Say hello to your new favorite appetizer… Cranberry Meatballs! A delicious combination of savory and sweet with hints of cranberry and orange, these meatballs are exactly what you need to round out your holiday menu!

For as long as I can remember, cocktail meatballs have been a staple at every holiday party. They’re easy to make, easy to eat, and ALWAYS a favorite!

If you ask me, good meatballs are mostly about the sauce. Not that the meatballs don’t matter (they do)! But… well… the sauce matters more! And this cranberry orange sauce does not disappoint. 

It’s sweet and tangy with the delicious flavors of cranberry and orange, and it’s the perfect complement to homemade turkey meatballs.

Speaking of the meatballs… they really do matter… and my turkey meatballs are the best. They’re moist and flavorful and couldn’t be easier to make. So even though you could use frozen meatballs… why would you!? Homemade meatballs + homemade cranberry orange sauce = the BEST appetizer ever!

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

For the sauce:

• 3/4 cup jellied cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup chili sauce
• 1/4 cup bbq sauce
• 2 Tbsp. orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sriracha chili sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Make the meatballs – in a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, panko bread crumbs, egg, milk, minced onion, salt and pepper. Mix well, then roll into 1 1/2 inch meatballs and place them in rows on a rimmed baking sheet.

Bake the meatballs – bake meatballs at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until fully cooked through.

Recipe variations

• Use 1 pound of frozen meatballs in place of homemade meatballs
• Substitute ground beef or chicken for the turkey
• Use regular bread crumbs in place of panko crumbs
• Add additional seasonings to the meatballs, including garlic powder, onion powder, dried mustard, or Italian seasoning
• For a sweeter sauce, add 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
• Substitute grape jelly for the jellied cranberry sauce

Make-ahead and storage tips

These Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect make-ahead appetizer. Here are some of my favorite tips:

• Make the meatball mixture in advance and store in an airtight container until you’re ready to roll the meatballs
• Make the meatballs in advance, cover, and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours before baking
• Make and bake the meatballs and refrigerate or freeze for later use
• Combine the sauce ingredients and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator
• Combine the meatballs and the sauce and simply reheat the day of your party!

Related recipes

• Guinness Glazed Meatballs
• Honey Mustard Meatballs
• Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Reuben Meatballs
• Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
• Mini Crab Cakes
• Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers

Cranberry Meatballs

Yield: 36

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Say hello to your new favorite appetizer... Cranberry Meatballs! A delicious combination of savory and sweet with hints of cranberry and orange, these meatballs are exactly what you need to round out your holiday menu!

Print

Ingredients

Meatballs

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Sauce

• 3/4 cup jellied cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup chili sauce
• 1/4 cup bbq sauce
• 2 Tbsp. orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sriracha chili sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, panko bread crumbs, egg, milk, minced onion, salt and pepper. Mix well, then roll into 1 1/2 inch meatballs balls and place in rows on a rimmed baking sheet.
2. Bake at 350° F for 20-25 minutes, or until fully cooked through.
3. In a large saucepan, combine ingredients for sauce. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer until sauce is thickened and reduced. 
4. Add the meatballs to the saucepan and stir to coat. **You can also transfer the mixture to a slow cooker on low heat if desired.
5.  Garnish meatballs with orange zest (optional) and serve with toothpicks.

Notes

Recipe variations:

• Use 1 pound of frozen meatballs in place of homemade meatballs
• Substitute ground beef or chicken for the turkey
• Use regular bread crumbs in place of panko crumbs
• Add additional seasonings to the meatballs, including garlic powder, onion powder, dried mustard, or Italian seasoning
• For a sweeter sauce, add 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
• Substitute grape jelly for the jellied cranberry sauce

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 186mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 4g