Cranberry Meatballs Recipe
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
10 servings
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Calories
290 kcal
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Course
Appetizer
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Cuisine
North American
Cranberry Meatballs Recipe
Description
The Cranberry Meatballs Recipe begins with baking pre-made frozen meatballs until cooked through. Meanwhile, a sauce is prepared by blending cranberries with honey, tomato paste, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and salt until smooth. This sauce is then gently simmered to develop flavor and thicken slightly. The cooked meatballs are either heated with the sauce on the stovetop or combined with the sauce and water in a slow cooker for several hours, allowing flavors to meld.
The cranberry-based sauce offers a fruity acidity and sweetness balanced by the tomato paste’s richness and the BBQ sauce’s smokiness. Hot sauce adds a spicy note that contrasts the sweet ingredients. Serving options include as an appetizer, party snack, or part of a main meal, with the slow cooker method providing convenient hands-off cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 lb meatballs frozen
- 2 ½ cups cranberries fresh or frozen and thawed
- ¾ cup honey
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt sea salt
- ½ cup water for slow cooker method
Instructions
- Bake the meatballs according to the package directions.
- While the meatballs are baking, make the sauce. Add the cranberries, honey, tomato paste, bbq sauce, hot sauce, and salt to your blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
- Transfer the cranberry sauce to a small pot and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat, cover with a lid halfway to prevent splatters, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Stovetop Method
- Place the cooked meatballs into a large pot and pour the cranberry sauce over the top. Cook them over medium until they're hot.
Slow Cooker Method
- Place the cooked meatballs into your crockpot and pour the cranberry sauce and water over the top. Mix them around and then let them cook for 2-3 hours on high or for 6-7 hours on low heat.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 290 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 5 meatballs | |
| Calories | 290kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 93mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 860mg | 36% |
| Potassium | 540mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 24g | 48% |
| Vitamin A | 435IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 44mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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