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Cocktail Meatballs with Cranberry BBQ Sauce

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Juicy roasted beef and turkey cocktail meatballs tossed in a homemade sweet and tangy cranberry BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

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Cranberry BBQ Sauce:

  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • ¼ medium yellow or white onion, peeled and minced
  • ½-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
  • 8 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
  • Zest and juice of 2-3 oranges (about ½ cup)
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • Coarse salt, to taste

Meatballs:

  • 1-pound lean ground beef
  • 1-pound ground turkey
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon dried or fresh minced parsley
  • ½ tablespoon minced onion
  • 1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan to medium-low. Add the onion and ginger and sauté 1-2 minutes or until slightly soft, stirring frequently.
  2. Add the cranberries, orange zest and juice, vinegars, brown sugar, honey, Dijon, Worcestershire and salt and increase the heat to medium. Simmer 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cranberries have burst. Add water or additional orange juice if the mixture becomes dry. Remove from the heat and let slightly cool.
  3. Transfer the BBQ sauce to a blender and puree until smooth (you can add additional water or orange juice here, if needed). Alternatively, use an immersion blender in the saucepan to puree the sauce until smooth. Set aside.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Fit a wire rack inside a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray.
  5. Add the meatball ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until thoroughly combined. Form the mixture into 2-inch balls and line them on the prepared wire rack, 1-inch apart. Roast 15-18 minutes or until the meatballs are set.
  6. Toss the meatballs with the BBQ sauce and serve immediately.

Notes

Storage Tip: Store the meatballs and BBQ sauce in airtight containers in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://thehealthyepicurean.com/cocktail-meatballs-with-cranberry-bbq-sauce/