If you’re looking for a holiday appetizer that’s both festive and downright delicious, you’re going to love this Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe. Picture tender, juicy meatballs studded with dried cranberries, simmered in a tangy-sweet cranberry glaze — it’s like holiday magic in every bite. Trust me, these meatballs were a hit every time I brought them to family gatherings, and I’m betting they’ll become your go-to Christmas party dish too.

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Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Balance of Flavors: The tartness of dried cranberries and whole-berry cranberry sauce perfectly cuts through the richness of the beef meatballs.
Quick & Easy Prep: You can make these meatballs in under 30 minutes using your microwave — no oven babysitting required!
Visual & Textural Appeal: Dried cranberries add sweet bursts and a lovely texture contrast inside each juicy meatball.
Versatile & Crowd-Pleasing: These meatballs work as appetizers, party snacks, or even a main dish alongside your favorite sides.

Christmas Cranberry Meatballs, holiday appetizer with cranberries, easy Christmas party snacks, festive meatball recipes, sour-sweet cranberry glaze - A white rectangular ceramic dish filled with two layers of shiny brown meatballs covered in a rich red sauce. The meatballs are round and slightly textured, sitting close together in the dish. A large silver spoon rests inside the dish, scooping one meatball, showing the softness and the thick sauce coating it. The dish is placed on a beige woven cloth on top of a wooden surface with a grid pattern. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe brings together ingredients that play off one another beautifully—seasoned beef for savory depth, cranberries for tangy sweetness, and a rich cranberry glaze tying it all together.

Eggs: Helps bind the meatball mixture so your meatballs stay tender and don’t fall apart.
Onion Soup Mix: Adds savory seasoning in one simple envelope and boosts flavor complexity effortlessly.
Seasoned Bread Crumbs: Keeps meatballs moist and adds just enough structure.
Dried Cranberries: The little bursts of tartness inside the meatballs are an absolute game changer.
Fresh Parsley: Adds a pop of color and fresh herbiness that lightens the dish.
Lean Ground Beef: Using 90% lean keeps these meatballs juicy without excess fat.
Whole-Berry Cranberry Sauce: Essential for the sauce; those whole berries add texture and authentic cranberry flavor.
Ketchup: Brings sweetness and tang to the glaze while balancing the tart cranberries.
Beef Broth: Adds depth and helps thin the sauce to the perfect consistency.
Brown Sugar: Sweetens the sauce slightly, balancing acidity.
Finely Chopped Onion: Adds a subtle savory crunch to the sauce.
Cider Vinegar: A splash of acidity that brightens the glaze and brings all the flavors together.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

One of the best things about this Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. I always tweak the sauce a little depending on my mood — sometimes upping the sweetness, sometimes adding a pinch of chili flakes for a subtle kick.

Make it spicy: I’ve added a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the sauce for an extra layer of warmth during chilly holiday evenings, and it was a crowd-pleaser.
Try turkey: For a lighter take, I swapped out ground beef for ground turkey, and the cranberries still shine beautifully.
Herbs switch-up: Parsley is classic, but I sometimes experiment with fresh thyme or rosemary for more holiday flair.
Make it vegetarian: Use plant-based ground meat alternatives and vegetable broth instead of beef broth — still delicious!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe

Step 1: Mix your meatball ingredients gently but thoroughly

Start by combining the eggs, onion soup mix, seasoned bread crumbs, dried cranberries, and fresh parsley in a large bowl. Then add your ground beef. Use your hands or a sturdy spoon to mix everything together lightly but thoroughly — you don’t want to overwork the meat or your meatballs will get dense. Just enough to combine all those tasty bits evenly.

Step 2: Shape into uniform 1-inch meatballs

I find that making them about 1 inch in diameter is perfect for snacking, and they cook evenly this size. Use your hands to roll, and place them on a plate while you keep going. If you want to speed things up at a party, enlist a friend — meatball rolling is oddly addictive!

