Festive Cranberry Meatballs
These Festive Cranberry Meatballs are the ultimate holiday appetizer, combining tangy cranberries and savory meatballs for a sweet and tart flavor burst.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined—avoid overmixing.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and lightly browned.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the cranberry sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and orange juice.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the glaze is smooth and bubbly—this should take about 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Transfer the baked meatballs to the saucepan with the glaze, gently tossing to coat them evenly.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley or orange zest for an extra festive touch.
Notes
For a tangier glaze, swap orange juice for apple cider vinegar. Make meatballs ahead of time and reheat in the glaze for easy serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs per serv
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 15
Keywords: cranberry meatballs, holiday appetizer, festive recipe, sweet and savory, crowd-pleaser