Mini-Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce 🍽️
Description: Dive into the savory delight of Mini-Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce, a delightful blend of meaty goodness and tangy cranberry flavors, perfect for festive gatherings or cozy weeknight dinners.
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Ingredients:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Lean ground beef | 2 lbs |
| Eggs | 1 |
| Fresh parsley | 2 tbsp |
| Garlic | 1/4 clove |
| Onion powder | 2 tsp |
| Fresh basil | 2 leaves |
| Cayenne pepper | 1 pinch |
| Whole berry cranberry sauce | 1 can (14 oz) |
| Chili sauce | 1 cup |
| Catsup | 1/2 cup |
| Brown sugar | 2 tbsp |
| Lemon juice | 1/2 lemon |
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: 50.5
- Total Fat: 1.7g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7g
- Cholesterol: 16.9mg
- Sodium: 106.3mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 5g
- Dietary Fiber: 0.5g
- Sugars: 4.2g
- Protein: 3.4g
Instructions:
-
In a large mixing bowl, combine the lean ground beef, eggs, fresh parsley, minced garlic, onion powder, torn fresh basil leaves, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
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Mix the ingredients thoroughly, ensuring a uniform distribution without overworking the mixture, which can lead to tough meatballs when cooked.
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Shape the mixture into small meatballs, roughly the size of a walnut or smaller, ensuring they are evenly sized for consistent cooking.
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Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the formed meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each meatball for even cooking.
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Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until they are cooked through and lightly browned on the outside.
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While the meatballs are baking, prepare the cranberry sauce in a crockpot. Combine the whole berry cranberry sauce, chili sauce, catsup, brown sugar, and fresh lemon juice in the crockpot, stirring until well combined.
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Once the meatballs are baked, transfer them to the crockpot with the prepared cranberry sauce, gently stirring to coat the meatballs evenly.
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Cook the meatballs in the cranberry sauce in the crockpot on low heat for about 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld together and the meatballs to absorb the sauce.
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After cooking, reduce the heat to keep the meatballs warm until ready to serve, ensuring they remain tender and flavorful for your guests to enjoy.
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Serve the Mini-Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce hot from the crockpot, garnished with additional fresh herbs if desired, and watch as they disappear quickly amidst the delighted smiles of your family and friends!
Enjoy this festive favorite, perfect for holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, or Thanksgiving, or simply as a comforting weeknight meal that’s sure to please everyone at the table!