Description
Looking for a festive appetizer that will impress your guests this holiday season? Quick Cranberry Meatballs are the answer! These savory beef meatballs, enveloped in a tangy cranberry sauce, are perfect for any gathering—from casual family dinners to elegant holiday parties. With just 15 minutes of prep time, you can whip up these delicious bites that are sure to become a favorite on your table. Serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks or over rice for a heartier meal; either way, they’re a delightful blend of flavors that everyone will love. Plus, they can be made ahead of time and frozen, making your holiday preparations even easier.
Ingredients
- 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
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)
- 2 cups cranberry sauce (homemade or packaged)
- 1 cup tomato ketchup
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- While baking, heat cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan until warm.
- Serve meatballs drizzled with the warm sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs (about 150g)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
Keywords: For added flavor, try incorporating garlic powder or onion powder into the meatball mixture. Chill the meatball mixture before baking to help maintain their shape. If desired, substitute ground turkey for lean ground beef for a lighter option.