Name: Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1/2 pound ground turkey; 1 small beaten egg; 1 small grated onion (1/4 cup); 1/4 cup milk; 1/4 Panko breadcrumbs; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; kosher salt (to taste); course black pepper (to taste); 1/2 cup cranberry sauce; 1/4 cup pineapple juice; 1 to 2 tablespoons light brown sugar; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; kosher salt (to taste); course black pepper (to taste); 1 teaspoon cornstarch; 2 tablespoons water

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Looking for a fun appetizer or a mouthwatering main dish? These tender and moist ground turkey meatballs are smothered in a sweet and sour cranberry sauce that's amazing. Everyone is sure to love!

Three ground turkey meatballs glazed with sauce, each skewered with a toothpick and garnished with a small herb sprig, are presented on a rectangular white plate. A red and white checkered cloth is partially visible.

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I just love recipes that are so versatile they can be enjoyed as a main dish after a busy day or served to guests as an appetizer. These ground turkey meatballs that are covered in this sweet and sour cranberry sauce are going to knock your socks off. They are sweet, juicy and tangy. Both the meatballs and sauce are made from scratch. They definitely have a cozy feel that's perfect during the cooler season.

This ground turkey meatball recipe is made using the air fryer just like these festive fall brie and cranberry puff pastry. The meatballs are done in under 10 minutes. The sweet and sour cranberry sauce is a fun twist on your traditional cranberry sauce. It can be made on the stovetop in 5 minutes. It is so flavorful and with the tender meatballs will melt in your mouth.

These ground turkey meatballs with sweet and sour cranberry sauce are a wonderful way to use up seasonal cranberries this fall as a main dish at home, appetizer for a holiday party or even Thanksgiving. If you like simple appetizers that can be made easily in the air fryer, check out these bacon wrapped little smokies or these smashed potatoes with cheese.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

Ground turkey: 85/15 is used so that the meatballs will not turn out dry.
Egg: Helps bind and keeps the ingredients compact and together.
Onion: A small, grated onion is used to add aromatic flavors along with keeping the meatballs moist.
Milk: Helps bind the meatballs together and adds moisture.
Panko breadcrumbs: Absorbs the juices from the turkey but as the meatballs cook in the air fryer, they trap the moisture to keep the meatballs moist and flavorful.
Soy sauce: Adds a salty and savory umami flavoring to the meatballs.
Olive oil: Adds moisture and a little bit of fat to keep meatballs from becoming dry.
Garlic powder: Fragrant seasonings for the meatballs.
Salt and Pepper: To taste.

For the cranberry sauce:

Cranberry sauce: Use your favorite homemade sauce or one from a can for ease and convenience. We will add in the ingredients below to make it sweet and sour.
Pineapple juice: Enhances the sweet tart flavors of the cranberries.
Light brown sugar: The hints of molasses flavor give a rich taste to the sauce.
Rice vinegar: Adds a touch of acidity and tang to the sauce.
Salt + Pepper: To taste.
For the slurry:Cornstarch + Water: This combination will create a slurry to thicken the cranberry sauce. Adjust as needed.

Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.

Instructions

I start by preheating the air fryer to 370°F and setting the timer to 10 minutes. Then, I gather up the ingredients to make the delicious meatballs and cranberry sauce and follow these steps.

A white plate with raw ground meat, chopped onions, pepper, and seasoning powder.

Place ground turkey in a bowl and season with salt, course black pepper, garlic powder, soy sauce, and oil. Add in onion and egg. Lightly mix.

A bowl containing a mixture of ground meat with a fork sticking out of it.

In another small bowl, mix milk and breadcrumbs until the mixture resembles a paste. Add to ground meat mixture and combine well. Let stand for at least 15 minutes.

Nine raw meatballs placed on an air fryer tray pan ready for cooking.

Spoon mixture with a small ice cream scoop to make 8 meatballs and place on air fryer tray.

Nine meatballs on an air fryer tray, with a red and white checkered cloth partially visible in the background.

Air Fry turkey meatballs for 10 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165F. Gently flip halfway through. Set aside.

A black ladle dipping into a light yellow liquid in a white frying pan with a red and white checkered cloth in the background.

In a small pan, pour pineapple juice, rice vinegar, and stir in light brown sugar.

