Each bite offers the perfect balance of flavors!
There are certain foods you can almost always expect to find at holiday parties and gatherings. Those little smoked sausages smothered in a tangy-sweet BBQ sauce are one of those dishes. They’ve always been a big hit. I think it’s the combination of smoky, sweet, savory, and salty that makes them so addicting. I think that’s why I love this recipe for cranberry bbq meatballs so much!
A Dash of Creativity in the Kitchen
One afternoon, while brainstorming ways to breathe new life into leftovers and repurpose ingredients, the bbq meatballs with sweet and savory magic, came to life. A pinch of ground turkey, a dollop of BBQ sauce, a swirl of cranberry goodness – and voila! A fresh, festive dish that’s destined to become a holiday staple.
What Will I Need for these BBQ Meatballs?
- 2 pounds of ground turkey
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary
- 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs (garlic or Italian seasoned are best)
- 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 37 ounces of BBQ sauce (no sugar added)
- 15 ounces of cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup of water
Step-By-Step Process
When making turkey meatballs, I like to use a combo of ground thigh and breast meat. Going all breast? No prob – just reduce the cook time by 5 mins so they don’t dry out. (See note 2 in the recipe card below for my moistness-retaining secret!)
Cranberry sauce – I’m all about the whole berry kind, but use whatever you have on hand or prefer. Oh, and a little pro-tip: add some water to the sauce as it cooks. It’ll help thin it out and prevent any yucky burning or sticking to the pan. Chicken broth works too! But this step is totally optional.
The Art of Flavor Fusion
In the realm of holiday cooking, the magic lies not only in tradition but also in the joy of creating something new. This BBQ meatballs blend the nostalgia of a classic favorite with a creative twist, offering a dish that’s both familiar and refreshingly different.
Bonus Recipes
For the holidays, switch it up and use leftover turkey and cranberry sauce.
- Take some leftover turkey, shred it up, and throw it on the stove with some BBQ sauce, rosemary and cranberry sauce, and you have the makings of some tasty BBQ sliders!
- Or, take your sense of adventure further, chop the leftover turkey, reduce the amount of BBQ and cranberry sauce, throw in some mayo, and voila! Cranberry Turkey Salad! Three recipes from the same set of ingredients!
- Not the holiday season, no problem. Simple use a roasted chicken instead of turkey!
Try Our Yummy Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
Let your kitchen be a canvas for culinary adventures. With a handful of ingredients and a dash of creativity, you can transform leftovers into festive masterpieces. These BBQ meatballs are not just a recipe; they’re an invitation to explore, experiment, and savor the joy of cooking during the most wonderful time of the year. So, roll up your sleeves, turn on the oven, and let the magic commence!
Cranberry BBQ Meatballs: Sweet and Savory Recipe
Ingredients
- cooking spray as needed
- 2 pounds ground turkey see note 1
- 2 eggs large
- 1 tablespoon rosemary fresh, minced
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs garlic or italian seasoned
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise see recipe note 2
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 37 ounces BBQ sauce no sugar added
- 15 ounces cranberry sauce see recipe note 3
- 1/4 cup water see recipe note 4
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray rimmed sheet pan or baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, eggs, finely chopped rosemary, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, and salt. Form into 2" balls and place on sheet pan or baking dish about 1-2" apart.
- In another bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, cranberry sauce and just enough water to thin out the combination (about 1/4 cup).
- Pour sauce evenly over meatballs. Place in preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from oven and serve.
Notes
- I recommend using a mixture of ground turkey thigh and breast to prevent the meatballs from drying out. However, if you decide to use only turkey breast, reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes. See note 2 for tip on retaining moisture.
- Mayonnaise helps keep the meatballs moist, and tender. Substitute 1/8 cup buttermilk or whole milk if you prefer.
- I prefer whole cranberry sauce, but you can use whatever you have or prefer.
- Add a little water to thin out the sauce, but also to help prevent burning/sticking to the pan. This is an optional tip, but a helpful one. Chicken broth can be substituted as well.
Nutrition Information
Have you made this recipe?
Tag @skinnyms on Instagram or hashtag it #skinnyms
If you enjoyed these tasty cranberry bbq meatballs, you might also like to try:
- Easy Oven Baked Meatballs
- Sheet Pan Chicken Meatballs and Broccoli
- Mediterranean Style Greek Meatballs
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Turkey Sausage Brunch Burger
There’s plenty more where that came from! If you love recipes like these bbq meatballs, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Pinterest.
