Description
Holiday magic comes alive with these zesty cranberry meatballs, blending sweet-tart sauce and hearty ground beef. Festive gatherings welcome this crowd-pleasing appetizer that promises delicious memories with each savory bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef or turkey
Binding and Seasoning:
- ½ cup (50 grams) breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 can (14 ounces/400 grams) jellied cranberry sauce
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Craft homemade meatballs by blending ground meat with breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing vessel until thoroughly integrated.
- Gently form the meat mixture into uniform spherical portions approximately one inch in diameter.
- Arrange the meatball spheres onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring adequate spacing between each piece.
- Roast the meatballs in a preheated oven at 375F (190C) for 15-20 minutes until they achieve complete internal cooking and develop a golden exterior.
- While meatballs are baking, prepare the tangy sauce by combining cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a large skillet.
- Heat the sauce mixture over medium temperature, stirring periodically until the cranberry sauce completely dissolves and creates a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Once meatballs are fully cooked, transfer them directly into the prepared sauce, gently coating each piece to ensure comprehensive flavor absorption.
- Reduce heat to low and allow meatballs to simmer within the sauce for 10-15 minutes, enabling them to marinate and develop enhanced taste profiles.
- Present the glazed meatballs in a serving dish, offering toothpicks for easy appetizer consumption or serve atop steamed rice as a satisfying main course.
Notes
- Keep meat mixture cold to help meatballs hold shape better during baking, preventing crumbling or falling apart.
- Avoid overmixing ground meat when combining ingredients, which can make meatballs tough and dense instead of tender.
- Use a small cookie scoop or damp hands to create uniform-sized meatballs for consistent cooking and professional appearance.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option that still delivers robust flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg