Cranberry Meatballs
Sweet, tangy, and irresistibly savory, these cranberry meatballs are the perfect blend of holiday-inspired flavors and classic comfort food. Made with a tender mixture of ground beef and pork, these bite-sized delights are seasoned with garlic and onion powders, then baked to perfection after a quick sear. The star of the dish is the sticky, mouthwatering cranberry-chili glaze, a mix of jellied cranberry sauce, zesty chili sauce, brown sugar, and a splash of lemon juice for balance. Whether served as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next gathering or piled over a bed of fluffy rice for a cozy main course, these cranberry meatballs are a flavorful twist on a timeless classic. Easily prepped in just 15 minutes, they’re a versatile dish that will wow at any occasion. Keywords: cranberry meatballs recipe, holiday appetizers, tangy meatballs, cranberry-chili glaze, easy meatball recipe.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 0.5 pound Ground pork
- 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 14 ounces Cranberry sauce (jellied)
- 12 ounces Chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it lightly.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly with clean hands or a spatula until well combined.
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Repeat until all the meat mixture is used up. You should have approximately 24-28 meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in batches and cook until browned on the outside, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer the browned meatballs to the prepared baking sheet.
Place the meatballs in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until fully cooked through (internal temperature reaches 160°F/71°C).
While the meatballs are baking, prepare the cranberry sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Stir until the cranberry sauce melts and the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat to a simmer.
Once the meatballs are done, add them to the saucepan with the cranberry sauce. Toss gently to coat the meatballs evenly with the sauce.
Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Serve the cranberry meatballs warm as an appetizer or over rice for a main dish.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
550 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 28.8 g | 37% | |
| Saturated Fat | 9.6 g | 48% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 109 mg | 36% | |
| Sodium | 1232 mg | 54% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 49.4 g | 18% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5 g | 2% | |
| Total Sugars | 37.9 g | ||
| Protein | 21.6 g | 43% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 58 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 2.9 mg | 16% | |
| Potassium | 378 mg | 8% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
