Meaty Wild Rice Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce

Name: Meaty Wild Rice Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 20 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 10 servings.
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

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Cook: 1-1/4 hours YIELD: 10 servings.

We celebrate Indigenous People's Day in October. Native Americans in Minnesota have been harvesting wild rice for several hundred years. To honor them, I make these wild rice meatballs. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota

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.

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.