Christmas Meatballs

Transform your holiday spread with these irresistible Christmas Meatballs, a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors that capture the essence of the season. Made with a tender blend of ground beef and pork, Parmesan cheese, and warming herbs like thyme and rosemary, these meatballs are seared to perfection before being simmered in a festive cranberry-orange glaze. Infused with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, the glaze adds a delightful tangy sweetness that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Ready in just 50 minutes, these versatile meatballs make an elegant holiday appetizer or a comforting main dish served over creamy mashed potatoes. Bring warmth and cheer to your table with this crowd-pleasing holiday recipe!

Nutriscore Rating: 59/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 0.5 pound Ground pork
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large Egg
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 0.5 cup Onion, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons Milk
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon Dried thyme
• 0.5 teaspoon Dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 cup Cranberry sauce (whole berry)
• 0.25 cup Ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Orange juice
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 0.125 teaspoon Ground nutmeg

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, diced onion, milk, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing.

Step 2

Using your hands or a small scoop, form the meat mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 3

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, sear the meatballs on all sides until browned, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove the browned meatballs and set them aside.

Step 4

In the same skillet, reduce the heat to low and stir together the cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, orange juice, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg to create the glaze.

Step 5

Add the browned meatballs back into the skillet, ensuring they are coated in the glaze. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to evenly coat the meatballs.

Step 6

Once the glaze has thickened and the meatballs are fully cooked, transfer them to a serving dish.

Step 7

Garnish with fresh rosemary or parsley if desired, and serve warm as an appetizer or with mashed potatoes for a main dish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1272.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2617.2

Total Fat 145.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 56.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.0g
Cholesterol 767.4mg	0%
Sodium 4372.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 181.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 5.6g	0%
Total Sugars 129.1g
Protein 151.5g	0%

Vitamin D 66.8IU	0%
Calcium 517.0mg	0%
Iron 14.1mg	0%
Potassium 1498.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 49.5%

Protein: 23.0%

Carbs: 27.5%