Festive Cranberry Meatballs
Indulge in the holiday spirit with these Festive Cranberry Meatballs, where tender meatballs are enveloped in a tangy cranberry sauce. Perfect for any gathering, these delightful bites are sure to impress your guests with their vibrant flavors and stunning presentation. Serve them warm with toothpicks for easy snacking, and watch them disappear faster than you can say ‘more please!’
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (lean)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-seasoned)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into bite-sized meatballs (about 1 inch in diameter) and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, mix cranberry sauce and BBQ sauce until warmed through.
- Once baked, toss meatballs in the warm sauce to coat evenly.
- Serve warm with toothpicks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 meatballs (100g)
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Feel free to substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option. Add spices like cumin or smoked paprika for a unique flavor twist. Store leftovers in an airtight container; they can be refrigerated for up to four days or frozen for up to three months.