Cherry Glazed Juicy Meatballs (Printable)

Savory baked meatballs coated with a tangy cherry glaze, perfect for gatherings and easy entertaining.

# What You Need:

→ Meatballs

01 - 1 lb 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)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano in a large bowl. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - With damp hands, form mixture into 24 small meatballs, roughly one heaping tablespoon each, placing them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake meatballs 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 crushed red pepper flakes in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
06 - Transfer warm meatballs to a large bowl and pour the hot cherry glaze over them. Toss gently to coat evenly.
07 - Serve meatballs warm, optionally with cocktail picks for easy serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Budget-friendly ground beef makes this dish affordable
  • Sweet and tangy cherry glaze adds unique flavor
02 -
  • Cherry preserves can be substituted with grape jelly for a different twist
  • Using ground turkey instead of beef makes it lighter
03 -
  • Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender
  • Simmer the glaze gently to avoid burning and to develop smooth texture
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