Mini Meatballs for Christmas: 10 Flavorful Recipes

Editor: Suman Pathak on Feb 12,2025

 

The Christmas period revolves around fun, enjoyment, and, of course, delicious food! If you are trying to find the best holiday party food that is both simple to prepare and adored by everyone, mini-meatballs are the proper answer. Small, savory bite-sized savory appetizers, these can pack a lot of flavor and fit any festive celebration. Regardless of whether you are putting together a large family dinner or a cozy evening with friends, Christmas meatballs are bound to impress.

This blog will cover festive and flavorful easy meatball recipes that are perfect for the holiday season. With recipes ranging from classic Italian-style to creative twists with seasonal ingredients, it's all easy and should be made ahead of time. Let's dig in and make your holiday menu sparkle!

Why Mini Meatballs Are Perfect for Christmas?

Mini meatballs are a fabulous party food addition to any holiday spread. Why is that?

  • Crowd-pleaser: Their small size makes them easily consuming, and their savory flavors are appreciated by just about all.
  • Versatile: They can be on the hors d'oeuvre list, finger food list, or hot entrée list.
  • Make ahead: Most meatball recipes can be prepped ahead of time, saving you time the day of.
  • Customizable: You can play around with different flavors, sauces, and ingredients to suit your likings.

So, which recipes to try?

1. Classic Italian Christmas Meatballs

These meatballs are classic favorites around the holidays-simply ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and Italian herbs all melded in delicious marinara sauce. Feel free to serve these hot with toothpicks as an appetizer, or over pasta for an excellent, filling supper. 

Why It’s Festive: With the sweetness of the tomato sauce and coarseness of the herbs at work, it's a warm, cozy taste for a holiday consideration.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups marinara sauce

Instructions:

  • In a bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
  • Shape into 1-inch meatballs.
  • Brown meatballs in a skillet, then simmer in marinara sauce for 15-20 minutes.
  • Serve warm with toothpicks or over pasta.

2. Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs

Give your holiday party an extra festive touch with these turkey meatballs with a sweet and tangy cranberry glaze. The combination of savory turkey and tart cranberries is Christmas heaven.

Why It's Festive: Cranberries are a classic holiday ingredient, while their bright red color adds a festive touch to your table.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce

Instructions:

  • Mix ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, and onion powder. Shape into meatballs.
  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
  • In a saucepan, combine cranberry sauce and soy sauce. Simmer until thickened.
  • Toss meatballs in the glaze and serve.

3. Swedish Meatballs with Creamy Gravy

Tender meatballs made with a combination of minced beef and pork, seasoned with nutmeg and allspice, accompanied by smooth gravy. They are a warm and tasty inclusion to the holiday entertainment.

What Makes It Festive: The warm spices and cream sauce make these meatballs inherently festive for the season.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

  • Mix beef, pork, breadcrumbs, egg, nutmeg, and allspice. Shape into meatballs.
  • Brown meatballs in a skillet, then remove.
  • In the same skillet, add beef broth and heavy cream. Simmer until thickened.
  • Return meatballs to the skillet and coat in the gravy.
A bowl of delicious honey garlic meatballs with steamed rice.

4. Honey Garlic Pork Meatballs

These pork meatballs are sweet, sticky, and savory, dressed in a delectable honey garlic sauce, and they are simple to prepare - just what you need for a party starter.

Why It’s Festive: A sweet-and-salty crowd-pleaser with a glossy glaze that beckons many people.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions:

  • Mix pork, breadcrumbs, and egg. Shape into meatballs.
  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
  • In a saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, and garlic. Simmer until thickened.
  • Toss meatballs in the glaze and serve.

5. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Add some spice to the holiday table with these zingy buffalo chicken meatballs. Ground chicken blended with other ingredients, such as breadcrumbs and hot sauce, please the spice lovers among us. Combine with blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Why This Is Festive: The spunky flavor profile with its spicy kick makes for must-have excitement in the festive-party food list.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lab ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce
  • 2 tbsp butter

Instructions:

  • Mix chicken, breadcrumbs, and egg. Shape into meatballs.
  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
  • In a saucepan, melt butter and mix with hot sauce.
  • Toss meatballs in the sauce and serve with blue cheese dressing.