Step 3: Microwave cooking in batches to save time

Here’s a trick I stumbled on after burning meatballs in the oven once during a frantic holiday prep: cook them in batches in the microwave. Place about a third of your meatballs on a microwave-safe plate, cover with waxed paper, and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes — just until cooked through. Drain them on paper towels and repeat with the rest. It’s fast, hands-off, and they stay super juicy.

Step 4: Make the luscious cranberry glaze in the microwave

In a microwave-safe dish, stir together the whole-berry cranberry sauce, ketchup, beef broth, brown sugar, chopped onion, and cider vinegar. Microwave it covered on high for 3-4 minutes, stirring halfway, until heated through. This keeps your glaze bright and fresh-tasting, without any stovetop fuss.

Step 5: Combine meatballs and sauce for the final magic

Gently stir your cooked meatballs into the warm glaze. Then microwave everything together covered for an extra 1-2 minutes until the meatballs soak up that cranberry goodness. This last step ensures every bite is bursting with flavor.

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Pro Tips for Making Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe

Don’t Overmix the Meat: Keep the meat mixture light — overmixing can make meatballs tough, so mix just until everything’s combined.
Uniform Meatballs Mean Even Cooking: Roll your meatballs the same size so they cook in the same time and avoid drying out smaller ones.
Taste the Sauce Before Adding Meatballs: Adjust sweetness or acidity as needed — I often tweak the brown sugar or vinegar for balance.
Prevent Soggy Meatballs: Let your cooked meatballs drain on paper towels before adding to sauce to keep them from getting mushy.

How to Serve Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a handful of freshly chopped parsley or even a few thyme leaves on top — it adds a fresh, vibrant contrast to the rich meatballs. Sometimes, I add a few whole dried cranberries for that pretty pop of red, making the dish look extra festive for holiday guests.

Side Dishes

These meatballs pair wonderfully with simple sides like buttery mashed potatoes, roasted green beans, or even a crisp winter salad with citrus segments. If you’re hosting a party, I like setting out toothpicks and letting everyone snack alongside warm rolls or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I’ve served these in a festive slow cooker set on warm, so guests can graze all evening. Another fun way is to place them on a platter lined with fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries for a charming holiday centerpiece. Miniature Christmas picks add a playful touch and make serving a breeze.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover meatballs and sauce together in an airtight container in the fridge — they keep well for about 3 days. When I dug into leftovers, the cranberry flavor is even more pronounced, which I kind of love, but sometimes you might want to freshen the sauce a bit with a splash of vinegar.

Freezing

These meatballs freeze beautifully! I like to flash-freeze the plain cooked meatballs on a baking sheet first, then transfer them to freezer bags. You can freeze the sauce separately or together. When reheating, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm gently—it saves you a ton of time during the busy season.

Reheating

To reheat, microwave them covered on medium power or warm gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally so the sauce doesn’t scorch. If it’s a bit thick, add a splash of beef broth or water to loosen it up while reheating. This keeps the meatballs tender and juicy.

FAQs

Can I bake the Christmas Cranberry Meatballs instead of microwaving?

Absolutely! You can bake the meatballs at 375°F (190°C) for about 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t dry out, and drain any excess grease before combining with the cranberry sauce.
What can I substitute for dried cranberries?

If you don’t have dried cranberries, chopped dried cherries or raisins work well. Just keep in mind these alternatives are sweeter, so you might want to adjust the sugar in the sauce accordingly.
Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes! Swap the seasoned bread crumbs for gluten-free bread crumbs or almond flour. Just make sure your onion soup mix is gluten-free too — many brands offer safe options.
How far ahead can I make these meatballs?

You can make the meatballs a day ahead and refrigerate them, cooked or uncooked. If uncooked, keep tightly covered and cook them fresh. The sauce is best made fresh but can be prepped a day early and reheated gently.

Final Thoughts

I genuinely think this Christmas Cranberry Meatballs Recipe captures the spirit of the holidays better than most dishes out there. Between the juicy meatballs and that tangy-sweet cranberry sauce, it’s a crowd-pleaser that never fails to spark compliments (and second helpings!). Next time you want to wow your guests with minimal fuss, give this recipe a whirl—you’ll be so glad you did, just like I am every year at Christmas.