Description
These Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are the ultimate holiday appetizer! Juicy, tender meatballs are coated in a sweet and tangy cranberry glaze, making them the perfect crowd-pleaser for festive gatherings. Whether served at a Christmas party or a cozy family dinner, these meatballs are sure to be a hit.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp milk
For the Cranberry Sauce:
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Prepare the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and milk. Mix until just combined.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
- Make the cranberry sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened (about 5-7 minutes).
- Toss the cooked meatballs in the warm cranberry sauce until fully coated.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- You can use frozen meatballs for convenience. Simply bake or heat them according to package instructions before tossing in the cranberry sauce.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour.
- These meatballs can be made ahead of time and reheated in the sauce just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 meatballs with sauce
- Calories: ~290 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg