My cousin made these for our cookout and everyone lost their minds

My cousin brought these oven baked 3-ingredient cranberry BBQ meatballs to a family cookout last summer, and I am not exaggerating when I say people were hovering over the dish, grabbing them straight from the pan. They’re one of those almost-embarrassingly-easy recipes that taste like you fussed for hours: frozen meatballs, a bottle of BBQ sauce, and a can of cranberry sauce. That’s it.

They bake up glossy and sticky with caramelized edges, and the sweet-tangy glaze makes them disappear fast—perfect for parties, game days, or nights when you want something fun without a ton of work.

Serve these cranberry BBQ meatballs straight from the oven in a shallow white serving dish with toothpicks or small forks for easy grabbing. They’re great alongside simple cookout classics like coleslaw, potato salad, or corn on the cob, and they pair well with a tray of raw veggies and ranch to balance the richness.

If you want to turn them into a meal, spoon them over buttered egg noodles, steamed rice, or mashed potatoes so all that extra glossy sauce has something to soak into. A crisp green salad or roasted green beans on the side keeps everything feeling a little lighter.

Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Cranberry BBQ Meatballs

Servings: 8-10

Ingredients

2 pounds frozen fully cooked cocktail-size meatballs

1 (18-ounce) bottle BBQ sauce (use your favorite, sweet or smoky)
1 (14-ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce

Directions