Tis the season!! The holidays are upon us and that means parties, gatherings, and family get-togethers. Where people are gathered together there is always food! Most often, you will see an array of finger foods and this is the perfect recipe for such an occasion.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 14 oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 cup bbq sauce (your favorite)
2-3 tablespoons cowboy candy sauce **
salt and pepper, to taste

** Cowboy Candy is a sweet pickled jalapeno. It’s spicy but delicious! This addition adds the heat to the meatballs but is totally optional. You could also use pepper jelly in place of the bbq sauce for a little extra “zing” to the dish.

INSTRUCTIONS
In a large bowl, mix the beef, pork, garlic, onion, egg, and breadcrumbs until well combined. Form into one inch balls and place on baking tray lined with aluminum foil.

Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes until the meatballs are almost completely cooked. (They will continue cooking in the crockpot.) Remove and place on paper towels to absorb any additional fat.

To the crockpot add the cranberry sauce, bbq sauce, and cowboy candy sauce if using. Stir well and add the meatballs. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours.

I made the meatballs the day before and refrigerated them until time to use. Less work for me on the day of the party…win, win! This recipe made 48 meatballs, enough for a large crowd.