Description

A crowd-favorite holiday appetizer, these Cranberry Meatballs are juicy, tender, and coated in a sweet-and-tangy glaze that’s impossible to resist. Perfect for festive parties, potlucks, or cozy winter nights, this easy recipe delivers both flavor and convenience. Whether you need a quick dinner idea, a make-ahead holiday food option, or just love tasty snack recipes, this is a must-save. These cranberry meatballs also make great additions to your collection of easy dinner ideas and appetizer food ideas.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

1 large egg

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 cup chili sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper until just combined.

2. Roll mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place on a tray.

3. Brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat until golden on all sides.

4. In a saucepan, stir together cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Heat until bubbling.

5. Transfer meatballs into a slow cooker or deep saucepan and pour the sauce over them.

6. Simmer on low for 1–2 hours until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is thickened.

7. Serve warm, garnished with parsley if desired.

Notes

Don’t overmix the meatball mixture or they may turn out tough.

You can make and freeze the meatballs (uncooked) in advance for later use.

Try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes if you prefer a little heat in your glaze.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Category: Appetizer
Method: Slow cook
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 3 meatballs
Calories: 210
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 420mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 10g
Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: cranberry meatballs, holiday appetizer, sweet and sour meatballs