Description
Quick Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are an easy and festive holiday appetizer featuring tender frozen meatballs simmered in a sweet and tangy cranberry-chili sauce. Perfect for parties, this recipe requires minimal prep and delivers comforting seasonal flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
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 the cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir over medium heat until the mixture is smooth and heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Add the Meatballs: Stir in the frozen meatballs, ensuring they are evenly coated with the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and let simmer for 15–20 minutes until the meatballs are fully heated through.
- Serve: Transfer the meatballs and sauce to a serving bowl or place in a slow cooker set to the warm setting to keep them hot during your gathering. Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley or rosemary for a fresh, festive touch.
Notes
- No need to thaw frozen meatballs; add them straight into the sauce.
- For homemade meatballs, pre-cook thoroughly before adding to the sauce.
- Add Dijon mustard or orange juice to the sauce for an extra depth of flavor.
- 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: 1/8 of recipe (approximately 4-5 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
