Delicious Cranberry BBQ Beef Meatballs – Quick & Easy
Get ready for a flavor explosion with these delicious Cranberry BBQ Beef Meatballs! They combine the savory goodness of tender beef meatballs with a vibrant, sweet-tart cranberry BBQ sauce that is simply irresistible.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking, Stovetop, Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs (or Panko breadcrumbs)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- Splash of unsweetened cranberry juice (or apple cider vinegar)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until everything is just combined.
- Using a small cookie scoop or your hands, roll the mixture into uniform 1-inch to 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on a plate or parchment-lined baking sheet.
- To brown the meatballs, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of oil. Add the meatballs in a single layer and brown them on all sides for about 5-7 minutes. Alternatively, bake them at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes or air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the whole berry cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, and a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice (or apple cider vinegar). Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Add the browned meatballs directly into the simmering cranberry BBQ sauce. Stir gently to coat and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer for another 15-20 minutes.
- Once cooked through, serve the meatballs hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: Avoid overmixing the meatball mixture to keep them tender. Browning the meatballs adds depth of flavor. Adjust the sauce's sweetness and tang to your preference.