Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs
These Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are sweet, savory, and tangy bite-sized appetizers perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with ground meat and simmered in a festive cranberry-chili sauce, they’re easy to prep, cook, and serve to a hungry crowd.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Total Time: 43 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 20 meatballs
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Bake and Simmer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground meat (beef, pork, turkey, or chicken)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 can cranberry sauce
- 1 cup chili sauce or ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 18 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until smooth and bubbly.
- Add the baked meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use turkey for a lighter version of the meatballs.
- Grape jelly or apricot preserves can substitute cranberry sauce.
- A splash of orange juice adds a festive citrus twist to the sauce.
- Do not overmix the meat mixture to avoid tough meatballs.
Find it online: https://www.cookwithbenchi.com/christmas-cranberry-meatballs/