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Cranberry Orange Meatballs

These festive Cranberry Orange Meatballs are sweet, tangy, and savory, perfect for holiday gatherings. Easy to prepare ahead of time and ideal for potlucks or cozy dinners, they’ll be a hit on any Christmas table.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatballs
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
Sauce
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce
  • 1/4 cup orange juice fresh
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Saucepan
  • Baking Sheet

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
  3. Form into 1-inch meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15–18 minutes or until cooked through.
  4. In a saucepan, whisk together cranberry sauce, orange juice, zest, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.
  5. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce. Stir to coat and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Notes

  • To keep warm, transfer to a slow cooker set on low.
  • For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
  • This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings.