Cocktail Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce

Red skillet sitting on white countertop filled with cranberry sauce covered meatballs

Cocktail Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce

When it's the holidays, there is something so festive about a meatball as an appetizer. These cocktail meatballs are slathered in a cranberry sauce that is slightly sweet with a citrus undertone!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Difficulty Easy

Method Baking

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings meatballs

Calories 139kcal

Author Kaleb

Ingredients

For the meatballs

2 slices bread (approx. 3 oz)
¼ cup whole milk
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp grated onion
1 clove garlic minced
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg beaten
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork

For the sauce

12 oz bottled barbeque sauce
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup orange marmalade

Instructions

For the meatballs

Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a large bowl, tear up the bread into pieces and add the milk. Mash the milk and bread together to form a paste. Add in the salt, pepper, grated onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and egg. Mix to combine. Add in the ground beef and pork.
2 slices bread (approx. 3 oz), ¼ cup whole milk, 1 ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 2 tbsp grated onion, 1 clove garlic, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 large egg, 1 lb ground beef, 1 lb ground pork
Use hands or an electric mixer to combine until all the ingredients are completely combined and smooth. Use a scoop or spoon to make 20 1-ounce size balls.
Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium heat with 1 tbsp olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the meatballs. Allow the meatballs to brown on two sides, about 3-5 minutes. Once browned, place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until they reach 160°F, 15-20 minutes. While the meatballs are roasting, prepare the sauce.

For the sauce

In the same skillet in which the meats were browned, add the barbeque sauce, marmalade, and cranberries. Over low heat, bring to a simmer. Continue to cook over a low simmer until the cranberries begin to burst and are softened, 12-15 minutes.
12 oz bottled barbeque sauce, 1 cup orange marmalade, 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
Once the meatballs are baked and fully cooked, remove them from the oven and add them to the prepared sauce. Spoon the sauce over the meatballs coating them completely. Serve directly from the skillet or set on a platter.

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