Description
These baked meatballs with cranberry sauce are tender, flavorful, and coated in a glossy sweet-tangy glaze. Perfect as a comforting main dish or a festive appetizer, they offer a delicious contrast of savory beef and tart cranberry.
Ingredients
- 500 g ground beef
- 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 small onion, finely grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 cups cranberry sauce (whole berry or smooth)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper or grease lightly.
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, grated onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and parsley until just combined.
- Form mixture into meatballs (3–4 cm diameter) and place on the prepared tray.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, honey, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic powder, and pepper. Simmer 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Transfer baked meatballs to the sauce and toss gently to coat. Simmer together for 2–3 minutes, then remove from heat and serve warm.
Notes
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Add chili flakes to the sauce for heat.
- Incorporate herbs like thyme or coriander into the meat mixture.
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
