Quick Cranberry Meatballs
If you’re in search of a delightful appetizer that will impress your guests without taking too much time, these Quick Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect choice! Bursting with flavor, these meatballs are made from lean ground beef and coated in a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce. With just 15 minutes of preparation, you can have a festive dish that’s ideal for holiday gatherings or cozy family dinners. Easy to make ahead of time and reheat, these meatballs promise to be a crowd favorite, ensuring everyone has a tasty bite to enjoy during the festivities.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 16 meatballs (4 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
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 cups cranberry sauce
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine grated onion, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, ketchup, and brown sugar. Mix until just combined.
- Shape the mixture into small meatballs (about one inch in diameter).
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the meatballs in batches until browned on all sides.
- In another pot, warm cranberry sauce with ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice over low heat.
- Once meatballs are cooked through (165°F internal temperature), add them to the sauce and gently stir to coat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs (approximately 180g)
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 631mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 130mg