Delicious Keto Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs in a Cranberry BBQ Sauce - Gluten-free

Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs tossed in a Cranberry BBQ Sauce – A Holiday twist to a classic party or family dinner favorite, these sweet and spicy cranberry meatballs are always a hit! Whether you prefer your meatballs baked or fried, these low-carb meatballs are perfectly tender. Gluten-free and great for keto diets, too.

Holiday Meatballs

Leaner than beef, these Turkey Meatballs are healthy, packed with flavor, and incredibly moist on the inside. A combination of turkey and cranberries gives these meatballs a Holiday flare while also providing a balance of sweet and spicy flavours.

Not only are these meatballs delicious but they are also good for you. Make a double batch and freeze these meatballs so that you can reheat them and have a delicious low-carb weeknight dinner on the table in no time!

Whether you want to make this AMAZING cranberry BBQ sauce or not, that is completely up to you. But I will say that this easy-to-make sauce is a nice twist to traditional BBQ or Marinara sauce found in most meatball recipes.

Benefits of using ground turkey?

Turkey is like the underrated protein powerhouse.

It packs a nutritional punch by providing a high amount of protein, a low amount of fat, and a number of vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, and niacin, which are essential for the body’s energy production.

Other types of ground meat for meatballs

Not a fan of turkey? You can replace the turkey with beef, chicken, pork, and veal or use a combination of any ground meat.

Since I was making these with the Holidays in mind, ground turkey was my choice. I used lean ground turkey. I would not suggest using extra-lean as the meatballs may turn out slightly dry.

How long do you cook turkey meatballs?

The length of time varies based on the size of the meatball and the cooking method. Just keep in mind turkey is poultry, so cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.

PAN FRIED MEATBALLS OR OVEN BAKED MEATBALLS?

This is a debate that has been going on for years. Although I find that baking the meatballs is easier and requires less "hands-on" time, you will not get the caramelization or browning as when you pan fry. Since I did not want to take the extra time over the stove, I decided to bake the meatballs.

You could also try combining the two methods by baking the meatballs first to help keep their nice round shape and then finish cooking them in a pan for a nice crispy outer crust.

Either method, you will absolutely adore these meatballs!

Keeping meatballs from falling apart

This recipe uses eggs to help bind the meatballs. A general rule of thumb is that for every pound of meat, one egg is the perfect amount. Also, instead of using bread crumbs like most traditional meatball recipes, we are using almond flour. If you want to try to make these nut-free, you can try to replace the almond flour with half the amount using coconut flour.

Perfect looking meatballs

The easiest method is to use a small ice cream scoop. Not only does this give you equal portions, but creates the round shape you’re looking for. If you would like an even more precise measurement, scoop, and place it on your kitchen scale. You are looking for a 1 ½ ounce measurement for each meatball.

Freezing and reheating the meatballs?

If you want to double this recipe or save half for later, you can easily freeze and reheat the meatballs.

To Freeze the Meatballs:

• Scoop, cook, cool, and line the meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet
• Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or until solid
• Transfer to a freezer-safe container, label, date, and keep for up to one month.

To Reheat the Meatballs:

• Place the frozen meatballs on a baking sheet,
• Cover the baking sheet with foil
• Bake in a 300-degree oven for 15 minutes, or until heated through.

If you would like to reheat in your favorite sauce, simply place the meatballs in with the sauce and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, or until heated through.

Sweet and Spicy Sauce

As the meatballs are baking, it is the perfect time to make this incredibly sweet and spicy cranberry sauce.

You can use any keto leftover cranberry sauce or use the leftover cranberry puree from my 3-Ingredient Sugar-Free Cranberry Simple Syrup.

The cranberry puree is combined with sugar-free BBQ sauce, fresh or frozen cranberries, and jarred diced jalapenos for the extra kick.

I add all of the ingredients for the sauce to a large skillet over medium heat on the stovetop and cook the sauce until it has thickened about 10 minutes.

I use jarred diced jalapenos since it makes this recipe uber easy but if you want to use fresh jalapenos, feel free to do so. Also, if you want to omit the jalapenos altogether in the recipe, you can do that as well.

If I’m making these cocktail meatballs to serve for a party, then I’ll add the cooked meatballs to my slow cooker and pour the sauce over them, giving them a gentle stir to make sure they are all well coated in the sauce.

I’ll then set the heat to low (or warm even) on the slow cooker to keep them perfect for serving throughout the party or get-together.

Best Store Bought Sugar-free BBQ sauce

If you don't want to make my Smokey Onion Bacon BBQ Sauce (Whole30, Keto), there are numerous brands of sugar-free BBQ sauce that you can buy at your local grocery store.

Some of my favourite brands are G. Hughes, Sticky Fingers, and Sweet Baby Ray's.

More easy Keto Holiday recipes

• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast and Thick Mushroom Gravy - Keto, Whole30, Paleo
• Keto Creamy Ham Soup - Dairy-Free
• Easy Keto Leftover Ham Casserole Recipe
• Easy Keto Ham in an Air Fryer with a Brown "Sugar" Glaze
• Easy Keto Cranberry Pie Dessert - Perfect for Leftover Cranberries!
• Keto Cranberry Pistachio Muffins
• Keto Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

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