Cranberry Orange Chicken Meatballs Recipe
These Cranberry Orange Chicken Meatballs are a delightful blend of savory and sweet flavors, featuring tender ground chicken meatballs baked to perfection and coated in a tangy cranberry-orange glaze. Perfect as a festive appetizer or a flavorful main dish when served over rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 20-24 meatballs (serves 4-6) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 450 g ground chicken
- 60 g breadcrumbs
- 25 g grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Zest of 1 orange
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Cranberry-Orange Glaze
- 240 g cranberry sauce
- 60 ml orange juice
- 30 ml honey
- 15 ml soy sauce
- 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, gently mix together ground chicken, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, beaten egg, chopped parsley, minced garlic, orange zest, salt, and black pepper until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) balls and arrange them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) for safe consumption.
- Prepare Glaze: While the meatballs bake, combine cranberry sauce, orange juice, honey, soy sauce, and ground ginger in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the glaze has thickened slightly and flavors meld.
- Coat Meatballs: Once meatballs are baked, transfer them to a large bowl and toss gently with the warm cranberry-orange glaze until they are fully coated.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with extra chopped parsley and orange zest. Serve the meatballs hot as an appetizer or over cooked rice for a satisfying main course.
Notes
- Ensure not to overmix the meatball mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure meatballs are cooked through.
- The glaze can be prepared ahead of time and reheated gently before tossing with meatballs.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Adjust sweetness and tanginess by varying the amount of honey and orange juice in the glaze to your taste.
Keywords: cranberry orange chicken meatballs, baked chicken meatballs, cranberry glaze, appetizer recipe, holiday meatballs
