Holiday Chicken Cranberry Meatball Bites
The perfect party appetizer! These tender; herb-infused chicken meatball bites bring together all the cozy flavors of the holidays. They’re the perfect holiday appetizer for staying full and still enjoying the flavors the season brings.
Ingredients (Makes ~20–24 meatballs)
Meatballs
- 1 lb. ground chicken (breast preferred for leanest option)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp finely minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1–2 tbsp almond flour (optional but recommended for structure)
Low-Sugar Cranberry Glaze
- ½ cup whole cranberry sauce (no-sugar-added preferred)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- Optional: 1–2 tsp honey or monk fruit sweetener, depending on desired sweetness
How to Make It
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, onion, garlic, parsley, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, and almond flour.
- Roll into 1–1.5-inch meatballs and place evenly spaced on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
- While the meatballs bake, warm the cranberry glaze ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat for 3–4 minutes, until smooth and glossy.
- Toss warm meatballs in the glaze or drizzle lightly over the top.
- Serve with toothpicks. Garnish with fresh rosemary or pomegranate arils for a festive presentation.
Nutrition Facts (Per 4–5 meatballs, depending on size)
- Calories: ~155
- Protein: 24g
- Total Carbohydrates: 6g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 3–4g (mostly from cranberry)
- Total Fat: 4–5g
- Saturated Fat: <1g
- Net Carbs: ~5g
Ground chicken makes these lighter and slightly higher in protein than the turkey version.
