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Cranberry meatballs in a bowl with cranberry glaze and rosemary garnish.
Layla

Cranberry Meatballs

These festive cranberry meatballs are a delightful treat for your Christmas gathering, offering a perfect balance of savory and sweet in every bite.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • For the Meatballs
  • 1 lbs ground beef ground chuck or your choice of ground meat
  • 1 cup bread crumbs plain
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • For the Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 can cranberry sauce 14 oz can, jellied or whole
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Saucepan
  • Serving Platter

Method
 

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, beaten egg, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
  2. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a plate.
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
  4. Arrange the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overcrowding. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through.
  5. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Stir to combine and heat until the mixture becomes smooth and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
  6. Add the cooked meatballs to the saucepan with the cranberry sauce. Gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce.
  7. Transfer to a serving platter and serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce. Serve these meatballs with toothpicks for easy pick-up during parties.