Spice up your next appetizer spread with these irresistible Picante Cranberry Meatballs! Juicy, perfectly seasoned beef meatballs are seared to golden perfection, then baked in a luscious sauce made with tangy cranberry, zesty picante, and a touch of brown sugar for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Ready in just 40 minutes, these saucy meatballs are ideal for holiday gatherings, game days, or a cozy family dinner. Serve them as a crowd-pleasing party snack or transform them into a meal over fluffy rice or silky mashed potatoes. Bursting with bold flavors and easy to make, this recipe will quickly become your go-to for festive and flavorful entertaining.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly using clean hands or a spoon until combined.
Shape the meat mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter. You should get approximately 24 meatballs.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, sear the meatballs on all sides until they develop a golden-brown crust (about 3-4 minutes per batch). They do not need to be fully cooked at this stage.
While the meatballs are searing, prepare the sauce. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the cranberry sauce, picante sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until smooth.
Transfer the seared meatballs to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the meatballs, ensuring they are well coated.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked and the sauce is bubbling.
Remove the baking dish from the oven and let the meatballs rest for 5 minutes. Serve warm as an appetizer or over rice or mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.
Calories |
1634 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 104.1 g | 133% | |
| Saturated Fat | 36.6 g | 183% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 521 mg | 174% | |
| Sodium | 4406 mg | 192% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 92.0 g | 33% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 10.6 g | 38% | |
| Total Sugars | 40.6 g | ||
| Protein | 91.2 g | 182% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.3 mcg | 7% | |
| Calcium | 130 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 12.9 mg | 72% | |
| Potassium | 1754 mg | 37% | |
*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.