Apple Spice Meatballs

Name: Apple Spice Meatballs
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 6 dozen plus leftovers.
Ingredients: 1-1/4 cups panko (Japanese) bread crumbs; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 1 medium sweet red pepper, finely chopped; 1 medium apple, peeled and finely chopped; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 1/2 cup canned pumpkin; 1/2 cup ketchup; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice; 3/4 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1 pound ground beef; 1 pound bulk hot Italian sausage; SAUCE:; 1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce; 1 jar (12 ounces) apple jelly; 3/4 cup ketchup; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

I love this recipe because it is so full of wonderful flavors. A little spicy and a little sweet, these fabulous meatballs score huge at tailgate parties or holiday buffets. —Joyce Conway, Westerville, Ohio

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper, finely chopped
1 medium apple, peeled and finely chopped
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk hot Italian sausage
SAUCE:
1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 jar (12 ounces) apple jelly
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first 12 ingredients. Crumble beef and sausage over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls.
Place meatballs on greased racks in shallow baking pans. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until no longer pink. Drain on paper towels.
Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, combine the sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Gently stir in 6 dozen cooked meatballs and heat through. Save the remaining meatballs for Hungarian Pepper Soup with Romano Crisps or save for another use.

Nutrition Facts

1 meatball: 52 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.

Originally published as Flavors of Fall Spicy Tailgate Meatballs in Taste of Home Christmas Annual 2012

Reviews

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Average Rating:

seanh

Oct 29, 2015

Mintmaid If you don't have something nice to say just put a zipper on the mouth of yours. Have you never read other reviews. Many people make changes to fit their likes but don't insult the creator of the recipe Haven't made it yet but giving 5 stars since it sounds very good, and I like all the ingreds.
Mintmaid

Oct 6, 2013

Made these for a Halloween party, they were terrible. :(