Sticky Cranberry BBQ Cocktail Meatballs
Tender homemade cocktail meatballs tossed in a sticky cranberry BBQ sauce that's sweet, tangy and savoury with just a hint of smokiness. An easy make-ahead appetizer that's especially good for holiday parties and entertaining.
Prep time
20 min
Cook time
25–30 min
Serves
Ingredients
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Meatballs
- 1 lb (454 g)lean ground beef
- ½ cuppanko breadcrumbs
- 1 largeegg
- ¼ cupfinely grated yellow onion
- 1garlic clove, finely minced or grated
- 1 tbspWorcestershire sauce
- 1 tbspfinely chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tspfine sea salt
- ¼ tspfreshly ground black pepper
Homemade Cranberry BBQ Sauce
- 1½ cupsfresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cupketchup
- ⅓ cuppacked brown sugar
- ¼ cupwater
- 2 tbspapple cider vinegar
- 1 tbspWorcestershire sauce
- 1 tbspDijon mustard
- ½ tspsmoked paprika
- ¼ tspgarlic powder
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
For Serving
- Finely chopped fresh parsley or chives
- Cocktail picks
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb (454 g)lean ground beef
- ½ cuppanko breadcrumbs
- 1 largeegg
- ¼ cupfinely grated yellow onion
- 1garlic clove, finely minced or grated
- 1 tbspWorcestershire sauce
- 1 tbspfinely chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tspfine sea salt
- ¼ tspfreshly ground black pepper
Homemade Cranberry BBQ Sauce
- 1½ cupsfresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cupketchup
- ⅓ cuppacked brown sugar
- ¼ cupwater
- 2 tbspapple cider vinegar
- 1 tbspWorcestershire sauce
- 1 tbspDijon mustard
- ½ tspsmoked paprika
- ¼ tspgarlic powder
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
For Serving
- Finely chopped fresh parsley or chives
- Cocktail picks
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the panko, egg, grated onion, garlic, Worcestershire, parsley, salt and pepper. Let the mixture sit for 2–3 minutes so the panko can absorb some of the moisture.
- 3
Add the ground beef and gently mix just until everything is evenly combined. Avoid overworking the meat.
- 4
Roll into approximately 1-inch meatballs and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. You should get about 24–28.
- 5
Bake for approximately 15–18 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Ground beef should reach 160°F (71°C) in the centre.
- 6
While the meatballs bake, make the cranberry BBQ sauce. Add the cranberries, ketchup, brown sugar, water, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, Dijon, smoked paprika, garlic powder and salt to a medium saucepan.
- 7
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for approximately 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce begins to thicken.
- 8
For a smoother BBQ-style sauce, lightly mash the cranberries with the back of a spoon as they cook. You can leave a few pieces of cranberry intact for a more rustic texture.
- 9
Add the cooked meatballs directly to the saucepan and gently toss until well coated.
- 10
Simmer over low heat for another 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is glossy and clings nicely to the meatballs.
- 11
Transfer to a serving dish and finish with chopped parsley or chives. Serve warm with cocktail picks.
Melissa's Notes
The sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it sits, so don't reduce it too aggressively on the stove. You want it thick enough to coat the meatballs but still saucy enough to spoon over them.
Make Ahead: The meatballs can be baked a day ahead and refrigerated separately from the sauce. The cranberry BBQ sauce can also be prepared ahead and refrigerated. When you're ready to serve, combine everything in a saucepan and gently reheat until hot. For a party, you can transfer the finished meatballs to a slow cooker set to warm and let guests help themselves.
A Little More Heat: If you want a sweet-and-spicy version, add the optional red pepper flakes or a small splash of hot sauce to the cranberry BBQ sauce.
Nutrition Information
Per meatball — based on 24 cocktail meatballs, including cranberry BBQ sauce
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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