Description
Festive holiday cheer meets comfort food in this Cranberry Sauce Meatballs masterpiece, blending sweet and savory flavors. Warm spices and tangy cranberry glaze create an irresistible dish that brings European-inspired elegance to your dinner table, ensuring guests will crave seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 package (32 ounces / 907 grams) frozen fully cooked home-style meatballs, thawed
Sauces and Sweeteners:
- 1 can (14 ounces / 397 grams) jellied cranberry sauce
- 1 bottle (12 ounces / 340 grams) chili sauce
- 3/4 cup (170 grams) packed brown sugar
Spices:
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper in a simmering saucepan, creating a glossy, well-blended glaze that melds sweet and spicy notes.
- Gently introduce thawed meatballs into the simmering sauce, ensuring each morsel is thoroughly coated with the vibrant, glossy mixture.
- Allow meatballs to simmer over medium heat, occasionally turning them to promote even heating and sauce absorption, maintaining a consistent temperature for approximately 20-25 minutes.
- For slow cooker enthusiasts, transfer the entire sauce-coated meatball ensemble into the appliance, setting it to low and allowing the flavors to meld and intensify over 2-3 hours with occasional gentle stirring.
- Present the succulent meatballs as a tantalizing appetizer or transform them into a substantial main course by serving atop fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or alongside crusty artisan bread for a hearty dining experience.
Notes
- Adjust cayenne pepper and chili powder to control heat intensity, catering to different spice tolerances.
- Simmer sauce gently to prevent burning and achieve a perfect sticky glaze that clings to meatballs.
- Prepare meatballs and sauce in advance, refrigerate, and reheat for convenient meal planning or party prep.
- Swap traditional meatballs with plant-based or turkey alternatives for lighter, health-conscious versions of the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 136
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 631 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg