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Close-up of a mouth-watering bean and meatball stew garnished with fresh herbs.
Stovetop~50 minComplexity

Cocktail Meatballs

These Cocktail Meatballs deliver 3g protein and 51 calories per serving — a low-calorie, high-volume appetizer that works as a pre-workout or social food. Yields 70 servings from a single batch, making them ideal for prepping snacks throughout the month. Use them to add protein-dense bites without significantly impacting your daily calorie budget.

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Ingredients

70 servings
  • 93/7 Ground Beef(907g)
  • Egg, Whole, Large
  • Ketchup(60g)
  • Worcestershire Sauce(15g)

    Lea & Perrins is the standard. A little goes a long way.

  • Bread Crumbs, Dry, Plain(240g)
  • Yellow Onion(80g)
  • Cranberry Sauce, Whole Berry, Canned(454g)
  • Chili Sauce, Heinz Style(340g)
  • Brown sugar(30g)
  • Vinegar, White(10g)

Instructions

  1. 1Combine the ground beef, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs, and diced onion in a large bowl. Mix gently with your hands until just combined—do not overmix.
  2. 2Roll the mixture into 70 small meatballs (about 1½ tablespoon each) and arrange them on parchment-lined baking sheets as you go.
  3. 3Bake the meatballs at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, turning the sheets halfway through, until the meatballs are lightly browned and an internal thermometer reads 160°F.
  4. 4While the meatballs bake, combine the cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and white vinegar in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves and the sauce is smooth, about 3–4 minutes.
  5. 5Transfer the finished meatballs to the skillet with the sauce and stir gently to coat.
  6. 6Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the meatballs are heated through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
  7. 7Divide the meatballs and sauce evenly into 7 airtight containers (10 meatballs per container) while hot, leaving ¼ inch of headspace.
  8. 8Cool to room temperature before sealing and refrigerating for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition — Per Serving

51

calories

3g

protein

1g

fat

Carbohydrates
7g
Saturated fat
0.4g
Sodium
110 mg
Dietary fiber
0.4g

70 servings per batch · ~31g each

Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central

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Common questions

How much protein do Cocktail Meatballs have per serving?

Each meatball contains only 3g of protein and 51 calories with 1g fat and 7g carbs, making these an appetizer or snack rather than a protein-focused meal component.

How long does it take to make Cocktail Meatballs?

This recipe has quick prep time and makes 70 servings at once, providing significant batch-cooking efficiency for parties or week-long snacking portions.

Are Cocktail Meatballs good for fat loss?

At 51 calories and 3g protein per meatball, these work as low-calorie appetizers during fat loss phases but require pairing with other protein sources to meaningfully impact your daily macro targets.

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