Description
These festive cranberry meatballs are sweet, tangy, and irresistibly savory—perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy nights in. Simmered in a glossy cranberry BBQ sauce, they bring together comfort food vibes and holiday cheer in every juicy bite. Whether as an appetizer or main dish, they’ll disappear fast.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
▢ 500g (1 lb) ground beef or turkey
▢ 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
▢ 1/4 cup milk
▢ 1 egg
▢ 2 cloves garlic, minced
▢ 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
▢ Salt & pepper to taste
▢ 1 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)
For the Cranberry Sauce:
▢ 1 can (14 oz) jellied or whole berry cranberry sauce
▢ 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
▢ 2 tbsp brown sugar
▢ 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
▢ 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
▢ Pinch of chili flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix all meatball ingredients until just combined. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheet.
Bake for 15–18 minutes until browned and cooked through.
While meatballs bake, combine cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and Worcestershire in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until smooth and bubbly.
Add cooked meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 10 minutes to soak up flavor.
Serve warm, garnished with parsley or toothpicks for appetizers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 310 / Serving
- Fat: 16g / Serving
- Carbohydrates: 22g / Serving
- Protein: 19g / Serving