A saucepan with a yellowish liquid and a dollop of red sauce, placed on a white surface near a red and white checkered cloth.

Once light brown sugar has been dissolved, stir in cranberry sauce and sprinkle black pepper. Bring the cranberry sauce to a gentle simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.

A frying pan with seven ground turkey meatballs simmering in a red sauce, placed beside a red and white checkered cloth. A black spoon rests in the pan.

Add in ground turkey meatballs and continue to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.

A white skillet contains eight ground turkey meatballs covered in a red sauce. A red and white checkered cloth is partially visible on the left side. Plates and a fork are in the background.

Thicken with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch slurry. Mix well. Add more slurry as needed.

Before serving, roll the meatballs in the sauce one last time to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

Hint: To further enhance the flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a hint of heat or some grated fresh ginger for a bit of zing.

Variations

Here are a few variations to customize these turkey meatballs.

Use homemade panko breadcrumbs. They are so easy to make and come together in 10 minutes. It is so nice to have additional on hand for recipes like these panko pork chops or these panko shrimp later in the week.
Use different meat. Ground chicken, beef or pork can be used instead of ground turkey.
Add fresh herbs. Adding freshly chopped herbs such as rosemary, thyme or sage to the meatballs will add additional flavors.
Add some spice. Add in red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chili pepper or diced jalapeno peppers to the meatballs or even the sauce to add some kick to the taste.
Change the flavor of the sauce. Instead of pineapple juice, use cranberry, apple or orange juice to change up the flavor profile of the cranberry sauce.
Make in the slow cooker. Mix up the meatballs and brown them in a skillet. Place in the slow cooker with the sweet and sour cranberry sauce on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

Three glazed ground turkey meatballs topped with cranberries are arranged on a white plate. A red and white checkered cloth is partially visible in the background.

Tips

Top tip: Use 85/15 ground turkey. This will ensure the meat is not too dry. If you use a leaner amount such as 93/7, you run the risk of the meatballs not being moist enough.

Do not overmix the ground turkey mixture. As you are preparing the meatballs, try not to overmix or handle the meatballs too much or they might become tough.
Scoop meatballs with an ice cream scoop. This helps make sure each meatball is the same size. They will cook in the air fryer evenly.
Watch your air fryer. For this recipe, an Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven is used. Not all air fryers cook the same way so keep a watch on the meatballs the first time making them.
Flip meatballs halfway through baking. For 8 meatballs, you will cook for 8 minutes so flip at 4 minutes. If making additional, flip at the half way point.
Check for doneness. The meatballs will be done when the exterior is browned, and they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. This can be checked with a meat thermometer.
Simmer cranberry sauce. Let cranberry sauce simmer for 4-5 minutes never letting it boil or getting too hot.
Adjust slurry as needed. Adjust the amount of water to cornstarch when adding in slurry. Make any necessary adjustments so that the sauce is to your likeness. Add more water to thin it out. Add more cornstarch to thicken sauce up.
Roll meatballs in sauce. Before serving, roll meatballs in the sweet and sour cranberry sauce covering all areas of the meatballs evenly.

Three glazed meatballs on skewers, garnished with herbs and a cranberry on top, presented on a white rectangular plate. A red-and-white checkered cloth and parsley are blurred in the background.

Serving suggestions

These decadent ground turkey meatballs are perfect for a party or as a potluck dish. They would make a great appetizer alongside these pumpkin deviled eggs this fall.

In addition to the fall, this ground turkey meatball recipe is an excellent appetizer for Thanksgiving. They go great with many of the side dishes that you might enjoy such as this sweet potato casserole and this delicious green bean casserole. Since they cook up really quick in the air fryer, you don't have to worry about spending time on appetizers and can focus on the main course.

As a main dish any time of year, these meatballs pair so well with many side dishes like rice, mashed potatoes or even cauliflower rice if you are keeping things low carb. They are also great with a side of vegetables such as this ratatouille or these maple glazed carrots.

Storage

Place any leftover meatballs and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

For freezing, place meatballs and any additional sauce in separate freezer safe containers or bags for up to 2 months. To reheat, place in refrigerator overnight to thaw then warm meatballs in the air fryer or stovetop until they have reached desired temperature. Place sauce in pan on the stovetop and heat until warmed through.