Sauerkraut Meatballs

Only 5 ingredients and 10 minutes are necessary to create this easy appetizer known as Sauerkraut Meatballs.

Tender meatballs cook in a sweet cranberry sauce and sauerkraut to make a unique recipe that is perfect for parties.

If you enjoy this recipe you may enjoy the similar flavors in our Stove Top Little Smokies.

Cranberry Sauerkraut Meatballs Recipe

Easy to bake in the oven or warm in a slow cooker, sauerkraut mingles with cranberry sauce to make a sweet and fruity topping for meatballs.

When the schedule is full, these Cranberry Sauerkraut Meatballs pack a lot of flavor into an easy recipe. Less than ten minutes of hands on prep time creates an appetizer that wonderfully compliments our make ahead Dried Beef Roll-Ups and a Jalapeño Bacon Cheese Ball.

Our neighbor shared this recipe as a comfort food meal she looks forward to. Serve with a simple green salad and over egg noodles to complete the family meal.

My husband loves sauerkraut in meal in our Sauerkraut Soup and Sauerkraut Casserole, but prefers to enjoy these sauerkraut meatballs as an appetizer.

Why This Recipe Works:

• Sweet appetizer that is great for Christmas or New Year’s day with the cranberry sauce, but easy enough to whip up anytime for a unique and memorable party food.
• Use frozen meatballs to save time or use the base meatball recipe from my mom’s Sweet and Sour Meatballs for a more homemade version.
• Meatballs with sauerkraut is a delicious way to add more fermented foods to your diet.
• Recipe reheats very well, so it’s easy to make a large batch to share.

Ingredients Needed:

• Meatballs – We use a 32 ounce bag of prepared meatballs, typically purchased frozen and then defrosted before baking. Or about 55 homemade meatballs that are 1″ across or bite size work well.
• Can of Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce – Adds a sweet and fruity dynamic to the meat and sauerkraut that makes the dish so memorable.
• Sweet Chili Sauce – A touch of sweetness with a hint of fiery flavors is a nice addition.
• Brown Sugar – Sweetens the sauerkraut.
• Sauerkraut – Keep the juice as it helps tenderize the meatballs while baking.
• Water – Adds more liquid to the sauerkraut juice to keep meatballs moist.

How To Make Sauerkraut Meatballs

Arrange defrosted, pre-cooked meatballs in a single layer in a 9 x 13” baking dish.

In a large mixing bowl combine cranberry sauce, brown sugar, undrained sauerkraut and water.

Use a firm spatula or wooden spoon to mash up the jellied cranberry sauce.

Stir everything together well.

Pour mixture evenly over top of the meatballs.

Bake in an oven preheated to 350°F for 50 minutes to an hour until meat is cooked through.

Serve warm over noodles for a meal or as an appetizer.

Store leftovers in an airtight container or self sealing bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Recipe Tips

• A jar of sauerkraut is typically the highest quality, a bag second highest and a can is typically the lowest quality.
• The amount of brown sugar can be cut in half if desired.
• If using raw meat in homemade meatballs bake until a digital thermometer inserted in the center of several meatballs reaches 160°F.
• Can cook meatballs with sauerkraut on low in a slow cooker for 3.5 to 4.5 hours until the meatballs are cooked through.

More Easy Recipe Ideas

Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls use heavy cream and fresh strawberries to make a delightful breakfast treat.

Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts look so sweet with a tender crumb, yet so easy to make!

Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread makes a great side dish to serve with Spaghetti Pie with Cottage Cheese, but is eaten so quickly any time of the day in our home.

Our Ham Balls also double as an appetizer or family meal and are so delish!