Quick Cranberry Meatballs (Christmas Recipe)
If you’re on the hunt for a delightful appetizer to impress your guests during the holiday season, look no further than these Quick Cranberry Meatballs. This easy-to-make recipe features savory ground beef enveloped in a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce, creating a flavor profile that’s sure to please everyone at your gathering. With just 15 minutes of prep time, you can have these meatballs ready for baking, making them perfect for busy evenings or festive celebrations. They also offer the convenience of being prepped ahead of time, so you can enjoy more moments with your loved ones. Whether it’s Christmas, a game day gathering, or a cozy family dinner, these meatballs will be the star of the table.
- 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
- 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 large bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Form the mixture into small meatballs about an inch in diameter and place them on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake meatballs for about 20 minutes until cooked through and golden brown.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, mix cranberry sauce, tomato ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice until blended.
- Toss baked meatballs in the warm sauce before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (approx. 125g)
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 80mg