce
- Makes a great freezer-to-slow-cooker meal
- Kids love meatballs over rice, and grown-ups love the sweet, tangy sauce!
- A fun, easy way to eat more protein
- Have fun with creative or cute toothpicks for serving on game day or potlucks
If you love classic grape jelly meatballs but want something a little more grown-up and bold, this is the perfect meatball recipe for frozen meatballs to learn and keep in your back pocket. Whether you’re cooking for guests or family, you may want to double the batch so you actually get to eat some 😉
Take care, and God bless,
Emily
Here’s what readers are saying
Fair warning: these meatballs are dangerously delicious. I’ve already made three batches in the last two weeks—and every single one disappeared fast.
These meatballs are absolutely exquisite! I HIGHLY recommend them!
Shiloh
Reader
How to Make Cranberry Ginger Meatballs
This is one of those easy meatball recipes that feels impressive but takes almost no effort.
Step 1
In a deep-sided skillet, combine:
- 1 can jellied cranberry sauce
- A few spoonfuls of dark brown sugar
- A squeeze of orange juice (or a spoonful of frozen concentrate)
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 spoonful of ginger paste
I love using ginger paste—it’s easier than fresh ginger root but still gives that bright, zippy ginger flavor. If you have them on hand, toss in a handful of fresh cranberries for extra texture and color.
Step 2
Cook the sauce over medium heat until it just comes to a gentle boil.
Add one 32 oz. bag of frozen homestyle meatballs, stirring until they’re fully coated. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes, lifting the lid to stir every 10 minutes. As the sauce simmers, it thickens and cooks right into the meatballs, making them unbelievably tender and juicy.
For serving, I like to sprinkle a few fresh cranberries over the top for a festive garnish—totally optional, but pretty.
Step 3
Serve over fluffy hot rice as a family meal, or with toothpicks as a nice holiday party appetizer.
I like to sprinkle in a handful more fresh cranberries as a pretty garnish with a pop of color, but this is totally optional.
Slow Cooker & Freezer Meal Instructions
This easy meatball recipe also works beautifully as a freezer meal or cooked in a slow cooker! Follow the instructions below:
Place the sauce ingredients into a freezer bag and smoosh around a bit to ‘combine’, then add the meatballs. Remove as much air as possible, and lay the bag flat in your freezer to freeze, then store upright if desired. To cook: Empty the contents of the bag (still frozen) into a slow cooker. Cook on low for about 3-4 hours, or until the internal temp of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
If you want to skip the freezer and prepare this recipe in a slow cooker, simply stir the sauce ingredients together in the slow cooker pot, then stir in the frozen meatballs and cover. Set it and forget it for a few hours. Serve with toothpicks as an appetizer. Optional: Cook some rice just before you’re ready to eat, and serve the meatballs over steamed rice. So stinkin’ good!
FAQ section
Will meatballs cook in sauce?
Yes! Meatballs absolutely cook in sauce, and it’s one of the best ways to keep them moist and flavorful. As they simmer, they absorb the sauce while releasing their own juices, resulting in incredibly tender meatballs with maximum flavor—especially in recipes like these cranberry ginger meatballs.
What type of meatballs should I use for this recipe?
This recipe calls for homestyle fully cooked meatballs. I buy mine from Walmart, but you certainly can make your own (homemade). I would not recommend using Italian meatballs because their flavor profile will not match the cranberry ginger sauce (it will probably taste kinda weird, but if you try it, let us know down in the comments!)
Should meatballs be pink inside?
Meatballs should NOT be pink inside. They’re done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F and are fully cooked through. Cooking them gently in a sauce helps ensure they cook evenly without drying out. I always say, the MOST important tool you must have in your kitchen is a food thermometer.
Should meatballs be cooked before putting them in sauce?
Yes, definitely bake or saute your homemade meatballs before you cook them in a sauce. Browning (or ‘searing’ the outside to a nice, crusty deep brown) adds more depth of flavor and helps the meatballs hold their shape while they cook in the sauce. It’s also better for food safety to ensure the meatballs you’re working with are already cooked to the proper internal temperature of 165 degrees F, so all you have to worry about is cooking the sauce, not the meatballs.
Will meatballs cook in a crockpot?
Yes definitely, meatballs will cook in a crockpot. Use a food thermometer to ensure they have reached an internal temp of 165 degrees F before you eat them. :0)
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For slow cooked or grilled meats
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Perfect for the novice chef
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Absolutely dependable kitchen workhorse
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Our Rating:
5.0
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Our Rating:
5.0
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Our Rating:
5.0
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$21.83
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$47.00
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$125.00
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These Cranberry Ginger Meatballs are going to be a knock your socks off hit wherever you serve them. You’ll get your 5 minutes of fame :0) Just be sure to tell them the recipe is from The Goldilocks Kitchen! Enjoy and please rate and review this recipe to be helpful for other readers. Thanks!
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Cranberry Ginger Meatballs
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8–16 servings 1x
Description
This easy meatball recipe delivers tender, juicy, flavorful meatballs simmered in a sweet-tangy cranberry ginger sauce that tastes completely homemade, even though it comes together with pantry staples and frozen meatballs.
Ingredients
- 1 (14 ounce) can cranberry sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, divided (optional)
- 1 (32 ounce) bag frozen homestyle meatballs
Instructions
- Combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, orange juice and ginger in a 12-inch deep-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Mix and stir until thoroughly combined, and the sauce just barely starts to boil. If you have fresh cranberries, stir 1/2 cup fresh berries into the sauce.
- Add frozen meatballs and stir to coat in the sauce. Cover and turn the heat to medium. Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce is thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in remaining fresh cranberries. Allow 5 minutes to cool and serve.
Notes
This recipe also works great in a slow cooker, just stir together all the ingredients for the sauce before adding the sauce and meatballs into the slow cooker. Cook until meatballs are heated through and serve.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 meatballs
- Calories: 357
- Sugar: 24.3 g
- Sodium: 766 mg
- Fat: 21.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2.8 g
- Protein: 12.5 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Hello Emily! Your recipe take on meatballs looks very delicious and appetizing. I’ll probably try this one over the weekend. Thanks for sharing.
We (meaning me) just made them again for New Years eve and they are simply the best meatballs EVER. My family couldn’t stop thanking me for making them again, it was so funny!
I’m gonna try this, my family will love it!!
Hands down these are the very best meatballs I’ve ever had- these will be a huge hit with pretty much everyone. Thanks for your comment Hollie, great to hear from you!
These meatballs are absolutely exquisite! I HIGHLY recommend them!