Description
Slow Cooker Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs combine spicy jalapeno-infused meatballs with a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce, perfect for a festive appetizer or a hearty main course. This easy recipe requires minimal prep and lets the slow cooker do all the work, resulting in flavorful, juicy meatballs with a delicious balance of sweet and heat.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp Coconut Aminos
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
Sauce
- 1 pack Amy Lu Jalapeno Cranberry Meatballs
- 2 13 oz jars BBQ sauce (The New Primal or Primal Kitchen recommended)
- 12 oz bag fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, almond flour, coconut flour, sea salt, Coconut Aminos, dijon mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Shape the mixture into meatballs, the size according to your preference, usually about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Prepare the Sauce: In the slow cooker, pour in both jars of BBQ sauce, add fresh or frozen cranberries, water, and honey or maple syrup. Stir to combine all ingredients to create a flavorful base sauce.
- Add Meatballs to Slow Cooker: Carefully place the prepared meatballs into the slow cooker, gently stirring to coat them evenly with the cranberry BBQ sauce mixture.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to cook on low for 8 hours (480 minutes) to allow the meatballs to cook through and absorb the sweet and tangy flavors from the sauce.
- Serve: After cooking, gently stir the meatballs to ensure they are well coated with sauce. Serve warm as a festive appetizer or alongside your favorite sides as a main course.
Notes
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup to make the dish vegan-friendly if using a plant-based meat substitute.
- Using frozen cranberries works well and requires no thawing beforehand.
- Adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup according to your preferred sweetness level in the sauce.
- For a spicier kick, consider adding extra jalapenos or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- If you don’t have almond or coconut flour, substitute with gluten-free breadcrumbs or oat flour for a similar texture.
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or a fresh green salad to complete your meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 meatballs
- Calories: 246 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 42 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg
