• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Mail

My Kitchen Love

making everyday family meals extraordinary

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes by Course
    • Appetizer
    • Breakfast
    • Cocktails
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Lunch
    • Side Dish
    • Snacks
  • eBooks
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Start Here
    • Contact
    • Privacy & Disclosure

Home » Appetizer » Mini Turkey Meatball recipe with Easy Cranberry Dip

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for details.

Mini Turkey Meatball recipe with Easy Cranberry Dip

November 27, 2017 by Samantha
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. A quick and flavourful turkey meatball recipe. via @mykitchenloveMini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. A quick and flavourful turkey meatball recipe. via @mykitchenlove

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. A quick and flavourful turkey meatball recipe. 

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. #appetizer #freezerfriendly #meatballs

It’s holiday party time!!! Woohoo! We host a holiday party every year and while I do try not to stress about it and serve bagels with all the fixings, last year we completely ran out of food. Embarrassing for a food blogger.

I’ve made the resolution to have ample food that I can make ahead and either reheat or quickly deal with the day of our party. Enter sage filled Mini Turkey Meatballs with a super Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip. It’s like Christmas in every bite!

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. #appetizer #freezerfriendly #meatballs

Make ahead and freezer-friendly appetizers seem to be an elusive bunch. Desserts? Super easy. Cake and cupcakes freeze so well and that desserts get made first around here and then I’m left scrambling for tasty and appropriately seasonal bites to share.

I’m thinking these easy Manchego, Ham and Olive Bites should happen again, but truthfully I was at a loss for a longtime trying to find a recipe that I could park in the freezer for a few weeks before our event. I came up with this Mini Turkey Meatball recipe so everyone can reap the rewards. 

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. #appetizer #freezerfriendly #meatballs

There was the epic gougères fail. I have no idea why I kept trying to make a temperamental recipe work when I don’t have the time. I needed a reality check bad and thankfully found one fairly quickly that lead me down this mini meatball train. Plus, how many moms have time for a temperamental recipe?

I also tried to make a turkey meatball with a cranberry in it, wrapped in a sage leaf, but it ended up looking like an ugly snail (I know, how could I make snails uglier than normal, right? Somehow I did).

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. #appetizer #freezerfriendly #meatballs

I’m going to try to make and freeze some Potstickers as well. Have you tried this? Let me know if you have a recipe that you turn to.

I may try this potsticker recipe as the whole hoisin and cabbage scene is right up our alley – my kids love that combo. And since our party is kid-friendly I need lots of age appropriate food.

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. #appetizer #freezerfriendly #meatballs

These Mini Turkey Meatball recipe would be amazing in some tomato sauce on top of pasta.

The sage and garlic are a really nice flavour to stand alone, but if you make a double batch of these, part of it could go to dinner one night and the rest to party planning.

5 from 4 votes
Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Sauce Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. #appetizer #freezerfriendly #meatballs
Print
Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Dip
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Dip is a great (freezer-friendly!!) make ahead party appetizer. 

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: meatball recipe, turkey meatball, turkey recipe
Servings: 35 mini meatballs
Calories: 44 kcal
Author: Samantha
Ingredients
Mini Meatballs:
  • 1.5 lbs (681 gr) ground turkey meat thigh preferred
  • 14 gr (approx. 8 large leaves) sage leaves finely chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 clove garlic minced or finely grated
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
Cranberry Dip:
  • 340 gr cranberries frozen or fresh
  • 1 zest and juice medium navel orange
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Mini Meatballs:
  1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a baking tray with non-stick paper. 

  2. In a medium bowl crack egg and lightly beat. Mix with sage, garlic, pepper, and salt until well combined. Add turkey and mix until combined.

  3. Using a tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop a level amount of turkey mixture and roll into a small ball. Place on baking tray, spaced about 1/2-1″ apart from other meatballs. Repeat until all turkey mixture is gone (makes 30-40 mini meatballs depending upon how you large roll them).

  4. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until turkey meat is cooked through (needs to hit an internal temperature of 165° F) and meatballs are starting to brown. 

Cranberry Dip:
  1. Meanwhile, please cranberries, orange zest and juice, maple syrup, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a low. Cook at a simmer for 10-15 minutes or until cranberries start to breakup. 

  2. Remove from heat and mash with a potato masher (or blend in a blender for a smoother texture). 

  3. Place in a bowl and serve alongside mini meatballs. 

Recipe Notes

Meatballs and sauce can be frozen up to 1 month before serving.

To serve: defrost meatballs and sauce overnight in refrigerator. Reheat meatballs in oven at 325° F for 10 minutes.

Serve sauce cold or simply reheat in a saucepan if desired. 

Nutrition Facts
Mini Turkey Meatballs with Easy Cranberry Dip
Amount Per Serving
Calories 44 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 83mg4%
Potassium 59mg2%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 28IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Enjoy! xo

Share This!

