Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry-Orange BBQ Sauce

Over the holidays I discovered this recipe and made it a few times for my family and friends. I didn't quite follow the recipe though because I bought these Blue Menu Chicken Meatballs for a little shortcut. 

Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry-Orange BBQ Sauce (adapted from www.vancouversun.com)

Meatballs:

1 1/2 pounds (680 g) ground turkey or chicken

½ cup (125 mL) unseasoned dry bread crumbs

1/3 cup (80 mL) finely minced or grated onions

¼ cup (60 mL) chopped fresh parsley

1 egg

½ teaspoon (2 mL) each garlic powder and dried marjoram

¼ teaspoon (1 mL) each salt and freshly ground black pepper

Sauce:

1 can (19 ounce/540 mL) jellied cranberry sauce

¼ cup (60 mL) hickory or chipotle barbecue sauce (smoky)

2 tablespoons (30 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon (5 mL) reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon (5 mL) grated orange zest

In a large bowl, mix together ground turkey, bread crumbs, onions, parsley, egg, garlic powder, marjoram, salt and pepper (using your hands works best). Form mixture into bite-sized meatballs, about 1 to 1½ inches (2-3 cm) in diameter. You should end up with about 45 meatballs.

Place meatballs on a baking sheet that has been lightly coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400 F for 12 to 15 minutes or until cooked through. Stir meatballs once, halfway through cooking time, to brown sides. Remove from oven and transfer to a large pot.

If you are using the frozen meatballs cook them in the oven using directions.

In a small saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, lemon juice, soy sauce and orange zest. Cook over medium heat until cranberry sauce is melted and mixture is bubbly, about 5 minutes.

Put meatballs in saucepan until meatballs are coated with sauce. Cover and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes 45 meatballs or 60 if you use the frozen chicken meatballs 

Nutritional Information using 8 Blue Menu Chicken Meatballs:

300 calories
33g carbs
10g fat
16g fat
3g fibre
23g sugar