Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry Glaze (Printable)
Baked turkey meatballs with a tangy-sweet cranberry glaze. An easy, festive appetizer or main course for any gathering.
# What You'll Need:
→ Turkey Meatballs
01 - 1 pound ground turkey
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 tablespoons milk or unsweetened non-dairy milk
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1/2 small onion, finely grated
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
→ Cranberry Glaze
11 - 1 cup cranberry sauce
12 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
13 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
16 - Pinch of salt
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, parsley, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and thyme. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture.
03 - Shape mixture into 1-inch meatballs and arrange them evenly on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
04 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through and golden brown in color.
05 - While meatballs bake, combine cranberry sauce, honey, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until smooth and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
06 - Transfer cooked meatballs to a large bowl and pour warm cranberry glaze over them. Toss gently to coat all meatballs evenly.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired, either as an appetizer with cocktail picks or as a main dish with rice or mashed potatoes.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These meatballs strike that perfect balance between festive and everyday, making any random Tuesday feel like a special occasion without hours in the kitchen.
- The cranberry glaze creates this gorgeous ruby coating that makes even the most kitchen-challenged guests think youve mastered culinary school techniques.
02 -
- Resist the urge to constantly flip or check the meatballs while baking as opening the oven repeatedly drops the temperature and prevents proper browning.
- The cranberry glaze will thicken substantially as it cools, so remove it from heat when its still slightly thinner than youre aiming for.
03 -
- Chill the meatball mixture for 30 minutes before forming balls to make them easier to shape and help them hold together during baking.
- Save a few tablespoons of the glaze separately before tossing with meatballs to drizzle over the finished dish for that professional-looking finishing touch.