Pin
Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Share
Email
594Shares

You May Also Like

  • Rosemary Roast Turkey Recipe
    Rosemary Roast Turkey Recipe
  • Easy Breakfast Tacos Recipe
    Easy Breakfast Tacos Recipe
  • Easy Breakfast Skillet Recipe
    Easy Breakfast Skillet Recipe
  • Easy Side Salad Recipe (Kid-Approved!)
    Easy Side Salad Recipe (Kid-Approved!)
  • Colcannon Recipe (Irish Potato Recipe with Cabbage)
    Colcannon Recipe (Irish Potato Recipe with Cabbage)
  • 80 Easy Grilling Recipes For Summer
    80 Easy Grilling Recipes For Summer
Category: Appetizer

About Samantha

Mom of twins, a singleton, and wife to a hungry husband. The food demands that surround me, have pushed me to lead our food life more simply, nutritiously, and deliciously. It’s a good day when family, friends, and food intersect.

Previous Post:Easy Bourbon Eggnog takes the classic eggnog cocktail and adds the right level of spice and warmth. Top with nutmeg and cinnamon for an indulgent and festive cocktail! #eggnog #cocktailEasy Bourbon Eggnog
Next Post:Meyer Lemon and Rosemary Tom CollinsMeyer Lemon and Rosemary Tom Collins is a refreshing seasonal recipe that has a hint of rosemary and the bright taste of Meyer Lemon.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karly

    November 27, 2017 at 3:29 pm

    These are everything. May just need to make them all year round- that’s how gosh darn delicious they look! Can’t wait to try!

    Reply
    • Samantha

      November 29, 2017 at 6:38 pm

      Thanks! The meatballs are sure to be on the menu all year round. THey’re a classic and delicious in tomato sauce or even in a sandwich!

      Reply
  2. Amanda

    December 5, 2017 at 10:31 am

    5 stars
    These are so easy to make! I’ll have to make a batch to keep in my freezer. Then when a party comes up, I can just pull them out! I’m glad you used sage.

    Reply
    • Samantha

      December 5, 2017 at 6:54 pm

      Sage is tasty with turkey isn’t? Plus, it gives it that extra special holiday vibe.

      Reply
  3. Patricia

    September 21, 2019 at 8:18 am

    Hi the store I shop at does not carry sage leaves but they do have basil leaves would that work? If not could I use dried sage thank you

    Reply
    • Samantha

      September 23, 2019 at 8:32 am

      Hi! I would cut the amount in half and use dried sage. Basil would be fine if that’s the only option, but it doesn’t go quite as well with turkey as sage day.

      Reply
  4. John

    December 23, 2020 at 6:35 pm

    Hi, how big should these meatballs be? How many does this recipe yield?

    Reply
    • Samantha

      December 23, 2020 at 8:30 pm

      Hi there! In the recipe it notes that the meatballs are a levelled tablespoon so they are mini in size, if you prefer a larger meatball, definitely make them double the size. It also says “30-40 meatballs depending on how big you roll them”. Hope that helps.

      Reply
  5. Sarah James

    December 2, 2022 at 8:36 am

    5 stars
    Your mini meatballs sound delicious, sage is my favourite herb with turkey. Making a batch up for the freezer is a great idea and perfect for last minute get togethers.

    Reply
    • Samantha

      December 13, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      Sage and turkey are meant to be!!

      Reply
  6. Jamie

    December 2, 2022 at 11:48 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome! This turkey meatball looks incredibly delicious and yummy! Love the crispiness on the outside and the juiciness on the inside! Plus the addition of the cranberry dips adds more flavor and taste!

    Reply
    • Samantha

      December 13, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      Yum, yum, yum!

      Reply
  7. Amy Liu Dong

    December 3, 2022 at 9:26 am

    5 stars
    Such an awesome meatball recipe that looks incredibly delicious and yummy! The crispiness of the texture just makes this an enticing and tempting dish to offer! Plus the cranberry dip adds more flavor to it!

    Reply
    • Samantha

      December 13, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      The meatball / dip combo is a festive touch!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Hi, I’m Samantha!

Thanks for coming by! I'm a mom with 3 young daughters, a wife, and a foodie trying to keep my head above water with simple, delicious, and nutritious food. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I'd love to hear from you! Read More…

Follow My Kitchen Love

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Top Posts

  • How-to-bake-Lamb-Chops-Ready-to-Serve How to Bake Lamb Chops
  • White wine spritzer in a tall wine glass with lemon rind in it. Easy White Wine Spritzer
  • Thick deep orange roasted carrot soup in a white bowl with a big dollop of greek yogurt and an angled sprinkle of za'taar Roasted Carrot Soup Recipe

Subscribe to Newsletters


* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · My Kitchen Love