Description
Delicious meatballs coated in a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or ground turkey (or a combination of both)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably Italian-style)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for frying, if frying)
- 1 cup fresh or canned cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for extra warmth)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional, for added spice)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef or turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, milk, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Form the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Alternatively, bake them in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes.
- In a separate saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and ginger. Cook over medium heat until the sauce is heated through and slightly thickened.
- Add the cooked meatballs to the cranberry sauce and stir to coat.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- For a healthier option, bake the meatballs instead of frying.
- These meatballs can be made ahead of time and reheated in the sauce before serving.
- Feel free to adjust the sweetness of the sauce by adding more or less brown sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking or Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Christmas, Cranberry, Meatballs, Holiday Recipe, Appetizer