Description
These Christmas Cranberry Meatballs combine savory pre-cooked turkey meatballs with a tangy and sweet cranberry chili sauce, making a festive and easy appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. The sauce blends cranberry, chili sauce, and orange juice to create a unique flavor that complements the meatballs wonderfully.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 lb bag frozen pre-cooked turkey meatballs
Sauce
- 1 12-ounce bottle chili sauce
- 1 14-ounce can jellied cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the chili sauce, jellied cranberry sauce, orange juice, and brown sugar. Stir well to blend all ingredients thoroughly.
- Simmer the sauce: Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Let it cook for about 5 minutes until it is warm and smooth.
- Add meatballs to the sauce: Add the frozen pre-cooked meatballs directly to the simmering sauce. Stir to coat the meatballs evenly.
- Heat meatballs through: Cover the saucepan, reduce the heat to low, and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
- Finish and serve: Once the meatballs are hot and sauce is thickened, transfer to a serving dish. Optionally, sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving to add a fresh touch.
Notes
- Using pre-cooked frozen turkey meatballs reduces prep and cooking time significantly.
- The combination of chili sauce and cranberry sauce creates a perfect sweet and tangy balance for holiday flavors.
- You can substitute regular beef meatballs if preferred, but turkey meatballs keep the dish lighter.
- Serve warm as an appetizer or party snack with toothpicks for easy grabbing.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
Keywords: Christmas meatballs, cranberry meatballs, holiday appetizers, party meatballs, turkey meatballs, sweet and tangy meatballs