Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Overmixing can result in tough meatballs.
- Roll the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs (about 1 inch in diameter).
- Place meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through.
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the cranberry sauce. In a saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange juice, orange zest, and cinnamon.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, transfer them to the saucepan with the cranberry sauce.
- Stir gently to coat the meatballs evenly.
- Simmer for another 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
For extra flavorful meatballs, brown the ground beef in a skillet before combining it with the other ingredients. To prevent the meatballs from drying out, consider adding a tablespoon of olive oil to the meat mixture. Also, be sure to let the cranberry sauce simmer gently. A rapid boil can burn the sugar and make the sauce bitter. Don't be afraid to adjust the sweetness of the cranberry sauce to your liking. If you prefer a tarter sauce, reduce the amount of sugar. You could also add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for a touch of heat. Remember to check the internal temperature of the meatballs to ensure they're fully cooked, reaching at least 160°F (71°C).