Cranberry meatballs

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These cranberry meatballs will surprise you on so many levels. They are both comforting and refreshing, thanks to the cranberries’ sweetness and the freshness of the orange.

Five things you should know before you make cranberry meatballs

• The recipe uses staple ingredients that you probably already have at home.
• Don’t be tempted to over-flavor the meat. All these seasonings work with the orange and cranberries for a balanced sweet and tangy meatball.
• Cranberry meatballs are the perfect recipe to make for a last-minute appetizer or a quick light lunch with friends.
• Don’t overmix/overwork the meat, it can affect the final texture.
• When it is time to shape the meatball, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.

Now that you have lunch covered, you should try the sausage meatballs for brunch. Another crowd favorite at our BBQ get-togethers is smoked meatballs.

Ingredients

• Ground beef: I love using ground chuck 80/20, the lean-to-fat ratio is perfect for tender and juicy meatballs.
• Spices: I kept it classic here so the spices don’t overshadow the flavor of cranberries and orange.
• Orange: I used the zest from an orange and its juice.
• Dried cranberries: I prefer the dry cranberries to the fresh ones for convenience as they are a staple ingredient in my pantry in the Fall.
• Egg: Wet ingredient that helps with binding.
• Breadcrumbs: Don’t overlook this ingredient. It helps retain the moisture as the meatballs cook so you have a juicy and tender bite.

Keep reading down to the recipe card for specific ingredients and instructions.

Pro Tips

Remember, don’t overmix the ground beef for the cranberry meatballs. The last thing you want is a tough meatball. Two more important tips I learned are to add moisture and shape. Moisture can be added in different ways. In the recipe, I used fresh orange juice and zest. To shape the meatballs use enough pressure in your hands to have the meat and breadcrumbs with the egg to bind.

Instructions

Making cranberry meatballs is a straightforward process. The only “fancy” step is using the zest of the orange.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

Scoop mixture and shape into balls.

Air fry at 375°F for 10 minutes.

Serve and Enjoy!

Hint: Using a medium-sized cookie scoop is the perfect size for a 2-bite meatball, if you don’t have them, you can use tablespoons just as easily.

Scroll down to the recipe card for specific instructions and ingredients.

Substitutions

• Meat – You can use a different type of ground meat, like ground sausage, ground turkey, or even ground chicken.
• Breadcrumbs – Very easy to use and keep in the pantry, however, if you don’t have them on hand you can substitute them with crushed saltines or even crushed croutons.

Variations

This recipe is excellent as is. You can remove the cranberry and orange ingredients and adapt the recipe for different occasions from brunch with sausage meatballs to a cookout with smoked meatballs. Here are some variations you can make to the recipe:

• Deluxe – Add chopped shallots, finely chopped mushrooms, and grated Parmigiano.
• Kid-friendly – Add cheese and bacon bits.
• Spice – Add a hint of spice with chopped jalapenos or hot sauce in the mixture. Or even add some ginger or allspice for a more peppery flavor.

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