Description
These Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are a delightful blend of juicy ground meat and sweet-tart cranberry sauce, creating a mouthwatering experience. Each bite offers a tender texture complemented by the rich, tangy flavor of cranberries, making them a perfect festive appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Cranberry Sauce:
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (canned or homemade)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, onion, parsley, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through.
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the cranberry sauce by combining cranberry sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir the sauce until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the oven and toss them in the cranberry sauce until well coated.
- Serve warm, garnished with additional parsley if desired.
Notes
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the meatballs a day in advance and refrigerate them before baking.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Substitutions: Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option, or substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives for a gluten-free version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: appetizers
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 5 grams
- Sodium: 350 milligrams
- Fat: 12 grams
- Saturated Fat: 4 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 15 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 12 grams
- Cholesterol: 50 milligrams
Keywords: Christmas Cranberry Meatballs, holiday appetizers, festive meatballs, cranberry sauce, easy meatball recipe, party food, sweet and savory meatballs, ground beef recipes, holiday cooking, quick appetizers, meatball recipes, Christmas recipes, savory snacks