Cherry Glazed Mini Meatballs (Printer View)

Tender mini beef balls baked and tossed in a sweet and tangy cherry glaze, ideal for sharing.

# What you'll need:

→ 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)

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano in a large bowl. Mix gently until just combined to avoid toughness.
03 - With damp hands, form mixture into 24 small meatballs, approximately 1 heaping tablespoon each, and arrange evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake in the preheated oven 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 red pepper flakes in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
06 - Transfer baked meatballs to a large bowl. Pour hot cherry glaze over and toss gently to coat thoroughly.
07 - Serve meatballs warm, optionally with cocktail picks.

# Expert Advice:

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