• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Whisk It Real Gud

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact/Work with me
  • Privacy Policy
  • SHOP
  • Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Easy Cranberry & Sweet Chili Meatballs

    By April Boller Wright 11 Comments

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Share
    Yum
    492 Shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Juicy, sweet, moist and tangy cranberry meatballs are simmered in cranberry and sweet chili sauce. Pure deliciousness! A delicious meatball appetizer to help bring in the new year.

    A bowl with cranberry meatballs topped with green onions

    Who doesn't love meatballs? I mean they are so good! I've been holding off updating this super old post for a while now.  Life happened, so things have been pretty hectic lately. I am glad I managed to get this post updated before Christmas.

    Now let's talk about these cranberry meatballs. I love to mix things up for the holidays. I especially love turning nontraditional Christmas dinners into something a bit more festive.

    These cranberry meatballs can either be made in the instant pot or on the stovetop. Here's how I make it in my instant pot.

    HOW TO MAKE EASY INSTANT POT CRANBERRY MEATBALLS

    Place the beef, eggs, onions, garlic, broth, seasonings and bread crumbs into a mixing bowl. Gently mix until evenly blended.

    Here's an easy and SUPER quick way to make the meatballs. Pat the ground beef into a 10 x 7.5 rectangle. See below.

    Then I cut going horizontally. 

    A picture demonstrating how to make meatballs fast

    Next, just grab a meat square and roll each one into a meatball. This process should make about 30 meatballs. If you happen to have smaller meatballs you can just add more meat to it.

    HOW TO MAKE MEATBALLS ON THE STOVE TOP

    Over medium high heat add 2 tablespoons of oil to a large high sided pan. Once the oil starts to sizzle add the meatballs leaving space in between them to prevent them from steaming.  Sear the meatballs all over  for about 2 minutes or until brown then set to the side. Repeat until all the meatballs are done. Discard the oil from the pan.

    HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT CRANBERRY MEATBALLS

    Pour the water into the instant pot then add the meatballs. If you don't have enough room in the pot, you can put the meatballs on top of each other. Set the pressure cook button. Then set the timer to 8 minutes. Lock the lid.

    Add the rest of the broth to the instant pot then the meatballs. Let the ip naturally release once done. Remove the meatballs.  These meatballs will look a bit ugly when you open the pot. You'll notice them sticking together. Do not fret!  You can use a butter knife or a fork easily break them apart. Once that step is done, set to the side then drain the liquid from the meatballs.

    Add the cranberry and sweet chili sauce. Press saute button. Saute until the sauce is thickened to your preference.

    Add the meatballs back to the instant pot. Toss to coat.
    Instant pow with cranberry meatballs
     
    And there you have some delicious juicy cranberry meatballs. Or I like to call them cranberry and sweet chili meatballs. 

    Merry Meals: Festive Meatball Dinner For Christmas

    April Boller Wright
    Juicy, sweet, moist and tangy cranberrey meatballss are simmered in cranberry and sweet chili sauce. Pure deliciousness! A perfect meatball appetizer to bring in the new year
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5 Serves 3-4

    Ingredients
      

    Meatballs

    • 2 lb ground beef
    • salt and pepper for taste
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • 2 eggs lightly beaten
    • ¾ cup beef broth
    • 1 cup diced onions
    • 1 ½ tsp chili powder
    • 7 tbsp bread crumbs
    • 1 tsp Better Than Bouillon
    • ¾ cup water

    Cranberry Sweet Chili Glaze

    • 1 ¼ cup sweet chili glaze
    • 1 14 oz jellied cranberry sauce Or homemade..See notes below.
    • 4 tsp rice vinegar
    • 6 tbsp brown sugar
    • ¼ cup fresh cranberries optional but canned sauce is a bit flat in flavor, so I use extra fresh cranberries to help boost the flavor.

    Instructions
     

    • Place the beef, eggs, onions, garlic, broth, seasonings and bread crumbs into a mixing bowl. Gently mix until evenly blended.
    • I like to pat the ground beef into a 10 x 7.5 rectangle. See photos above.
    • Next, cut going horizontal across the top.
    • Grab a meat square and roll each one into a meatball. This process should make about 30 meatballs. If you happen to have smaller meatballs you can just add more meat to it.
    • Add the water to the instant pot then the meatballs. Let the ip naturally release once done. Remove the meatballs. Set to the side then drain the liquid from the meatballs.
    • Add the cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries. Press saute button. Saute and mash the cranberries until the sauce is thickened to your preference.
    • Add the meatballs back to the instant pot. Toss to coat.

    Notes

    These meatballs will look a bit ugly once they're done cooking in the instant pot. You'll notice them sticking together. Do not fret!  You can use a butter knife or a fork to easily break them apart.  If you want to try to make fresh cranberry sauce you can try my homemade cranberry sauce. It's quick and flavorful and delicious! 
     
    Keyword sweet chili meatballs
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you enjoyed this cranberry and sweet chili meatball recipe then check out these recipes.

