I needed some inspiration for some snacks for my New Year’s Eve party. Meatballs in the slow cooker have always been my go to. What could be better than cranberries with a kick of chili? I raided my cupboards and found some spicy chili jelly and leftover cranberries. Then there was that huge bottle of sweet chili sauce my Mom bought last summer sitting in the fridge door. Condiments never spoil, right? Also, I always keep a pack of frozen meatballs in my freezer. This time I used Compliments lean turkey meatballs.
I used my Google-fu and found a recipe that I could use, although it was for a crock pot. Who needs a crock pot when I have two Instant Pots? One for the meatballs and the other for the hot mulled cider. We’re good to go!
The meatballs were a hit. A wall of spice tempered by the tartness of the cranberries. I used the fresh cranberries with 1/3 cup of sugar. Next time, I will dial down the sugar as I prefer my cranberries a little tart. I should have added the leftover orange juice from making orange zested cranberry sauce earlier in the week. That would have been divine.
| Prep Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cook Time | 5-20 minutes attended |
| Passive Time | 10-360 minutes |
| Servings |
people as an appetizer
|
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce
- hot sauce few shakes, optional
- 1 560g bag Frozen Meatballs 20-ounce
- 1 jar red chili jelly 10.5-ounce or red pepper jelly
- 6 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 6 ounces cranberry sauce
Ingredients
Main
Choice of:
Or
|
|
- Add 1 cup water to the Instant Pot.
- Place a steamer basket in the Instant Pot and add frozen meatballs.
- Pressure cook for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- * When timer beeps, release the pressure with a quick pressure release.
- Remove steamer basket and meatballs from the Instant Pot.
- Discard cooking water and add all the sauce ingredients to the cooking pot.
- If using cranberries, select Sauté and cook, stirring frequently, until cranberries have fallen apart and the sauce is heated through.
- If using cranberry sauce only, cook until sauce is combined and heated through. Add heated meatballs and stir to combine.
- Switch to keep warm setting until ready to serve.
- *It will take about 15 minutes to reach pressure in addition to the 5 minutes cook time. Also 10-15 minutes to cook cranberries
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a sauce pan or stove top friendly crock pot liner.
- Cook on stove top, stirring frequently, until cranberries have fallen apart and the sauce is heated through.
- Add meatballs and stir to coat them well. Put in crock pot on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 2-2 1/2 hours.
Adapted from: https://spicysouthernkitchen.com/crock-pot-cranberry-meatballs-2/