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Cranberry Meatballs

🍒 Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Meatballs

These Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Meatballs are tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy — a perfect bite-sized appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive gathering.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings: 14 meatballs
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs:
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp paprika optional
For the Sauce:
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce whole berry or jellied
  • 2 –3 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 –2 tsp hot sauce or red pepper flakes adjust for spice level
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar optional, for extra sweetness

Method
 

Preheat Oven:
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make Meatballs:
  1. In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix until just combined.
Shape and Bake:
  1. Form mixture into 1–1½ inch meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 15–20 minutes until cooked through.
Prepare the Sauce:
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, hot sauce, and brown sugar. Stir until smooth and heated through.
Coat Meatballs:
  1. Toss the cooked meatballs in the cranberry sauce until evenly coated.
Serve:
  1. Serve warm as an appetizer or over rice or mashed potatoes for a main dish.

Notes

Make Ahead: Meatballs can be baked and stored in the fridge; heat and toss in sauce before serving.
Adjust Sweetness & Heat: Add more brown sugar for sweetness or extra hot sauce for heat.
Mini Appetizers: Use cocktail-sized meatballs for party platters.
Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat gently.
Freezer Friendly: Freeze cooked meatballs before tossing in sauce for a quick future meal.