Description
Festive Christmas cranberry meatballs bring holiday cheer to dinner tables with their perfect blend of savory and sweet. Holiday guests will savor each tender, tangy bite of this irresistible seasonal classic.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 0.5 pound (227 grams) ground pork
Binding and Moisture Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
- 0.5 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Craft a festive culinary canvas by heating the oven to a toasty 400°F (200°C) and preparing a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, artfully blend ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic and onion powders, seasoning with salt and pepper, then introduce milk to create a harmonious meat mixture.
- Gently sculpt the protein medley into uniform spherical morsels, arranging them with precision on the prepared baking surface.
- Roast the meatballs in the preheated oven, transforming them into golden-brown delicacies until thoroughly cooked, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, orchestrate a vibrant cranberry sauce by combining cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and a whisper of red pepper flakes in a simmering saucepan.
- Allow the sauce to evolve, stirring periodically, until it reaches a luxurious, slightly thickened consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
- Lovingly enrobe the freshly baked meatballs in the warm, glossy cranberry glaze, ensuring each morsel is generously dressed.
- Present the glistening meatballs immediately, optionally adorning with a sprinkle of verdant chopped parsley for a festive flourish.
Notes
- Meat Selection Matters: Choose a blend of ground beef and pork with 80/20 fat content for juicier, more flavorful meatballs that won’t dry out during baking.
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overworking the meat mixture by using a light hand when combining ingredients, which helps prevent tough, dense meatballs.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare meatballs and sauce a day in advance, storing them separately in the refrigerator to enhance flavor development and simplify party prep.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap ground meats with plant-based alternatives and use gluten-free breadcrumbs to create delicious vegetarian or gluten-sensitive versions of these festive meatballs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 610 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg