Description
These Christmas Meatballs are a festive and flavorful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with lean ground beef, dried cranberries, and a tangy cranberry sauce, they are easy to prepare using the microwave, offering a quick and delicious way to celebrate the season.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 envelope onion soup mix
- 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
Sauce
- 1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine the eggs, onion soup mix, seasoned bread crumbs, dried cranberries, and minced fresh parsley. Add the lean ground beef and mix lightly but thoroughly until well combined.
- Shape the meatballs: Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, ensuring they are evenly sized for uniform cooking.
- Cook the meatballs in batches: Place about one-third of the meatballs on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with waxed paper and microwave on high for 3 minutes or until cooked through. Drain the cooked meatballs on paper towels to remove excess moisture. Repeat this process for the remaining meatballs in two additional batches.
- Prepare the sauce: In a 2-quart microwave-safe dish, mix together the whole-berry cranberry sauce, ketchup, beef broth, brown sugar, finely chopped onion, and cider vinegar. Cover and microwave on high for 4 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the sauce is heated through.
- Combine meatballs with sauce and heat: Gently stir the cooked meatballs into the hot sauce until well coated. Cover the dish and microwave on high for an additional 2 minutes, or until the meatballs are heated through.
- Serve and enjoy: Carefully remove the dish from the microwave and serve the Christmas Meatballs warm as a festive appetizer or party dish.
Notes
- For a different flavor, substitute dried cranberries with chopped dried cherries or raisins.
- These meatballs can also be baked in a conventional oven at 350°F for 20 minutes if a microwave is not preferred.
- Use lean ground turkey or chicken as a lower-fat alternative to beef.
- To keep meatballs moist, avoid overmixing the meat mixture.
- The sauce can be prepared in advance and reheated with the meatballs when ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