    Chicken and Green Bean Stir Fry with Sweet Chili Sauce, Sweet Chili Ground Beef or you can try my Instant pot Grape Jelly Meatballs or these delicious 15 Min Shrimp Lettuce Wraps w/ Sweet Chili Mayo. Happy Holidays!!

    merry-meals-festive-glazed-meatball-dinner-for-christmas-collectivebias

    merry-meals-festive-glazed-meatball-dinner-for-christmas-collectivebiasCranberry meatballs

    « Fried Okra with Lemon Garlic Mayo Sauce
    Creamy Hoppin John (IP and Stove-top) »
    Join our Facebook Group!

    Subscribe For Free Recipes!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle Ferrand

      December 19, 2016 at 8:23 pm

      I'm drooling looking at your photos! I want to eat a huge bowl of these meatballs.

      Reply
      • April

        December 20, 2016 at 1:45 pm

        I would love some right about now! Thank you!

        Reply
    2. James

      December 19, 2016 at 6:02 am

      Hi April,
      I may say, the ingredients for the orange cranberry glaze is a bit unusual but still it looks good! Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    3. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

      December 14, 2016 at 4:33 pm

      This is a great dinner any night of the week. Perfect for people that just don't want to do "the big" holiday dinners.
      Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy My Profile

      Reply
    4. Just Jo

      December 10, 2016 at 3:46 am

      Yep, Im a grab and go sort of meatball cooker - although I am loving your recipe for these ones. They are so unusual! Thanks for sharing, I am definitely going to make these 😀

      Reply
      • April

        December 10, 2016 at 8:58 pm

        Thank you so much Jo! You will love them!

        Reply
    5. jacquee | i sugar coat it!

      December 10, 2016 at 1:11 am

      Those meatballs looks absolutely YUM and that glaze sounds top notch!!

      Reply
      • April

        December 10, 2016 at 8:57 pm

        The combo of cranberry and orange is delicious! Thank you Jacquee!

        Reply
    6. swayam

      December 10, 2016 at 1:02 am

      Love the glaze on these meatballs! Perfect!

      Reply
    7. Jayne

      December 10, 2016 at 12:42 am

      You have some amazing flavours going on in this recipe April! love the sound of orange and cranberry meatballs. Also loving the xmas styling, I am feeling very festive!!

      Reply
      • April

        December 10, 2016 at 8:57 pm

        Thank you Jayne! 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Show more posts

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    April Wright Whisk it Real Gud_I'm April and I hope you stay for a while. Being a mom (plus a bonus mom) with kids on the autism spectrum, I need to be super efficient with my time. That’s why I create simple recipes that are delicious and don’t require a lot of steps. On this site you'll find all kinds of easy recipes. Comfort foods, southern recipes, restaurant favorites, salads and ethnic recipes and more! Read more .

    Don't miss any of my FREE recipes!

    SUBSCRIBE NOW

    A picture of a bowl of soul food potato salad with eggs and yellow mustard
    A bowl of ice cream with buttery crisp topping peach cobbler
    A picture of a bowl of creamy Hoppin John with rice
    A bowl of crispy seasoned fried okra
    A bowl of thanksgiving yams
    Cajun Chicken Pasta
    Jamaican Beef Patties

    Jamaican Beef Patties

    A plate of bulgogi chicken

    Korean Chicken (An Easy Chicken Marinade)

    a picture of crispy chicken stir fry

    Chicken Green Bean Stir Fry (With Sweet Chili Sauce) A Viral Highly Rated Recipe

    A picture of Asian cucumber and carrot salad

    Asian Cucumber and Carrot Salad (A Viral Recipe)

    A picture of chopsticks holding a pice of sweet and sour chicken

    Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

    A plate of shrimp lettuce wraps with sweet chili mayo

    15 Minute Shrimp Lettuce Wraps w/ Sweet Chili Mayo

    If you are a fan of sweet Thai chili sauce, you gotta try mine! The sauce can be refrigerated for months and you can use it in so many dishes! Don't buy store brand anymore. Homemade sweet Thai chili sauce is so much better and EASY!

    Easy Sweet Thai Chili Sauce

    A plate of teriyaki chicken legs

    Easy Teriyaki Baked Chicken Legs

    Boldly flavored, flaky, crispy skin salmon fillets with sweet Thai chili mustard glazed sauce! Best thing ever! Amazing recipe adapted Chrissy Teigen's Cravings Cookbook!

    Chrissy Teigen's Sweet Chili and Mustard Glazed Salmon Fillets

    Southern Sweet Potato Pie

    Best Southern Sweet Potato Pie (The Fast Way With Video) & Juneteenth Cookout Takeover

    A photo of the Best Meatloaf Recipe with a peppery ketchup and brown sugar glaze on a serving platter

    Yasss The Best Meatloaf Recipe Highly Rated w/ Video

    A bowl of thanksgiving yams

    Best Ever Southern Candied Yams Recipe (Stove-top) W/Video

    Cajun Chicken Pasta

    Delicious and Easy Cajun Chicken Pasta

    Best French Toast Recipe

    Best French Toast Recipe

    Crispy tuna fishcakes withlemon, herb, and garlic with breadcrumbs

    Crispy Lemon Parmesan, Garlic & Herb Tuna Patties (Tuna fish cake recipe)w/Video

    April is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”

    Footer

    April Boller Wright company logos that has featured her