Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeño Meatballs Recipe
Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeño Meatballs combine savory beef and sausage with a vibrant cranberry jalapeño sauce. These meatballs are browned in a skillet and baked in the oven for a perfect balance of flavors with a sweet heat, making them a wonderful party appetizer or a flavorful main dish served over mashed potatoes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: Approximately 24 meatballs 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or oil of your choice)
- 1 cup tomato juice (V8 works also)
- 4 slices bread (crumbled)
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1–2 jalapeños (minced)
- 2 large eggs (slightly beaten)
Cranberry Jalapeño Sauce
- 1½ pints cranberry sauce (homemade if you have it)
- 1½ tablespoons lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
- ½ cup light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375℉ to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature while you prepare the meatballs.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, avocado oil, tomato juice, crumbled bread, sea salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, fresh parsley, minced jalapeños, and beaten eggs. Mix thoroughly, then shape mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the meatballs on all sides until they develop a rich golden crust, enhancing their flavor and texture.
- Prepare Cranberry Sauce: In a separate medium bowl, combine cranberry sauce, fresh lemon juice, and light brown sugar. Stir until smooth and well mixed to create the sweet and spicy glaze.
- Arrange Meatballs in Casserole: Place the browned meatballs in a 9×13 casserole dish and pour the cranberry sauce evenly over them, making sure each meatball is well coated.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs uncovered in the preheated 375℉ oven for 40 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and meatballs to cook through fully.
- Alternative Slow Cooker Method: For a hands-off approach, place meatballs and sauce in a crockpot or slow cooker and cook on low for 1-2 hours until meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160℉.
- Serve: Serve warm either as an appetizer or over a bed of mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.
Notes
- Make sure to brown the meatballs thoroughly to seal in juices and add flavor before baking.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeños depending on your preference for heat.
- Leftover meatballs can be stored in the fridge for up to four days in an airtight container with cranberry sauce to keep them moist.
- Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the oven until hot throughout.
- You can substitute ground sausage with all beef or turkey for a different flavor or lower fat content.
Keywords: cranberry jalapeño meatballs, sweet and spicy meatballs, holiday appetizers, baked meatballs, savory meatballs with cranberry sauce
