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Easy Holiday Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce - Christmas Appetizers

These Christmas Cranberry Meatballs combine the sweet-tart flavor of cranberry sauce with savory chili sauce for a 25-minute appetizer that’s festive, flavorful, and perfect for holiday entertaining.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can 14 oz jellied cranberry sauce
  • 1 bottle 12 oz chili sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 bag 32 oz frozen pre-cooked meatballs (beef or turkey)

Method
 

  1. Heat a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper.
  3. Stir continuously for about 5 minutes until smooth and glossy.
  4. Add frozen meatballs directly to the sauce and stir gently to coat.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until meatballs are heated through and sauce is thickened.
  6. Transfer to a serving dish or slow cooker and garnish with fresh parsley or rosemary.

Notes

Use turkey or chicken meatballs for a lighter version. Add orange zest or fresh ginger for extra flavor. Always simmer gently to avoid burning the sauce.