Cranberry Glazed Appetizer Meatballs

Get ready to impress your guests with these irresistibly sweet and tangy Cranberry Glazed Appetizer Meatballs! This crowd-pleasing recipe combines tender, flavor-packed meatballs made with a mix of ground beef, ground pork, and Parmesan cheese, perfectly seasoned with garlic, onion powder, and parsley. The star of the show is the luscious homemade cranberry glaze—a delectable blend of whole berry cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar—that coats each meatball in a glossy, mouthwatering finish. These baked meatballs are easy to prepare and make the perfect holiday appetizer, party snack, or even a delightful main course when paired with rice or mashed potatoes. Simple yet elegant, this recipe is a must-have for any festive gathering!

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 0.5 lb ground pork
• 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry)
• 0.5 cup chili sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper.

Step 3

Using clean hands or a spoon, mix the ingredients until well combined, but do not overmix.

Step 4

Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced evenly apart.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and lightly browned.

Step 6

While the meatballs are baking, prepare the cranberry glaze.

Step 7

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar.

Step 8

Stir to mix and bring the glaze to a simmer. Allow it to cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

Step 9

Once the meatballs are done baking, transfer them to the saucepan with the glaze.

Step 10

Gently toss the meatballs in the glaze until they are evenly coated.

Step 11

Let the meatballs simmer in the glaze for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 12

Transfer the glazed meatballs to a serving dish and garnish with additional parsley, if desired.

Step 13

Serve warm with toothpicks as an appetizer or alongside rice or mashed potatoes for a main dish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1284.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2633.2

Total Fat 145.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 57.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.0g
Cholesterol 770.3mg	0%
Sodium 5134.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 181.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.1g	0%
Total Sugars 130.7g
Protein 161.4g	0%

Vitamin D 80.6IU	0%
Calcium 507.9mg	0%
Iron 14.0mg	0%
Potassium 1468.4mg	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: 48.9%

Protein: 24.1%

Carbs: 27.0%