Cherry-Coded Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
A delightful dish featuring juicy chicken meatballs in a sweet and tangy cherry-cranberry BBQ sauce, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup finely diced onion
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
For the Cherry-Cranberry BBQ Sauce
- ½ cup whole berry or jellied cranberry sauce
- ½ cup cherry preserves or sweet cherry jam
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all your ingredients and preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, diced onion, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix gently to avoid over-mixing.
- Shape the mixture into 24 meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter, using slightly dampened hands.
- Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet with space between them.
- Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes until fully cooked and lightly golden.
Sauce Preparation
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the Cherry-Cranberry BBQ Sauce in a saucepan.
- Combine the cranberry sauce, cherry preserves, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and optional cayenne pepper.
- Add salt and black pepper to taste and heat over medium, stirring frequently until the mixture comes to a simmer.
Coating & Final Cooking
- Once the meatballs are fully cooked, transfer them into the saucepan and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Allow the meatballs and sauce to simmer together for an additional 2–3 minutes.
- Serve the meatballs hot, garnished with additional chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
These meatballs can be made ahead of time and are suitable for freezing. Enjoy with various sides like creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or a salad.