Jolly Holiday Meatballs Recipe for Christmas Joy

Festive gatherings call for hearty, crowd-pleasing christmas meatballs that bring warmth to every holiday table.

Tender, juicy, and packed with seasonal spices, these meatballs promise to be the star of your celebration.

The aroma of herbs and savory meat will instantly fill your kitchen with festive cheer.

Each bite delivers a perfect blend of traditional flavors and comforting textures.

Crafted with love and simple ingredients, these meatballs are more than just a dish – they’re a holiday tradition.

Serve them alongside crisp roasted vegetables or creamy mashed potatoes for a complete meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Dive into this delectable recipe and make your Christmas dinner truly memorable.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 3

What Goes In Christmas Meatballs Recipe

• Ground Beef: Delivers rich, hearty flavor and creates the primary protein foundation of the meatballs.
• Ground Pork: Adds moisture and extra depth to the meat mixture, ensuring tender texture.

• Breadcrumbs: Helps hold the meatballs together and prevents them from becoming dense or tough.
• Egg: Acts as a natural binder, keeping the meat mixture cohesive and smooth.
• Milk: Introduces subtle tenderness and helps create a softer meatball texture.

• Onion: Provides subtle sweetness and aromatic complexity to the meat mixture.
• Garlic: Delivers a punchy, robust flavor that complements the meats.
• Parsley: Adds fresh herbal notes and a bright green color to the meatballs.
• Salt: Intensifies the overall taste and balances the other ingredients.
• Black Pepper: Introduces a gentle warmth and subtle spiciness.

• Cranberry Sauce: Brings festive sweetness and tangy undertones.
• Barbecue Sauce: Contributes smoky, rich flavor profile.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel-like sweetness to the sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Enhances umami and provides complex savory notes.
• Cinnamon: Delivers warm, holiday-inspired aromatic touch.

Utensils To Cook Christmas Meatballs Recipe

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining and mixing all meatball ingredients thoroughly.
• Baking sheet: Crucial for evenly baking meatballs and catching any drips.
• Parchment paper or cooking spray: Prevents meatballs from sticking to the baking sheet.
• Skillet or saucepan: Perfect for preparing and simmering the delicious cranberry sauce.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Helps ensure accurate ingredient proportions.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring sauce and gently mixing meatball ingredients.
• Meat thermometer (optional): Helps confirm meatballs are fully cooked.

How To Make Christmas Meatballs Recipe Juicy

• Holiday Flavor Base

Craft tender meatballs by combining ground meats with breadcrumbs, creating a delightful blend of textures. Gently incorporate seasonings to ensure a rich, balanced taste profile that will make your guests smile.

• Baking Technique

Arrange meatballs on a prepared baking sheet, allowing even heat distribution. Roast in a hot oven until golden brown and perfectly cooked through, developing a beautiful exterior that locks in juicy goodness.

• Magical Sauce Creation

Whip up a vibrant sauce that combines sweet and tangy elements. Cranberry and barbecue sauces dance together, creating a glossy coating that transforms simple meatballs into a show-stopping holiday dish.

• Final Fusion

Lovingly fold the crispy meatballs into the bubbling sauce, letting each morsel absorb the rich, festive flavors. Allow the ingredients to mingle and create a mouthwatering masterpiece that will become a cherished family tradition.

• Serving Suggestion

Present these irresistible meatballs on a warm platter, garnished with fresh herbs. Watch as your guests’ eyes light up with excitement and anticipation of the delicious bite ahead.

Tasty Add-Ons For Christmas Meatballs Recipe

• Pro Simmering Secrets: Gently fold meatballs into the sauce to prevent breaking them apart, ensuring each bite remains perfectly intact and flavor-coated.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare meatballs and sauce separately up to two days in advance, storing them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for easy entertaining and stress-free holiday meal planning.
• Low-Carb Transformation: Replace breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds for a keto-friendly version that maintains the meatballs' delicious texture and rich flavor profile.
• Vegetarian Twist: Swap meat with plant-based alternatives like lentil, mushroom, or Beyond Meat crumbles, using similar spices and binding ingredients to create a delightful meat-free holiday appetizer that everyone can enjoy.
• Spice Adventure: Experiment with different sauce variations by adding orange zest, red pepper flakes, or a splash of bourbon to create unique flavor dimensions that complement the classic Christmas meatball recipe.

Serving Christmas Meatballs Recipe At Gatherings

• Holiday Party Platter: Arrange meatballs on a festive wooden board with fresh rosemary sprigs, scattered cranberries, and toothpicks for easy grabbing during Christmas gatherings.
• Appetizer Centerpiece: Serve in a beautiful ceramic dish garnished with chopped parsley, surrounded by small crackers or sliced baguette for guests to create delightful mini sandwiches.
• Buffet Style Presentation: Keep meatballs warm in a slow cooker for holiday buffets, allowing guests to serve themselves throughout the evening with extra sauce on the side for dipping.
• Elegant Dinner Side: Pair with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted seasonal vegetables like Brussels sprouts, and a light green salad for a complete Christmas meal experience.

How To Store Christmas Meatballs Recipe Properly

• Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare double the meatball batch and freeze half for quick future meals. Separate into single-serving containers before refrigerating to simplify reheating and portion control.
• Chilled Storage Strategy: Keep cooked meatballs in sealed containers within the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Ensure airtight packaging to maintain freshness and prevent moisture absorption.
• Freezer-Friendly Approach: Pack cooled meatballs with sauce in freezer-safe containers, lasting up to 2-3 months. Label containers with preparation date for easy tracking.
• Reheating Techniques: Warm refrigerated meatballs in microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring midway. Alternatively, reheat gently in skillet over medium-low heat, adding splash of extra sauce to prevent drying out.

Festive Christmas Meatballs Recipe

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4.7 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 3 1x

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Description

Festive Swedish christmas meatballs bring Nordic holiday cheer to winter dinner tables. Rich blend of ground meats, warm spices, and creamy sauce offer comfort and tradition for family gatherings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
• ½ lb (225 g) ground pork
• 1 egg
• ½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsps milk
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried parsley (or fresh, finely chopped)
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional, for a festive touch)
• 1 cup (250 ml) cranberry sauce (smooth or whole berry)
• ½ cup (120 ml) barbecue sauce
• 2 tbsps brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

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Instructions

1. Mixture Preparation: Combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Blend ingredients thoroughly yet gently to maintain meat’s tender texture.
2. Shaping and Initial Cooking: Form mixture into uniform 1-inch meatballs and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Preheat oven to 400F and roast meatballs for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through.
3. Glaze Creation: In a skillet, merge cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and optional cinnamon. Heat mixture, stirring consistently to develop a smooth, integrated sauce with balanced flavor profile.
4. Final Simmering: Carefully transfer roasted meatballs into the prepared sauce, ensuring each sphere becomes completely enveloped. Allow meatballs to simmer for 5-7 minutes, enabling complete flavor absorption and maintaining optimal temperature.

Notes

• Meat Mixing Mastery: Avoid overworking the meat mixture to prevent tough, dense meatballs; use a light touch when combining ingredients for tender, delicate texture.
• Uniform Sizing Strategy: Use a small ice cream scoop or consistent hand-rolling technique to create evenly sized meatballs, ensuring uniform cooking and professional presentation.
• Moisture Maintenance Trick: Include milk and egg in the mixture to keep meatballs juicy and prevent dry, crumbly results; don’t skip these binding ingredients.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the recipe suitable for individuals with gluten sensitivities.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 3
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg