A fresh take on (tired) meatball appetizer: Cranberry chipotle meatballs

Meatballs are a great holiday entertaining food. They are homey, well-loved and easy to do ahead of time.

But let’s face it, they’ve been done. They’ve been done with grape jelly and ketchup. They’ve been done with beer and barbecue sauce. And they’ve been done with creamy gravies.

So how about something a little different? Something that adds some zing to the appetizer offerings. This recipe has all that, plus a do-ahead sensibility.

We’ve given directions for making the meatballs on the stove, but if you prefer you can transfer them to a slow cooker to keep them warm for your party. You also can keep them warm in a Dutch oven over a stovetop burner set on low.

Cranberry Chipotle Meatballs

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Meatballs

15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil

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2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium yellow onion, diced

500 g (1 lb) lean ground beef

500 g (1 lb) lean ground pork

10 ml (2 tsp) salt

2 ml (1/2 tsp) ground black pepper

1 chipotle pepper (in adobo sauce), minced

15 ml (1 tbsp) adobo sauce (from canned chipotles in adobo)

15 ml (1 tbsp) red wine vinegar

2 eggs

175 ml (3/4 cup) panko breadcrumbs

Sauce

1 can (454 g/16 oz) cranberry sauce

1 can (340 ml/12 oz) chili sauce

45 ml (3 tbsp) adobo sauce (from canned chipotles in adobo)

Heat oven to 220 C (425 F). Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a medium skillet over medium-high, heat olive oil. Add garlic and onion and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, mix together cooked onion mixture, beef, pork, salt, black pepper, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, vinegar, eggs and breadcrumbs. Form mixture into 2.5-cm (1-inch) balls. Arrange balls on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until cooked through and browned.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce and adobo sauce. Bring to a simmer.

When meatballs are done, transfer to a shallow bowl or rimmed platter. Pour sauce over meatballs.

Makes 50 meatballs.

Nutrition information per meatball (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 60 calories; 25 calories from fat (38 per cent of total calories); 3 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 20 mg cholesterol; 6 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 0 g fibre; 280 mg sodium.