Description
Quick Cranberry Meatballs are the ultimate holiday appetizer that combines savory and sweet flavors in a bite-sized treat. Perfect for festive gatherings, these meatballs are made with lean ground beef and coated in a tangy cranberry sauce, ensuring they will impress your guests. With only 15 minutes of prep time, you can whip up this easy recipe that caters to both adults and kids alike. Their versatility means they can be served as an elegant party dish, skewered for easy snacking, or over rice for a hearty meal. Delight in the rich flavors while keeping your holiday cooking stress-free.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 small onion (grated)
- 1 ½ pounds very lean ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup tomato ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce alternative (like soy sauce)
- 2 cups cranberry sauce
- 1 cup tomato ketchup (for sauce)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce alternative, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Form the mixture into small meatballs about one inch in diameter and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes until cooked through and browned.
- While baking, prepare the sauce by warming cranberry sauce, tomato ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Toss cooked meatballs in the warm sauce before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs (approximately 120g)
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 75mg