Cherry-Glazed Juicy Meatballs (Print)

Tender mini meatballs baked and tossed in a sweet, tangy cherry glaze, ideal for parties.

# Components:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1/4 cup milk
05 - 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

→ Cherry Glaze

10 - 1 cup cherry preserves or cherry jam
11 - 1/4 cup ketchup
12 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - In a large bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano until just combined, taking care not to overwork the mixture.
03 - Moisten your hands and shape the mixture into 24 small meatballs, approximately 1 heaping tablespoon each, then place them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake the meatballs for 18 to 20 minutes until browned and cooked through.
05 - While meatballs bake, combine cherry preserves, ketchup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and crushed red pepper flakes in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
06 - Transfer the baked meatballs to a large bowl, pour the hot cherry glaze over them, and toss gently to coat evenly.
07 - Serve the glazed meatballs warm, optionally with cocktail picks for easy serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Budget-friendly ground beef recipe
  • Tangy and sweet cherry glaze
02 -
  • Substitute cherry preserves with grape jelly for a different twist
  • For a lighter version, use ground turkey instead of beef
03 -
  • Do not overwork the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender
  • Use damp hands when shaping meatballs to prevent sticking
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