Springer Mountain Chicken Meatballs

Festive flavors and the perfect tangy, sweet, and savory bite come together with these easy Springer Mountain Chicken Meatballs with Orange Marmalade. Combining protein-packed ground chicken with an easy sauce everyone will love, these are the appetizers you need for the holiday season.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect appetizer to serve up at your holiday party or even a fun addition to your game-day eats, these glossy chicken meatballs are it. Ground chicken is a beautiful canvas for flavors, like orange chicken meatballs. The lean meat cooks quickly and creates a tender, juicy bite. 

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• How to Make Orange Cranberry Meatballs
• Equipment
• Variations
• Storage
• Top Tips
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Make Ahead - These tender and tangy baked chicken meatballs not only can be prepped a day or two in advance, but they also freeze beautifully. They’re not just great for parties but also a tasty addition to meal prep.
• Minimal Ingredients - There’s nothing complicated about the clean ingredients in this recipe. Aside from the ground chicken you just need a handful of pantry basics like gluten-free panko and olive oil. In addition, the sauce only requires three simple ingredients. 
• Customizable - While the cranberry orange barbecue sauce pairs perfectly with these meatballs, you can use any of your favorite sauces with them. The combination of sage and orange in the meatballs pairs well with many flavors.

Ingredients

• Springer Mountain Farms Ground Chicken - This American Humane Certified ground chicken is low in fat and calories and high in protein. It is free of hormones and antibiotics. Because it is lean it cooks up quickly. 
• Orange Olive Oil - This adds a rich, bright, citrus note to both the meatballs themselves and the sauce. 
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Garlic - You don’t need a lot to add a savory bite to these meatballs. 
• Sage - Woodsy and aromatic sage pairs well with all poultry. 
• Gluten-Free Panko Breadcrumbs - This not only binds the meatballs together but also keeps them tender. 
• Egg
• Cranberry Sauce - Adds a tangy element to the sauce and makes these extra festive.
• Honey Barbecue Sauce - Balances the tang of the cranberry sauce while adding a savory element. 

How to Make Orange Cranberry Meatballs

• Preheat the oven to 400 ℉.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Next, add all of the ingredients to a bowl for the meatballs. Mix them until they’re just combined.
• Use your hands or a small meatball roller to form 1” meatballs. Line them up on the prepared baking sheet ¼”-½” apart.
• Allow the meatballs to bake for ten minutes or until 165 degrees internal.
• Next, make your sauce. Add all of the ingredients to a pan over medium heat. Allow the sauce to come to a boil.
• Place the meatballs into a single layer in the pan and cover it with a lid. Turn the heat to low. Let them simmer for ten minutes, tossing in the sauce occasionally.
• Finally, remove the lid and allow them to simmer until the sauce thickens. You can serve them straight from the pan or with appetizer picks.

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Meatball roller
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Pan with lid
• Appetizer picks

Variations

• Make these a little spicy by adding crushed red pepper or diced jalapenos to the sauce or meatballs.
• Switch up the type of barbecue sauce. A mustard-based sauce or spicy barbecue sauce would be delicious.
• Use your leftover cranberry sauce from the holidays.
• Turn these chicken meatballs into an entree and use them to top off rice. 
• Make sliders out of these meatballs.

Storage

• Once the meatballs have been baked they can be stored unsauced in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.
• After the meatballs have been sauced, keep them stored in the refrigerator. They’ll last 3-4 days.
• You can freeze these meatballs. Allow them to cool completely after baking. Transfer them to freezer-safe bags. They will last up to three months in the freezer.
• To reheat these meatballs add them to the orange cranberry sauce or your favorite sauce. Cook them on low heat until heated through.

Top Tips

• Don’t over-mix the meat. This will keep them tender.
• Try to keep the meatballs a fairly uniform size. This will allow them to cook evenly. That’s why the meatball roller is such a great tool.

FAQ

Can I make these meatballs with regular panko breadcrumbs?

Yes, you can use non-gluten-free breadcrumbs. The measurements will be the same.

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