Description
These Quick Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect festive treat, combining sweet and tangy cranberry sauce with savory meatballs for a delightful holiday appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 can jellied cranberry sauce
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of red chili flakes for heat
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and milk. Mix gently until combined; avoid overworking the mixture.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls, making about 20–24 meatballs.
- Oven Method: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange meatballs on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15–18 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Skillet Method: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and fry the meatballs until browned on all sides.
- In a saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until sauce is smooth and bubbling.
- Add cooked meatballs to the saucepan and coat with the warm cranberry glaze. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Serve warm with garnish of parsley or cranberries, or keep in a slow cooker on warm mode.
Notes
For extra flavor, try adding fresh herbs or experimenting with different sauces.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking or Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg