Perfect Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe Easy Festive Appetizers to Make
These festive Christmas cranberry meatballs combine juicy pork and beef meatballs with a bright, tangy cranberry glaze, perfect for holiday gatherings and easy entertaining.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4-5 servings (about 20 meatballs) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- Zest and juice of 1 orange
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cloves (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a large bowl, combine ground pork, ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, minced garlic, chopped onion, salt, pepper, and thyme if using. Mix until just combined.
- Roll the mixture into 1 to 1½-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
- Bake meatballs for 18-20 minutes, turning halfway through until firm and cooked through.
- While meatballs bake, combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange zest and juice, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop and sauce thickens, about 10-12 minutes.
- Mix cornstarch and cold water, then stir into the cranberry sauce. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until thickened and glossy. Remove from heat.
- Transfer baked meatballs to a large bowl and gently toss with warm cranberry sauce until coated.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh herbs or extra orange zest if desired.
Notes
Do not overmix meatball mixture to keep them tender. For crispier edges, sear meatballs in a hot pan before baking. Stir in warm water if cranberry sauce thickens too much when cooling. Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: Christmas, cranberry meatballs, holiday appetizer, festive recipe, easy meatballs, cranberry sauce glaze