Name: Cranberry Chicken Meatballs Appetizer
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lbs extra lean ground chicken (or sub ground beef or turkey); 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 cup almond flour (or sub gluten-free or regular breadcrumbs); 4 garlic cloves, minced; 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 2–3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely minced (plus more for garnish); 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice; 1/3 cup honey; 1.5 cups fresh or frozen cranberries; 1/2 teaspoon orange zest; 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)

Description

These juicy cranberry chicken meatballs are the perfect festive appetizer for your holiday table! Made with real cranberries and baked to perfection in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

2 lbs extra lean ground chicken (or sub ground beef or turkey)

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 cup almond flour (or sub gluten-free or regular breadcrumbs)

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2–3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely minced (plus more for garnish)

For the Cranberry Sauce:

1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1/3 cup honey

1.5 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

1/2 teaspoon orange zest

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)

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Instructions

Prep Oven & Pan

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the Meatballs

In a large bowl, gently mix ground chicken, onion powder, almond flour, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and parsley.

Form into 1-inch balls and place on the baking sheet.

Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.

Make the Cranberry Sauce

While meatballs bake, combine orange juice and honey in a saucepan over medium heat; stir until honey dissolves.

Add cranberries and cook for 10 minutes, until soft.

Reduce heat, then stir in orange zest, cinnamon, and chili garlic sauce. Simmer for 10–15 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mash cranberries with the back of a spoon if a smoother consistency is desired.

Finish and Serve

Remove sauce from heat and season with salt and pepper.

Toss baked meatballs in the cranberry sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve!

Notes

For moister meatballs, you can add 1 egg to the meat mixture.

Wet hands before rolling meatballs to prevent sticking.

Adjust chili garlic sauce to your spice preference.

Double the cranberry sauce if serving with rice or if you prefer saucier meatballs.

Leftover cranberry sauce can be frozen for later use.

Do not overwork the meat mixture—this keeps the meatballs tender.

Keep heat low while cooking cranberry sauce to avoid splattering.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizer, Main Course
Method: Baked, Stovetop
Cuisine: American