Quick Christmas Cranberry Meatballs
Quick Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are a festive delight that combines tender meatballs with a sweet and tangy cranberry glaze. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these easy-to-make bites burst with flavor and can be served as appetizers or over rice for a hearty main dish. Impress your guests with this versatile recipe that will elevate any celebration!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 meatballs (6 servings) 1x
- Category: Appetizer/Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (fresh or dried)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (canned or homemade)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly mixed.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- While baking, heat cranberry sauce in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering.
- Toss baked meatballs in the warm cranberry sauce until fully coated.
- Serve warm on a platter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (140g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: - For added depth of flavor, consider browning the meatballs in a skillet before baking. - Swap ground turkey for leaner meat options or add fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme for an aromatic twist.