Quick Cranberry Meatballs (Christmas Recipe)
If you’re searching for a festive appetizer that’s both delicious and easy to prepare, look no further than these Quick Cranberry Meatballs! With their delightful blend of savory beef and sweet cranberry sauce, they bring warmth and cheer to any holiday gathering. Perfect for busy evenings or entertaining guests, these meatballs can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving. Everyone from kids to adults will love them, making them an ideal addition to your holiday spread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 meatballs (6 servings) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- 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
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, tomato ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Heat over medium until it simmers gently.
- Mix the meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Form meatballs: Roll the mixture into small balls (about one inch in diameter).
- Cook the meatballs: In a skillet over medium heat with a little oil if needed, cook the meatballs in batches for about 10 minutes until browned on all sides.
- Combine with sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over cooked meatballs in the skillet and let simmer for an additional few minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (about 120g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 125mg