Christmas Meatballs

Christmas Meatballs

in the microwave

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 12m
Cook Time: 14m
Total Time: 26m
Servings: 30
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (12 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For meatballs:

For sauce:

Nutritional Information

71
calories
2g
fat
9g
carbohydrates
4g
protein
22mg
cholesterol
190mg
sodium
Christmas Meatballs

Recipe Description

My family loves these seasonally-inspired Christmas Meatballs. They are packed with flavor and made super fast in the microwave. A flavorful cranberry sauce nicely coats tender and juicy homemade beef meatballs. You won’t miss the deep-frying! 

These delicious beef meatballs have two secret ingredients for added flavor: an onion soup mix and seasoned bread crumbs. This simple combination of classic spices and dried herbs provides plenty of robust flavor! However, if you don’t have an envelope of onion soup mix on hand, you can easily make your own. Just stir together 1⁄4 cup dried onion flakes, 2 tablespoons low-sodium beef bouillon granules, 1⁄4 teaspoon onion powder, 1⁄4 teaspoon parsley flakes, 1⁄8 teaspoon celery seeds, 1⁄8 teaspoon paprika, and 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper. Use this as a substitute for one envelope of onion soup mix.

To make the Christmas Meatballs, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Christmas Meatballs

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Combine ingredients for meatballs

    1 min
    Step 1 - Christmas Meatballs

    To a large bowl, add 2 large lightly beaten eggs, 1 envelope onion soup mix, ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs, ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries, and 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley and mix to combine.

  2. 2

    Add ground beef

    2 min
    Step 2 - Christmas Meatballs

    Add 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef beef and mix lightly but thoroughly.

  3. 3

    Form meatballs

    5 min
    Step 3 - Christmas Meatballs

    Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.

  4. 4

    Microwave meatballs

    10 min
    Step 4 - Christmas Meatballs

    Place one third of the meatballs on a microwave-safe plate. Cover the meatballs with waxed paper and microwave on high until cooked through, 2-3 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining meatballs.

  5. 5

    Combine sauce ingredients

    1 min
    Step 5 - Christmas Meatballs

    In a 2-quart microwave-safe dish, combine 14 ounces whole-berry cranberry sauce, ¾ cup ketchup, ½ cup beef broth, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion, and 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar and mix to combine.

  6. 6

    Microwave sauce

    4 min
    Step 6 - Christmas Meatballs

    Cover the dish and microwave on high until the sauce is heated through, stirring halfway, about 3 to 4 minutes.

  7. 7

    Add meatballs to sauce

    2 min
    Step 7 - Christmas MeatballsStep 7 - Christmas Meatballs

    Remove and gently stir in the meatballs. Cover and microwave on high until heated through, about 1-2 minutes.

  8. 8

    Serve

    Step 8 - Christmas Meatballs

    Serve warm and enjoy!

These easy and festive Christmas Meatballs are flavorful, tender, and so delicious. They take less than 30 minutes to make but taste like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. Made this recipe? Don't forget to share your culinary creations with us on Instagram by tagging @cookmerecipes. Happy cooking!

About the author

Jeff O'connor

Jeff is a 38-year-old bachelor who prefers not to waste his time on salads and light meals. He’s a true carnivore who knows how to enjoy food to the max! Jeff will tell you how to cook rich and filling meals from scratch, bringing some real meaty decadence to your kitchen. His recipes are sure to satisfy every meat lover!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (12 reviews)
Linda Johnson
April 16, 2025
Verified

Lovely meatballs here!

Kevin Anderson
March 12, 2025
Verified

Christmas meatballs made our festive dinner unforgettable. Easy to prepare, even the kids loved them!

Tina Edwards
December 15, 2024
Verified

Christmas meatballs rock! My kids love helping me make them. We spent a fun afternoon together, and they were gone in minutes at the holiday party. The cranberry sauce adds a twist that everyone raved about. Definitely my new go-to recipe for the season.

Fiona
November 13, 2024
Verified

Super quick meatballs

HappyDad
August 20, 2024
Verified

These meatballs rock! Made 'em for Christmas, and the fam went nuts! Super easy and delish. The cranberry sauce is a game-changer. I never knew simple could taste so awesome! Def gonna make again next year!

Wendy Johnson
May 28, 2024
Verified

Amazing! I made these meatballs for our holiday party, and everyone was raving about them. The cranberry sauce is a game-changer! Perfect for busy moms like me.

Olivier Dupont
April 15, 2024
Verified

Délicieux! Mes enfants adorent les boulettes de viande, surtout avec la sauce aux canneberges.

Romain
April 15, 2024
Verified

Ces boulettes de Noël sont juste géniales. Je les ai faites pour un dîner rapide et mes amis ont adoré. La sauce cranberry ajoute un vrai truc en plus.

Pamela
March 6, 2024
Verified

Superb! My family devoured these meatballs! The cranberry sauce adds a festive touch and they were so quick to make. I whipped them up for our holiday dinner, and the kids couldn't stop raving about them. Definitely a new Christmas tradition in our home. Love it!

Ethan Miller
February 18, 2024
Verified

Simply delicious meatballs!

Quentin Harper
January 1, 2024
Verified

Superb dinner option. My wife and I made these meatballs last Christmas, and they were a hit. The kids couldn't get enough of the cranberry sauce. Definately making them again.

Athina
December 14, 2023
Verified

Easy and festive meatballs for our holiday table!

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