Quick Cranberry Meatballs (Christmas Recipe)
Quick Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect festive appetizer for your holiday gatherings! These savory beef meatballs are enveloped in a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce glaze, creating a delightful balance of flavors. The combination of juicy ground beef and the richness of cranberry sauce makes these meatballs not just another dish, but a standout star at any event.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 4 people 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 small onion, grated
- 1 ½ pounds very lean ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (like panko)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup tomato ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined.
- Shape the mixture into small meatballs (about one inch in diameter) and place them on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through and browned.
- While the meatballs bake, prepare the glaze by combining cranberry sauce, tomato ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat until heated through.
- Once baked, pour the glaze over the meatballs and toss gently to coat before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 4 meatballs (160g)
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 120mg