Quick Cranberry Meatballs (Christmas Recipe)
If you’re searching for a delightful appetizer to impress your guests this holiday season, these Quick Cranberry Meatballs are your answer! Blending savory ground beef with a tangy cranberry sauce, these meatballs are not only flavorful but also incredibly easy to prepare. Perfect for festive gatherings or cozy family dinners, they can be made ahead of time and simply reheated when you’re ready to serve. With their sweet and savory profile, they’re guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser at any holiday table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 6 (24 meatballs) 1x
- 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 (homemade or packaged)
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into one-inch meatballs and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until cooked through and browned.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, mix cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice until warmed through.
- Toss the baked meatballs in the warm sauce until fully coated and serve hot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (120g)
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 90mg