6. Cheesy Spinach and Parmesan Meatballs

The meatballs are fully packed with flavors given the additions of spinach, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. The meatballs are baked and can be enjoyed with marinara sauce or all by themselves.

Why It's Festive: The gorgeous green colors from the spinach and cheesy goodness characterize these meatballs as festive and healthy at the same time.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped spinach
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

  • Mix beef, spinach, Parmesan, egg, and garlic powder. Shape into meatballs.
  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
  • Serve with marinara sauce or as-is.

7. BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Meatballs

Elevate your meatballs by wrapping them with bacon and slathering them with smoky BBQ sauce. These are all about that perfect indulgence for holiday parties or on game day.

Why It’s Festive: The smokiness from bacon and BBQ sauce gives an irresistible rich flavor for the celebration.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 10 slices bacon, cut in half
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions:

  • Mix beef, breadcrumbs, and egg. Shape into meatballs.
  • Wrap each meatball with a half-slice of bacon.
  • Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
  • Brush with BBQ sauce and bake for 5 more minutes.

8. Miso-Glazed Asian Meatballs

For a delightful change, these Asian-inspired meatballs combine ground pork, ginger, and garlic, and are glazed with a sweet and savory miso sauce. They would make a welcome addition to your holiday menu.

Why It Is Festive: These meatballs are highlighted by the flavorful miso glaze and fragrant spices.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp miso paste
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce

Instructions:

  • Mix pork, breadcrumbs, and egg. Shape into meatballs.
  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
  • In a saucepan, combine miso, honey, and soy sauce. Simmer until thickened.
  • Toss meatballs in the glaze and serve.

9. Cheesy Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatballs

With melty mozzarella filling, gooey, cheesy meatballs will astound your guests. Baked until golden brown and served with improved marinara sauce for dipping.

Festive Factor: It has a cheesy, melted center to put a fun, extravagant spin on something that is bound to be popular around the table. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

  • Mix beef, breadcrumbs, and egg. Shape into meatballs, stuffing each with a cube of mozzarella.
  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
  • Serve with marinara sauce.

10. Herb and Garlic Lamb Meatballs

For a more elegant touch, spices lamb meatballs with fresh herbs and garlic. They're perfect for a holiday party or as part of a festive meat dish platter.

Why It's Festive: The sumptuous flavor of lamb mixed with fragrant herbs gives these meatballs a sense of luxury and celebration.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground lamb
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp chopped rosemary

Instructions:

  • Mix lamb, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, and rosemary. Shape into meatballs.
  • Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
  • Serve with a yogurt dipping sauce.

Some tips to prepare mouth-watering meatballs on Christmas

Let’s see some tips to prepare meatballs for Christmas:

  • Use a Mixture of Meats: The mixture of beef, pork, and/or turkey can add flavor and moisture to your meatballs.
  • Don't Overmix: Overmixing the meat can create tough meatballs. You are simply wanting to mix until it's all well blended, without big dry lumps remaining.
  • Uniformity: Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to shape your meat balls so they will all cook evenly.
  • Made in Advance: Most meat ball recipes can be made ahead and then refrigerated or frozen until needed.
  • Sauce Trial: Have fun trying different sauces such as cranberry glaze, BBQ, or creamy gravy. 

Conclusion

These are tasty small meat balls recipes and are the ideally best for holiday parties; they are easy to prepare, useful, and accessible for everyone. Whether you opt for the traditional ones or dare to try some new versions, these delicious appetizers are sure to enchant the Christmas celebrations. With these 10 delicious recipes in hand, you will have no shortage of options to impress your guests and yield an unforgettable holiday menu.

Prepare your workspace by rolling up your sleeves and collecting all necessary ingredients for these festive meat dishes, as you are about to create flavorful Christmas meatballs. Wishing you enjoyable cooking experiences and wonderful holiday celebrations!


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