Description
BBQ Meatballs Recipe: Juicy beef meatballs smothered in tangy BBQ sauce for a crowd-pleasing, comfort food dish. Perfect for grilling or baking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454g) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- ½ pound (227g) ground pork
- ½ cup (50g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 small onion, finely minced (about ½ cup/80g)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup (240ml) ketchup
- ¼ cup (60ml) brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the meatball mixture In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk, letting them soak for 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the liquid. Add the egg and beat lightly with a fork. Add ground beef, ground pork, minced onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to the bowl. Mix gently with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Shape the meatballs Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop, portion the meat mixture into 1½-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each). Roll between your palms to form smooth balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. You should get approximately 24 meatballs.
- Brown the meatballs Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the meatballs in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until browned on the outside but not fully cooked through. They’ll finish cooking in the sauce.
- Prepare the BBQ sauce While the meatballs are browning, make the sauce. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine all sauce ingredients and whisk until smooth. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
- Combine and finish cooking Transfer the partially cooked meatballs to the sauce, gently stirring to coat each meatball. Cover and simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes, occasionally stirring carefully to prevent breaking the meatballs. The sauce will thicken and the meatballs will finish cooking through.
- Optional finishing touch For a more caramelized finish, transfer the sauced BBQ meatballs to an oven-safe dish and place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the sauce begins to bubble and caramelize on top.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 280 per serving
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 80mg