Description
These holiday cranberry chicken meatballs are the ultimate party appetizer — juicy, tangy, and ready in under 30 minutes. The sweet-tart cranberry glaze pairs perfectly with savory chicken for a bite-sized favorite that disappears fast at every holiday gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1/4 cup grated onion
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry preferred)
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all meatball ingredients in a bowl. Roll into 1-inch balls.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes, or pan-sear 8–10 minutes until golden and cooked through (165°F internal).
- In a saucepan, whisk cranberry sauce, broth, honey, vinegar, and cinnamon. Simmer 5–7 minutes until thickened. Toss meatballs in glaze before serving.
Notes
Use turkey instead of chicken for a leaner option. Add orange zest to the glaze for extra flavor. Keep warm in a slow cooker on ‘low’ for up to 2 hours. Make ahead by baking meatballs, chilling, and reheating with glaze. Freeze cooked unglazed meatballs up to 2 months. Serve with toothpicks for easy snacking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Holiday Cranberry Chicken Meatballs, cranberry chicken meatballs, holiday appetizer, party meatballs, chicken meatball recipe, sweet and tangy glaze, cranberry sauce recipe