Quick Cranberry Meatballs – Easy, Festive Holiday Appetizer Recipe
Quick Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are the ultimate sweet-savory appetizer for your holiday party. Juicy meatballs are simmered in a festive cranberry-chili sauce that’s tangy, rich, and ready in under 30 minutes!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 as an appetizer
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Holiday
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 1 can (14 oz) jellied cranberry sauce
- 1 bottle (12 oz) chili sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Meatballs:
- 1 bag (about 32 oz) frozen pre-cooked meatballs (beef or turkey)
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a large skillet or saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir over medium heat until smooth and heated through (about 5 minutes).
- Add the Meatballs: Stir in the frozen meatballs, coating evenly. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until heated through.
- Serve: Transfer to a serving bowl or slow cooker set to warm. Garnish with chopped parsley or rosemary if desired.
Notes
- No need to thaw frozen meatballs—add them straight into the sauce.
- For homemade meatballs, pre-cook before adding to the sauce.
- Add Dijon mustard or orange juice for an extra flavor boost.
- To keep warm for parties, use a slow cooker on the “warm” setting.
- Leftovers store well and taste even better the next day.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3-4 meatballs
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 470mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
