Name: Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground pork; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 1/2 cup breadcrumbs; 2 eggs; 2 tbsp ketchup; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 2 tbsp chopped parsley; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1 can (14 oz) cranberry sauce; 1/4 cup ketchup; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tbsp lemon juice

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The Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are the kind of dish that turns heads and disappears from the buffet table in seconds. If you’re scrambling for the perfect holiday appetizer or just want something festive, juicy, and ridiculously easy to make, this is your golden ticket. These meatballs come together in under an hour and offer that sweet and tangy cranberry glaze that just screams holiday cheer. Whether you’re hosting a full-on feast or bringing a dish to Grandma’s house, this one’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Spoonful of cranberry glazed meatballs lifted from a bowl, coated in sticky red sauce and topped with fresh parsley.

Why These Are the Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs
Ingredient Breakdown: What You’ll Need for the Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs
Smart Ingredient Swaps for Every Diet
How to Serve Your Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs
Make-Ahead, Store, and Reheat Like a Pro
Step-by-Step: How to Make the Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs
Holiday Hosting Tips & Party Variations
Related recipes
Final Thoughts

Why These Are the Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs

Let’s be real—holiday cooking can be chaotic. But these sweet and savory cranberry glazed meatballs? They’re a stress-free solution. Here’s why they belong on your table:

Party-friendly: Bite-sized and easy to serve with toothpicks. They’re perfect for Christmas potlucks and family get-togethers.
Quick to prepare: You only need about 35 to 45 minutes total.
Make-ahead magic: You can make them the night before. The flavors get even better the next day.
Cranberry goodness: The glaze is a mix of cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice. It’s tangy, sweet, and totally addictive.

These sweet and tangy meatballs also double up as a fun twist on traditional holiday meatball recipes—great for both appetizer spreads and main courses.

Ingredient Breakdown: What You’ll Need for the Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs

You don’t need anything fancy, just solid ingredients that bring the flavor:

For the Meatballs:

1 lb ground pork (90–95% lean is ideal)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (regular or gluten-free)
2 eggs
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

For the Cranberry Sauce Glaze:

1 can (14 oz) cranberry sauce (jellied or whole berry works)
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice

All these simple ingredients come together to create one of the best cranberry sauce meatball dishes you’ll ever try.

Smart Ingredient Swaps for Every Diet

Cooking for a crowd with different preferences? No problem. These festive pork meatballs are super flexible:

Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
Swap pork for ground beef if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
Make them gluten-free with almond flour or GF breadcrumbs.
No cranberry sauce? Use grape jelly as a sweet stand-in.
Lime juice works if you don’t have lemon.

These substitutions keep things accessible while still giving you that cranberry meatball sauce magic.

How to Serve Your Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs

These cranberry glazed meatballs are versatile:

As an Appetizer:

Serve with cocktail sticks for a classy finger food.
Keep them warm in a slow cooker at your party.

As a Main Dish:

Over fluffy white rice or buttered noodles.
Tucked into slider buns with a dollop of extra glaze.
With roasted green beans or a crisp holiday salad.

Want more festive pairings? Try another hearty holiday main like this Italian Meatloaf. Or round out your menu with these Christmas Cookie Bars.

Make-Ahead, Store, and Reheat Like a Pro

Holiday cooking is all about timing, and these meatballs play nice:

Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Flash freeze the meatballs on a baking tray, then store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Warm on the stove with a splash of water or in the microwave. The glaze thickens as it cools but comes right back with heat.

They’re one of those easy homemade cranberry meatballs that taste even better the next day. Meal prep win.

Step-by-Step: How to Make the Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs

1. Preheat the oven: Set to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix the meatballs: Combine ground pork, onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

3. Shape them: Roll into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Should make around 32.

4. Bake: Pop into the oven for 20–25 minutes, until browned and cooked through.

5. Make the glaze: While meatballs are baking, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Simmer on medium for 5–10 minutes until smooth and glossy.

6. Combine: Add the baked meatballs into the warm sauce or toss them all into a slow cooker on low. Stir to coat.

7. Serve: Garnish with extra parsley and serve hot.

Whether you’re looking for Christmas Eve dinner ideas or kid-friendly Christmas snacks, this quick holiday meatball dish covers it all.

Holiday Hosting Tips & Party Variations

Slow cooker hack: Transfer meatballs and glaze to your Crockpot. Keeps them warm and juicy for hours.
Add spice: A pinch of red pepper flakes adds just the right kick.
Mini subs: Stuff into slider rolls with extra sauce.
Festive garnish: A sprinkle of fresh cranberries and rosemary on top = Instagram-worthy.

Want even more snacky appetizers? Snack on these Rotel Cream Cheese Sausage Balls or dig into some Honey Garlic Chicken bites.

If you’re building out a full holiday table, here are some pairing ideas:

These sweet meatball recipes for holidays will bring the festive vibes no matter your guest list.

Pinterest collage showing cranberry glazed meatballs in a festive setting, including a spoonful and a holiday bowl presentation.

Collage of cranberry glazed meatballs served in holiday bowls with festive garnishes and Christmas decorations.

Final Thoughts

The Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs are exactly what they sound like: the best. They’re easy to make, pack a huge punch of flavor, and are pretty enough to sit center stage on your Christmas table. Whether you’re serving them as a festive cranberry appetizer or turning them into a hearty main dish, they’re guaranteed to make people smile (and ask for seconds).

So roll up those sleeves, crank up the holiday tunes, and get cooking. And when you do? Tag us. We wanna see!

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Best Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe