Meaty Wild Rice Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Cook: 1-1/4 hours

Makes

10 servings

Updated: Jan. 09, 2024
We celebrate Indigenous People's Day in October. Native Americans in Minnesota have been harvesting wild rice for generations. To honor them, I make these wild rice meatballs. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota
Meaty Wild Rice Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 3 tablespoons dried minced onion
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon pepper, divided
  • 2 cups cooked and cooled wild rice
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, pork, eggs, bread crumbs, onion, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cooked rice; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 30 1-1/2-in. balls.
  2. Place meatballs on a greased rack in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until browned, 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce temperature to 350°. Remove pan drippings into an oven-safe skillet.
  3. Add butter to skillet and melt over medium-high heat. Stir in flour and remaining salt and pepper until blended; cook and stir until lightly browned, 1-2 minutes (do not burn). Gradually whisk in broth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Add cranberry sauce, stirring until well combined. Add meatballs to skillet; stir to coat in sauce.
  4. Bake until cooked through, about 45 minutes, stirring halfway.

Freeze Option

<b>Freeze option: </b>Cover and freeze cooled meatball mixture in a greased 9x13-in. baking dish. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Reheat meatballs, covered, until heated through, 10-12 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

3 meatballs with 1/4 cup sauce: 380 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 105mg cholesterol, 710mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein.