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Easy Cranberry BBQ Turkey Meatballs

November 16, 2020 by Caitlin Monson Leave a Comment

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Looking for an easy appetizer to serve at your holiday party this year? Try these delicious crowd-pleasing cranberry bbq meatballs!

Healthier cranberry bbq turkey meatballs that are baked to perfection and tossed in a simple 2 ingredient sauce! They're the perfect appetizer for the holidays!

Meatballs are 100% my appetizer of choice whenever the holidays come around! (Which I guess is a good thing considering I’m ALWAYS asked to bring them for every party, potluck or random get-together… 😉 ) But I just feel like there’s something so special about them that gives off this warm and cozy vibe that everyone just can’t seem to get enough of. Especially during this festive time of the year! Soo if you’re a meatball lover like me (or a lover of anything warm and cozy) then you need to make these incredibly simple cranberry bbq turkey meatballs! They slightly sweet, tangy, super moist and made with better for you ingredients too!

Cranberry bbq meatballs make a great holiday appetizer or even an easy lunch or dinner option too! They're sweet, tangy and so incredibly tender!

Ingredients

  • Ground turkey: Provides a super lean base that pairs perfectly with your sweet and tangy bbq sauce!
  • Panko breadcrumbs: Gives the meatballs their incredibly tender texture! I love using panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs in my meatball recipes because they’re light and airy which makes your meatballs lighter and lese dense too! (Nobody likes a dense and dry meatball! 😉 ) You can also use gluten free panko instead too!
  • Red onion: Adds even more texture.
  • Eggs: Helps to bind the meatballs together.
  • Spices: Adds flavor and compliments your bbq sauce.
  • BBQ sauce: Helps to keep the meatballs moist and gives them so much flavor too!
  • Cranberry-BBQ sauce: (Recipe below)
These simple and delicious meatballs are perfect to serve for a crowd! Just place them in a crockpot, pour your sauce over the top and they're ready for your next holiday gathering!

How to make cranberry bbq sauce

All you need are two ingredients to make this delicious crowd-pleasing sauce!

  • 1 17oz. jar of bbq sauce (I love using Stubbs Smokey Mesquite sauce for this recipe but feel free to use your favorite!)
  • 1 14oz. can whole cranberry sauce

Simply mix these two together in a large bowl and pour it over your meatballs once they’re done!

How do I serve these meatballs for a crowd?

These are by far my favorite appetizer to serve at holidays parties! 1) Because they’re insanely easy to make and can even be make a day in advance too! 2) The cranberry sauce adds a fun little holiday spin. 3) Let’s be honest…who doesn’t love some good bbq meatballs, right?! And serving them for a crowd couldn’t be easier!

  1. Cook the meatballs according to the recipe directions below.
  2. Once they’re done, you can either store them for later or prepare them to be served right away.
  3. If serving right away: Place the meatballs in a large crockpot and pour your cranberry bbq sauce over the top. Stir the meatballs to make sure they’re full coated.
  4. Turn the crockpot on to the “warm setting” and cover it with the lid. Now the meatballs are ready for your guests to enjoy and will stay warm for the rest of your party
    • If you’re heating the meatballs up after they’ve been stored in the fridge, I would suggest start them out on “low” in the crockpot until they’re hot to the touch and then turning it down to “warm”.
Quick, easy and so tasty too! Your guests are going to love this simple slow cooker appetizer! Plus they're easily made gluten free too!

Can I make these cranberry bbq turkey meatballs ahead of time?

Absolutely! In fact, I do this 99% of time whenever I’m taking them to a party! All you have to do is cook the meatballs according to the recipe’s directions, then place them in an air tight container and store them in the fridge until the day the of your party. They can even be made 1-2 days in advance too! Talk about easy-peasy right?!

And because the sauce is incredibly simple too, these meatballs literally take 5 minutes to throw together on the day of your get-together!

These delicious bbq meatballs are always a huge hit at parties! They're tender, moist and packed with so much sweet and smokey flavor!

What do I serve this with these meatballs to make it a meal?

Ok, so maybe you’re not going to some fancy party this year but instead want to make these for yourself or your family… That’s 100% A-ok too! These meatballs make a fantastic easy dinner for during the week or can even be meal prepped for a simple lunch too! Here are a few of our favorite side dishes we love to serve with them to make it a complete well-rounded meal!

  • Mashed/roasted potatoes
  • Mashed/roasted butternut squash
  • Sautéed green beans (I love adding garlic and almonds for some crunch too.)
  • Roasted broccoli
  • Roasted asparagus
  • Sautéed/roasted brussel sprouts (Try adding maple syrup and bacon bits for a really special treat! 😉 )
  • Apple bacon & cranberry salad
  • Pear gorgonzola & candied walnut salad
  • Cinnamon roasted butternut squash & kale salad
  • Grape & feta kale salad

I hope you’re all having the best day loves and I can’t wait to hear what you think about this easy appetizer!

More recipes like this:

  • Italian Turkey Meatballs with Marinara Sauce
  • Easy Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
  • Greek Turkey Meatballs
  • Egg Roll Meatballs with Honey Sriracha Sauce
  • Easy Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]

Healthier cranberry bbq turkey meatballs that are baked to perfection and tossed in a simple 2 ingredient sauce! They're the perfect appetizer for the holidays!
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Easy Cranberry BBQ Meatballs

Tender turkey meatballs are baked to perfection and coated in a tangy cranberry bbq sauce! They're the perfect holiday appetizer or even make an easy weeknight meal!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Keyword: bbq, cranberry, dairy free, easy, meatballs
Servings: 15 medium sized meatballs
Author: Caitlin Monson

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • ⅓ cup red onion
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tbsp panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 Tbsp bbq sauce*
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper

For the cranberry bbq sauce:

  • 1 17oz. jar bbq sauce*
  • 1 14oz. can whole cranberry sauce

Instructions

To make the cranberry bbq sauce:

  • Mix the bbq sauce and cranberry sauce together in a large bowl. Set it aside while you prepare your meatballs.

To make the meatballs:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a broiler pan with non-stick cooking spray. (Or you can line a baking sheet with parchment paper too.)
  • Combine all of your meatball ingredients together in a bowl. Form the mixture into 1 inch balls and place them on your broiler pan/baking sheet. (If you're making "cocktail meatballs" for an appetizer you can make them smaller in size.) Bake the meatballs for 25-30 minutes.
  • If serving for an appetizer party: Place the cooked meatballs in a crockpot and pour your sauce over the top. Stir the meatballs and sauce and turn your crockpot on to "warm" for the duration of the party.
    If serving for a meal: Toss your cooked meatballs in the sauce and serve immediately with your side dishes.

Notes

*I love using Stubbs Smokey Mesquite BBQ Sauce for this recipe but feel free to use your favorite!

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Filed Under: Appetizer, Chicken/Turkey, Main Dish Tagged With: appetizers, bbq, cranberry, crock pot, dairy free, easy, sauce, slow cooker, turkey meatballs

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Meet Caitlin

Hey there!

I’m Caitlin and I’m here to simplify California cuisine! I’m just your every day Cali girl with a huge passion for cooking and sharing simple healthy eats with a few sweet treats.

Welcome to my kitchen!

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AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a he AVOCADO, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA SALAD! Can I get a hell yeah?!🙌🏻
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One thing you’ll learn about me - I put avocado on EVERYTHING!🤗 (Which is a little ironic considering I hated avocados as a kid...😳 Weird...I know.) But dangg was it delicious in this salad! It’s super simple to make, loaded with fresh & bright flavors & a fun spin on your classic caprese!😍
P.S. Try it on some sourdough for a fun toast topping too!
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Hope you’re all having a great Thursday loves!😊💕
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Avocado, Tomato & Mozzarella Salad🥑
Cherry tomatoes, halved
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1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (you can add 1 Tbsp of coconut sugar to this too if you like it sweeter)
Salt & pepper, to taste
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1. Bring your balsamic vinegar (& sweetener if using) to a boil in pot on the stove over medium high heat. Let it simmer for 8-10 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened. Let it cool completely.
2. Then add your tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado & fresh basil to bowl & toss with your balsamic “dressing”.
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#kaleforniakravings #dinner #caprese #capresesalad #salad #healthydinner #easyrecipes #easymeals #dinnerideas #healthyeats #healthylunch #wholefoods #lunchideas #healthfood #healthyfood #quickmeals #foodblogger #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreefood #feedfeed #healthyrecipes #huffposttaste #realfood #thekitchn #healthyfoodshare #mealprep #foodblogfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Another day, another salad... And I’m about to d Another day, another salad... And I’m about to dive head first into this CHOPPED APPLE & MANDARIN SALAD with CREAMY POPPY SEED DRESSING!😍 [Ad]
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Does anyone else love making their own salad dressings? Because SAME. HERE!🙋🏼‍♀️ (It actually feels a little weird whenever I use store bought dressing now...😳) But I just love that I can tailor them to fit my taste buds & use better for you ingredients too. Just like this easy poppy seed dressing!🤗 It’s protein packed with Greek yogurt & helps support a healthy immune system with a good dose of apple cider vinegar. Not to mention it’s absolutely delicious on this fresh & fruity salad too!😉 (Side note: @sprouts is the only place I get my ACV because they have the best pricing for all organic vinegars.) So pop on over to your local @sprouts & pick up all these ingredients ASAP!
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Hope you’re having a great Tuesday loves!😊💕
(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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1. Pour the milk, water, pasta & salt into a large pot & bring it to a boil. Boil the pasta for 8-10 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
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#kaleforniakravings #macandcheese #macaroni #healthydinner #dinnerideas #healthylunch #lunchideas #comfortfood #easyrecipes #healthyeats #simplerecipes #wholefoods #easymeals #quickmeals #feedfeed #meatlessmonday #foodblogger #huffposttaste #glutenfree #glutenfreefood #healthyrecipes #healthyfood #realfood #foodblogfeed #healthyfoodshare #healthfood #easydinner #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @thekitchn @huffposttaste
Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FR Weekend plans include: Devouring this SOURDOUGH FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE with BLUEBERRIES & all the maple syrup!🤗
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French toast has always been my jam. (Even as a little one!) But I’ve never tried making a casserole with it until now. All I can say is...holy moly have been missing out!😱 It’s super soft & “custardy” in the center, perfectly toasted on top & then you get that juicy burst from a warm blueberry... Ohhhh baby, that’s breakfast heaven right there!🤤 Swipe ➡️ to see that close up!
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(Full recipe & tips are on my website. Link in bio⬆️)
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Sourdough French Toast Casserole🍞🫐
5 cups sourdough bread, cut into cubes
2 eggs
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1. Whisk the eggs, milk, syrup, vanilla & cinnamon together & set it aside.
2. Spray a 7x11” pan with nonstick cooking spray & spread half of your bread cubes on the bottom. Then sprinkle half of your blueberries over the top & repeat the layers.
3. Pour your egg mixture over the top and cover the pan with foil. Let the pan sit in the fridge for 2 hours - overnight.
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#kaleforniakravings #frenchtoast #frenchtoastcasserole #breakfastideas #healthybreakfast #brunchideas #breakfastrecipes #breakfastlover #dairyfree #comfortfood #quickmeals #wholefoods #easyrecipes #easymeals #simplemeals #healthyish #foodblogger #huffposttaste #thekitchn #thefeedfeed #healthyrecipes #healthyfrenchtoast #realfood #healthyfood #healthyfoodshare #thenewhealthy #feedfeed #goodmoodfood #healthyfoodporn @thefeedfeed @huffposttaste
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