Description
Quick Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect addition to your holiday gatherings, combining savory beef meatballs with a delightful sweet and tangy cranberry sauce. With just 15 minutes of preparation time, these flavorful meatballs are easy to whip up and can be served in various ways, making them ideal for parties or family dinners. Whether you choose to present them on a platter with toothpicks for easy snacking or serve them over rice for a hearty meal, they’re sure to impress your guests. Plus, they can be made ahead of time and reheated, ensuring you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the festivities.
Ingredients
- 1 small onion (grated or finely diced)
- 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 (homemade or packaged)
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Form small meatballs (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until cooked through and browned.
- Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by heating cranberry sauce, tomato ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a skillet over medium heat.
- Once the meatballs are baked, add them to the skillet with the sauce and gently stir to coat evenly. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 meatballs (approx. 80g)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: <1g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: For added flavor, consider incorporating garlic powder or fresh herbs like thyme into the meat mixture. Ground turkey can be substituted for lean beef if desired. Serve with dipping sauces like extra cranberry sauce or spicy mustard for a personalized touch.