Description
These Cranberry Meatballs are tender, juicy, and coated in a sweet and savory cranberry sauce that’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners. Made with simple ingredients and ready in under 40 minutes, this classic appetizer recipe delivers bold flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
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1 pound ground beef
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½ cup breadcrumbs
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1 large egg
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¼ cup milk
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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½ teaspoon onion powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Cranberry Sauce:
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1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
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½ cup chili sauce
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2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, gently mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until just combined.
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Shape into 1-inch meatballs and place on prepared baking sheet.
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Bake for 15–18 minutes, until fully cooked and lightly browned.
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Meanwhile, combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat.
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Stir until smooth and heated through.
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Add baked meatballs to the saucepan and gently toss to coat.
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Simmer for 5–10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
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Serve warm.
Notes
Avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.Baking before simmering helps maintain structure and prevents falling apart.Can be transferred to a slow cooker on warm for serving at gatherings.Easily doubles for larger crowds.
