Slightly sweet and tart cranberries are perfect in both sweet and savory dishes. This unique recipe is a little bit of both. These meatballs are moist, flavorful, and covered in a vibrant cranberry based barbecue sauce. I typically serve them as an appetizer, but feel free to add a hearty side, like mashed potatoes, and make them into a full meal.
![Moist meatballs covered in cranberry barbecue sauce.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/90e6b373-21ab-4398-9f8f-b362456f2da1.jpg)
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Things You'll Need
1 pound ground beef
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 large egg
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup lukewarm water
1/3 cup cranberry sauce
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
![Moist meatballs covered in cranberry barbecue sauce.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/abda1f94-0df6-4df6-a396-b16f4ec6628d.jpg)
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, garlic, egg, cheese, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and panko. Slowly add the water, a few tablespoons at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold its shape when rolled into meatballs.
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![Combine the beef, garlic, egg, cheese, herbs, and bread crumbs.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/99da2631-7564-4fa3-b66d-707c9784efc8.jpg)
![Combined meat mixture.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/28c7cd2b-4a5f-499b-ae22-7e4eea8251b0.jpg)
Step 2
Scoop two tablespoons of meat into your palm and roll them into a firm ball, place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all meat.
![Roll meatballs into 2 tablespoon sized balls.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/5c99d462-a548-412d-9d08-77b334fbae0a.jpg)
Step 3
Bake meatballs for 20 to 22 minutes, or until they're cooked through.
While the meatballs bake, make your cranberry barbecue sauce. Add cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce to a small saucepan over medium-heat. Cook, whisking frequently, until cranberry sauce has completely dissolved into the barbecue sauce -- about 5 minutes.
When the meatballs are done cooking, add them to the sauce and stir to coat.
![Meatballs get added to cranberry barbecue sauce.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/6aefe62a-636c-4b88-9007-d86ae95a82c5.jpg)
Step 4
Serve warm and enjoy!
![Serve cranberry meatballs warm.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/bb9dfbb9-fb22-4711-84fd-4b18c66d1c25.jpg)
Tip
Enjoy this easy mozzarella-stuffed meatballs recipe all year round.