Description
Succulent homemade cranberry meatballs bring festive flavors to your dinner table with a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Juicy ground meat mingles with tangy cranberry sauce, creating an irresistible dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 0.5 lbs ground pork
Cranberry Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 0.5 cup cranberry sauce
- 2 tbsp cranberry juice
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
Sauce Ingredients:
- 0.75 cup cranberry sauce
- 0.25 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Combine ground beef and ground pork in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform meat mixture.
- Finely mince garlic and chop fresh parsley, then integrate these aromatics into the meat blend.
- Add breadcrumbs, egg, salt, black pepper, and soy sauce to the meat mixture, thoroughly mixing with your hands until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Pulse fresh cranberries in a food processor to create a coarse texture, then fold into the meat mixture.
- Shape the meat mixture into uniform meatballs, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (375°F).
- Carefully place meatballs in the skillet, cooking for 6-8 minutes and rotating periodically to achieve a golden-brown exterior on all sides.
- In a separate saucepan, whisk together cranberry sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar to create a vibrant, tangy glaze.
- Once meatballs are fully cooked with an internal temperature of 160°F, transfer them to the saucepan and gently coat with the cranberry glaze.
- Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for an additional 3-4 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the glaze to slightly caramelize.
- Serve hot, garnished with additional chopped parsley for a fresh, aromatic touch.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground meats to reduce excess fat and create a lighter, healthier meatball with balanced texture.
- Gently mix ingredients to prevent overworking the meat, which can result in tough, dense meatballs that lack tenderness.
- Consider using ground turkey or chicken as alternative protein options for those seeking lower-fat or different flavor profiles.
- Pulse cranberries to your desired consistency, from slightly chunky to almost puréed, depending on preferred texture and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg