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Orange Marmalade Meatballs are an easy and delicious appetizer or main dish! Tender meatballs covered in a sticky sweet glaze are just what you need!

 

 

There’s nothing better than a heaping pile of meatballs covered in a finger licking sauce. And these meatballs fit that bill!

Orange meatballs are great for using as a game day appetizer or serving as an easy weeknight meal.

The orange glaze meatballs are also really quick to make! I can have them on the table in under 30 minutes! My kind of meal!

They’re super family friendly too! My kids can never turn down a delicious meatball! Win for me! Win for them!

And when you make meatballs with orange marmalade you know everyone will ask for seconds! Crowd pleaser right here!

 

 

What Ingredients are in Orange Marmalade Meatballs?

This tasty meatball recipe is the perfect appetizer or easy dinner! Here’s the simple ingredients you’ll need.

• Frozen Meatballs: Don’t grab the Italian meatballs as they don’t pair well with the other ingredients.
• Orange Marmalade: The citrus flavor is to die for on meatballs!
• Soy Sauce: I typically use low sodium soy sauce so I can add salt later if needed.
• Heinz Chili Sauce: Spicier than ketchup but not overwhelming with the other sweetness.
• Chive and Onion Cream Cheese: You are gonna love the creamy addition to the glaze!

Pro Tips:

• You can use beef meatballs, pork meatballs, turkey meatballs, or even meatless meatballs in this recipe.
• If you use your homemade meatballs, I recommend precooking them first.

 

 

How to Make Orange Marmalade Meatballs

Here’s the easy marmalade meatballs recipe that is going to be a new favorite finger food!

1. Make Sauce: Heat sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy.
2. Add Meatballs: Cook until the meatballs are cooked through. They’re precooked so they just need to be warmed.

Can You Make Orange Marmalade Meatballs in the Crock Pot?

Definitely! I have written the recipe here for making in a large pot because it’s so much faster! 

But if you’ve got time earlier in the day instead, you can easily throw your meatballs in the crock pot instead.

Simply grab your slow cooker, place meatballs and mix all ingredients together. Then cook on low or high until the meatballs are warmed through.

On low heat the meatballs should take about 4-6 hours. On high heat expect 1-3 hours.

Remember they just need to be warmed so more meatballs will mean more time heating but they should already be precooked.

 

 

Are Orange Marmalade Meatballs an Appetizer or Main Dish?

Both! Everything! All of the things! There are no wrong ways to serve meatballs in orange sauce.

Serve them on game day, at a Christmas party, for a cocktail party, at a pot luck or on your own dinner table!

If serving as an appetizer, leave a container of toothpicks next to your crockpot and let people dish themselves.

This will keep the meatballs hot and ready to be eaten at any time.

You could also remove the meatballs and transfer to a plate, poking each one with a toothpick. Or serve them as a main dish by heaping them onto rice or mashed potatoes.

You could even stuff them in a sub sandwich and eat them that way! Again, you can’t go wrong no matter how you serve these meatballs.

 

 

Can I Make Orange Marmalade Meatballs Ahead of Time?

It’s easy to make orange marmalade meatballs ahead of time. It makes a great meal prep for the week too!

Simply make the recipe as directed, and you’re done! They reheat well and taste great when reheated too!

Be sure to store them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.

I recommend only cooking them up to 24 hours in advance if serving for a party. That’s when the flavor and texture quality will be the highest.

 

 

Can You Freeze Orange Marmalade Meatballs?

Typically frozen meatballs can be refrozen up to once more and still be safe to eat.

You can make the marmalade meatballs, freeze them, and then reheat them on the stove top when you’re ready.

They make a great afternoon snack for the kids when they get home from school too!

All that protein fills them up so they’re ready for homework!

 

 

How to Store Orange Marmalade Meatballs

Any leftover meatballs should be stored in an airtight container or freezer safe bag.

You’ll want to be sure to let them cool completely before transferring.

And if you’re freezing them, I like to freeze them separated on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet.

Then once frozen, transfer to the bag. This keeps them from sticking and makes it so you can take out as many as you need at a time.

 

 

How Long Do Orange Marmalade Meatballs Last?

In the fridge, these easy meatballs will last up to 5 days.

In the freezer, they’ll safely keep for up to three months.

Pro Tip: If freezing, write “Orange Marmalade Meatballs” on the bag and the date you froze them so you know when to use them up.

Can Dogs Eat Orange Marmalade Meatballs?

Sorry, but dogs shouldn’t be eating orange marmalade meatballs!

The sugar, salt, and fat content are all really hard on a dog’s digestive system.

And although the amount is small, the onion in the cream cheese can even be toxic!

It’s best to assume that dogs can’t eat most of the foods we do and stick to foods packaged and prepared especially for them.

 

 

More Meatball Recipes You’ll Love…

• Crock Pot Sweet & Sour Meatballs
• Porcupine Meatballs
• Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs
• Cranberry Chili Meatballs
• Swedish Meatballs

More Recipes with Orange You’ll Love…

• Crock Pot Apple Jelly Meatballs
• Air Fryer Orange Rolls
• Orange Cranberry Bread
• Orange Cranberry Sauce
• Cranberry Bars
• Non Alcoholic Mimosa
• Pistachio Fluff 
• Crock Pot Apple Cider
• Sunshine Carrots

Orange Marmalade Meatballs are the perfect meatball that you’re going to want on your table! Whether you are serving a crowd, or just yourself, you’re going to be grateful you made them!

 

Originally Posted: January 29, 2015

Photos & Text Updated: December 1, 2022

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