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Spicy Cranberry BBQ Meatballs

Spicy cranberry BBQ meatballs are baked until they reach 160°F, then coated in a simmered cranberry-barbecue sauce. The tender meatballs pair sweet whole-berry cranberry sauce with a kick of hot sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting 2 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 490
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the meatballs
  • 0.5 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 0.25 cup milk
  • 1 egg large
  • 0.33 cup yellow onion finely grated
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 1.5 lb ground beef 85% lean
For the sauce
  • 1 can (14 oz) whole-berry cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Equipment

  • 1 rimmed baking sheet
  • 1 3-quart saucepan

Method
 

Make the meatballs
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Stir the breadcrumbs and milk together in a large bowl and let stand for 2 minutes.
  3. Add the egg, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper, then add the ground beef and gently mix until just combined.
  4. Shape the mixture into 24 meatballs, about 1 1/4 inches wide, and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, until the meatballs reach 160°F in the center.
Make the sauce
  1. While the meatballs bake, combine the cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar in a 3-quart saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the cranberry sauce has melted into the sauce.
  2. Add the baked meatballs and gently stir to coat; simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot.

Notes

For tender meatballs, mix the beef gently until just combined. Refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days; freeze for up to 3 months. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and verify that the barbecue and Worcestershire sauces are gluten-free.