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+ servings

Cranberry Meatballs

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!
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 36
Calories: 41kcal
Author: Cathy Trochelman

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 Tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon sriracha chili sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • 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.
  • Bake at 350° F for 20-25 minutes, or until fully cooked through.
  • In a large saucepan, combine ingredients for sauce. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer until sauce is thickened and reduced. 
  • 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.
  •  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

Serving: 1g | Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 176mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.3mg