Juicy Cherry-Glazed Meatballs (Printable)

Baked mini meatballs coated with a flavorful sweet and tangy cherry glaze, perfect 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)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. Mix gently until just combined, avoiding overworking the mixture.
03 - Using damp hands, shape the mixture into 24 small meatballs, approximately one heaping tablespoon each, and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until browned and thoroughly cooked.
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 bring to a simmer, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
06 - Transfer baked meatballs to a large bowl and gently toss with the hot cherry glaze until evenly coated.
07 - Serve warm, optionally with cocktail picks for easy eating.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • One pot meal
  • Freezer friendly
02 -
  • Substitute cherry preserves with grape jelly for a different twist
  • For a lighter version use ground turkey instead of beef
03 -
  • Additionally brushing meatballs with glaze halfway through baking enhances flavor
  • Use fresh garlic instead of minced for a stronger taste
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