Quick Cranberry Meatballs (Christmas Recipe)
Elevate your holiday gatherings with these Quick Cranberry Meatballs! This easy, flavorful appetizer features tender meatballs enveloped in a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce, making it a perfect crowd-pleaser for any festive occasion. Ready in just 35 minutes, they are ideal for busy hosts looking to impress without spending hours in the kitchen. Serve them as a delightful finger food or over rice for a hearty main dish. Whether you’re celebrating with family or hosting friends, these meatballs are sure to become a cherished holiday tradition.
- 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
- 1/3 cup tomato ketchup
- 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 your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, ketchup, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into one-inch meatballs and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- While the meatballs bake, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed.
- Toss the baked meatballs in the warm cranberry sauce before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 4 meatballs (170g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 110mg