Description
Celebrate the holidays with succulent meatballs enveloped in a rich, tangy cranberry sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or a main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or turkey/pork)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free alternative)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix until just combined.
- Shape equal-sized balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the cranberry sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Stir until well mixed and slightly bubbly.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, gently transfer them to the saucepan with the cranberry sauce and mix until coated.
- Transfer to a serving platter, garnishing with fresh herbs or sugared cranberries.
Notes
These meatballs freeze well and can be made ahead of time. Make sure to monitor cooking time to avoid dryness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Christmas, meatballs, cranberry, holiday recipe, appetizer