Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

Name: Cranberry Sauce Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: about 5 dozen
Ingredients: 1 can (14 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce; 1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce; 3/4 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 package (32 ounces) frozen fully cooked home-style meatballs, thawed

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Yield about 5 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

This recipe for cranberry sauce meatballs combines frozen, precooked meatballs with a sweet-and-spicy sauce. Of course, you can always make the meatballs from scratch if you're not pressed for time.

Ingredients

1 can (14 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce
1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 package (32 ounces) frozen fully cooked home-style meatballs, thawed

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the first 6 ingredients; stir until sugar is dissolved. Add meatballs; cook until heated through, 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
To Prepare in a Slow Cooker: Heat sauce ingredients as directed. Add sauce and meatballs to a 4-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, 2-3 hours.

Nutrition Facts

1 meatball: 74 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 191mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.

Using packaged meatballs helps save time in the kitchen and they are just as tasty as homemade. My friends look forward to enjoying these meatballs at our holiday gatherings and there are no leftovers! The sauce is tangy yet sweet, and the festive color is perfect for any party. —Amy Scamerhorn, Indianapolis, Indiana

Recipe Creator