Quick Cranberry Meatballs (Christmas Recipe)
Delight your guests this holiday season with Quick Cranberry Meatballs, a savory and sweet appetizer that’s incredibly easy to prepare. These flavorful meatballs combine lean ground beef with a tangy cranberry sauce, creating a festive dish perfect for any gathering. Ready in just 35 minutes, this recipe is ideal for busy hosts looking for a crowd-pleaser. Serve them on a platter or as sliders, and watch them disappear in no time. With their vibrant flavors and simple preparation, these meatballs will become a holiday favorite!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well blended.
- Shape the mixture into bite-sized meatballs and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
- While baking, prepare the sauce by heating cranberry sauce, tomato ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbling.
- Toss cooked meatballs in the sauce until fully coated before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 meatballs (approx. 150g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 130mg