Meatballs with Dried Cranberry Apricot Sauce

Elevate your dinner table with these irresistible Meatballs with Dried Cranberry Apricot Sauce, a dish that delivers a perfect harmony of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors. Juicy meatballs made from a blend of ground beef and pork are infused with garlic, onion, and tenderized breadcrumbs, then lovingly browned for a golden crust. The real magic happens in the sauce—a vibrant blend of dried cranberries, sweet apricots, zesty orange juice, and a touch of honey, all simmered with warm cinnamon for a luscious, glossy finish. Serve these crowd-pleasers over creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or alongside crusty bread to soak up every drop of the richly fragrant sauce. Perfect for family dinners or holiday gatherings, this recipe offers a unique twist on classic meatballs that will leave everyone coming back for seconds.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 g Ground beef
• 250 g Ground pork
• 60 g Panko breadcrumbs
• 60 ml Milk
• 1 large Egg
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 small Yellow onion, finely grated
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 100 g Dried cranberries
• 80 g Dried apricots, chopped
• 250 ml Chicken broth
• 120 ml Orange juice
• 2 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp White vinegar
• 0.5 tsp Cinnamon, ground
• 1 tbsp Cornstarch
• 2 tbsp Water

Directions

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb the milk.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, grated onion, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until fully combined but do not overmix.

Step 3

Use your hands or a small scoop to form the meat mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs. Set aside on a plate.

Step 4

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches if needed, brown the meatballs on all sides until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the browned meatballs and set aside. They do not need to be fully cooked at this stage as they will finish cooking in the sauce.

Step 5

In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, chicken broth, orange juice, honey, white vinegar, and ground cinnamon. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to low and return the meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Cover the skillet and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 15-20 minutes, or until they are cooked through and tender.

Step 7

In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the water to create a slurry. Stir this mixture into the sauce and allow it to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Step 8

Serve the meatballs hot, garnished with additional dried cranberries or chopped fresh parsley if desired. Pair with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1768.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3319.6

Total Fat 180.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 61.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.7g
Cholesterol 804.1mg	0%
Sodium 4029.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 256.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.6g	0%
Total Sugars 173.5g
Protein 174.5g	0%

Vitamin D 81.0IU	0%
Calcium 377.7mg	0%
Iron 19.3mg	0%
Potassium 2863.4mg	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: 48.6%

Protein: 20.8%

Carbs: 30.6%