These Sweet and Sour Meatballs are a family favorite over the holidays! We always make this easy cocktail appetizer with frozen meatballs for all of our parties during the fall and winter holiday season.

We always make a huge batch of homemade meatballs from my great grandma's recipe every year and freeze them. Some of them we use for dinner and have them with gravy, potatoes, and veggies. Others, we use for cocktail parties and make my grandma's own own easy recipe for sweet and sour sauce. Some of my favorite memories in our kitchen are making our large batches of meatballs and preparing some of them in this sweet and sour sauce. This is also a great recipe  because it is so simple and uses very few ingredients. This simplicity make it the perfect appetizer to prepare for a cocktail party since it is easy to go from prep to table!

What are Sweet and Sour Meatballs?

Sweet and sour meatballs are served as a cocktail appetizer that has a sweet and tangy sauce. The meatballs are simply seasoned, and the sauce is the star of the show. Meatballs are simmered in the sauce to make them full of this sweet and sour flavor and nice and tender. These are great party meatballs, because you can serve them on their own, with a mini brioche to create meatball sliders, or in meatball subs!

These meatballs can also be great for quick weeknight dinners. Simply serve your cooked meatballs as a main dish over white rice with your favorite veggies!

What Do I Need to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs?

The best part about this recipe is how few ingredients you need! While the full recipe ingredient list is available below, here are some tips on what you will need to make this easy meatball appetizer recipe!

• One pound of frozen meatballs - we usually use my Great Grandma's Greek Meatballs, but you could also use turkey meatballs or Italian style meatballs for this recipe too!
• Vegetable oil
• White onion, chopped thick
• Heinz chili sauce
• Whole cranberry sauce

That's it! This is a super simple recipe that packs a great flavor!

How to Make the Best Cocktail Appetizer with Frozen Meatballs

While the full recipe instructions are available below, here are some tips to make this easy appetizer using a four ingredient sauce that is perfect for holiday parties!

• The best way to prepare these meatballs is to make the irresistible sauce while you let the meatballs thaw a little bit. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the chili sauce and cranberry sauce until well combined and set aside. Heat a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Once the pan is hot, add your oil and onions. Sauté until the onions start to brown. Add the chili and cranberry sauce mixture to the pan and mix well. Bring to a simmer.
• Add the partially thawed meatballs to the sauce. Cover and turn the heat to low. Simmer for thirty to sixty minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the sauce does not burn on the bottom of the pan. Your meatballs will be ready when they are heated through and the sauce is well combined. These are a hit every single time we serve them for friends and family. No one believes us when we say this is one of the easiest appetizers we know how to make too! Serve warm and enjoy!

Ways to Serve this Easy Meatball Recipe

There are many ways you can serve these sweet and sour meatballs for your next holiday parties or as game day meatballs!

These are the perfect party appetizer to serve on their own with toothpicks, or at game day parties as meatball sliders or meatball subs! These are also fantastic as a main course served over rice with your favorite veggies!

Other Snacks You Will Love

If you loved these easy cocktail meatballs and are looking for ideas for another great appetizer, check out these quick links!

• Rissóis de Camarão (Portuguese Shrimp Turnovers)
• Baked Cream Cheese Wonton Poppers
• Remoulade Sauce for Crab Cakes
• Warm Marinated Olives with Orange and Rosemary
• Simple Crispy Roasted Chickpeas