Description
These mini meatballs in cranberry BBQ sauce deliver the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors in just 35 minutes. Made with juicy homemade meatballs and a glossy cranberry BBQ glaze, they’re the ultimate holiday or party appetizer that will have guests asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Mini Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (panko or crushed crackers)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup grated onion
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- For the Cranberry BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (jellied or whole berry)
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Optional: pinch chili flakes for heat
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, gently mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce until just combined.
- Form mixture into 1-inch mini meatballs (about 20–24 total) using hands or a cookie scoop.
- Place on prepared baking sheet and bake 15–18 minutes until browned and internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- While baking, whisk cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, and apple cider vinegar in a saucepan. Simmer 5 minutes until glossy.
- Toss hot meatballs in warm cranberry BBQ sauce until evenly coated. Rest 2–3 minutes before serving.
Notes
Serve on a platter with toothpicks for parties, or keep warm in a slow cooker for gatherings. Garnish with parsley and whole cranberries for presentation. Make-ahead tip: form meatballs up to 48 hours ahead or freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 meatballs
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 13g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: cranberry bbq meatballs, mini meatballs appetizer, holiday meatball recipe, sweet and tangy meatballs