Description
These Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are a festive holiday favorite juicy homemade meatballs simmered in a sweet-tart cranberry and barbecue glaze that’s perfect for parties or family dinners.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork (or use all beef)
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 small onion, finely grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
— For the Cranberry Glaze —
1 (14 oz) can whole berry cranberry sauce
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine beef, pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Mix just until combined.
3. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 18–20 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
5. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and cinnamon. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
6. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
7. Simmer for 5–10 minutes until the glaze thickens and meatballs are fully coated.
8. Serve warm as an appetizer or over rice for a meal.
Notes
Keep warm in a slow cooker on low during parties.
You can substitute frozen cooked meatballs to save time — just heat them in the sauce until warmed through.
For a spicier twist, add a dash of hot sauce or chili flakes to the glaze.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Baked + Simmered
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Christmas Cranberry Meatballs, Holiday Appetizer, Party Food, Cranberry BBQ Meatballs