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Sweet, tart, and savory. My Easy Cranberry Mustard Slow Cooker Meatballs are a perfect make-ahead appetizer to serve for parties or potlucks. So simple and so good! And only four ingredients!

A Wonderful Time For The Year – For Easy Cranberry Mustard Slow Cooker Meatballs

The holidays are upon us! And so are the parties, potlucks, and family gatherings that truly make December and January the most wonderful time of the year.

Easy dishes that can be made ahead of time and are perfect for sharing are the recipes I find myself turning to again and again to at this time of year.

Requiring just four ingredients, these Easy Cranberry Mustard Slow Cooker Meatballs are one of my favorite appetizers. It’s a tried and true recipe that always results in empty platters and earns lots of compliments and requests to share the recipe.

When I tell people that the Easy Cranberry Mustard Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe only takes four ingredients, they almost can’t believe it!

Easy Cranberry Mustard Slow Cooker Meatballs – Just Four Little Ingredients

But believe me, it’s true. You only need four simple ingredients to make this yummy, sweet-tart, savory appetizer. And they are….

Prepared, precooked frozen meatballs (any kind will do – beef, turkey, chicken, or pork. My favorite is the Swedish meatballs from Ikea)
Canned cranberry sauce
Dijon mustard
Dark brown sugar

The combination of tart cranberry sauce, rich and sweet brown sugar, and the piquant bite of Dijon creates an irresistibly flavorful sauce that’s a perfect foil for the savory taste of the meatballs.

And if all that isn’t enough to make these your new go-to holiday appetizer, my Easy Cranberry Mustard Slow Cooker Meatballs truly is a fix it and forget it recipe! You’ll mix up the sauce, pour it over the meatballs, and go on your merry way until it’s time to serve.

Since they’re made in the slow cooker, they’ll be hot and ready to serve whenever your guests are ready to dig in. And if you’re heading off to a party, club meeting, or pot luck, the meatballs will stay nice and warm in the slow cooker until you arrive at your destination and can plug it back in.

This is a party appetizer that cooks, hosts, and guests will love!

Gilding The Lily on a Simple Recipe

As I said, these easy-to-make meatballs only require four ingredients and are so, so tasty as is.

But if you’d like to make them even more visually appealing, tossing in a couple of extra ingredients will add a touch of bright color and make a big difference.

A handful of fresh, bright red cranberries and a handful of fresh herbs will make them look extra appetizing. Chopped parsley is my go-to herb for that, but a bit of fresh thyme or rosemary would be terrific, too.

But whether you serve them as is or gild the lily with some pretty, edible garnishes, these yummy Slow Cooker Meatballs are easy-to-make appetizers that will help make your next party merry, bright, and so delicious.

Give them a try soon! Or, explore other holiday appetizers here.