Festive Cocktail Meatballs

Transform your holiday appetizers with these irresistible Festive Cocktail Meatballs, a perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors that will delight your guests! Made with a combination of ground beef and pork, these tender, homemade meatballs are seasoned to perfection with garlic and onion powder, then baked to golden-brown perfection. The star of the show is the glossy, tantalizing glaze—a mouthwatering mix of ketchup, grape jelly, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce—simmered until silky and perfectly balanced. These party-perfect meatballs are easy to prep in under 15 minutes, making them an ideal choice for any gathering. Serve warm from a slow cooker or platter with toothpicks for fuss-free entertaining, and watch them disappear in no time. A must-have addition to your holiday appetizer lineup!

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 1 pound Ground pork
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup Milk
• 1 large Egg
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.5 cup Ketchup
• 0.5 cup Grape jelly
• 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture.

Step 3

Using a small cookie scoop or your hands, form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced slightly apart.

Step 4

Bake the meatballs for 18-20 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through (internal temperature should be at least 160°F/71°C).

Step 5

While the meatballs are baking, prepare the sauce. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the ketchup, grape jelly, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Set over medium heat and stir until the ingredients are fully combined and the mixture is smooth.

Step 6

Simmer the sauce for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

Step 7

Once the meatballs are done baking, transfer them to the saucepan with the sauce. Gently stir to coat the meatballs evenly.

Step 8

Allow the meatballs to simmer in the sauce for an additional 10 minutes, letting the flavors meld together.

Step 9

Transfer the meatballs to a serving dish or a slow cooker set to 'warm' for serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve warm with toothpicks for easy eating.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1392.8 grams (1392.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3186

Total Fat 186.70g	239%
Saturated Fat 70.40g	352%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.00g
Cholesterol 954mg	318%
Sodium 5816mg	253%
Total Carbohydrate 166.00g	60%
Dietary Fiber 4.80g	17%
Total Sugars 88.30g
Protein 213.40g	427%

Vitamin D 81IU	403%
Calcium 356mg	27%
Iron 17mg	94%
Potassium 1691mg	36%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 52.5%

Protein: 26.7%

Carbs: 20.8%