Skillet Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
This easy one-pan cast iron skillet meal features homemade beef meatballs tossed in a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce. It's perfect for casual dinners, potlucks, and camping.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 pound (454 g) lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce divided
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ cups cranberry sauce (1 can)
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the panko and milk. Soak for 5 minutes.
- Add the beef, egg, 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and onion powder to the panko and mix well to combine.
- Gently shape the beef mixture into 1½-inch meatballs. You should get about 24 meatballs.
- In a measuring jug or medium bowl, stir the cranberry sauce, water, hot sauce, and remaining 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce together. The sauce will be lumpy; that's ok. It will become smooth as it cooks.
- Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Add the meatballs in a single layer and brown all over, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently, stirring and turning the meatballs occasionally, until the sauce is smooth and the meatballs have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) on an instant read thermometer, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Get ahead--Roll and freeze the meatballs for up to 3 months before cooking. Mix the sauce together up to 4 days before cooking.
- Be gentle--Roll your meatballs firmly enough that they stick together but don't pack them tightly as this may cause them to become tough.
- Thinning the sauce--If your sauce thickens too much before the meatballs are cooked through, stir in ¼ cup of water to thin the sauce.
- Storage and reheating--Store leftover meatballs and sauce in a sealed container in your fridge or cooler for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium low heat until warmed through.
Nutrition
Serving: 6 meatballsCalories: 329kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 26gFat: 19gCholesterol: 130mgSugar: 9g
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