Description
Delicious and festive Cranberry Glazed Meatballs combine juicy ground beef meatballs baked to perfection and coated in a tangy-sweet cranberry and chili sauce glaze. This easy-to-make appetizer is perfect for holiday parties or served over rice as a flavorful main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Glaze Sauce
- 1 cup jellied cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs evenly and thoroughly.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, finely chopped onion, egg, milk, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs using your hands, ensuring they are uniform in size for even cooking. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until cooked through and browned on the outside.
- Prepare Glaze Sauce: While the meatballs bake, combine the jellied cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the mixture is smooth and heated through.
- Coat Meatballs with Sauce: Once the meatballs are done baking, transfer them to the saucepan with the cranberry glaze. Gently stir to coat each meatball evenly with the sauce.
- Simmer: Let the coated meatballs simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Serve: Serve the cranberry glazed meatballs warm, perfect as an appetizer or over rice for a hearty meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for beef to make a leaner version of the meatballs.
- These meatballs work wonderfully as party appetizers or served over rice as a main dish.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and ensure all sauces are gluten-free.
