BBQ Meatballs
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The holidays are just around the corner and with them all of the fun and festivities of gathering with family and friends. These sticky and saucy meatballs have always been a family favorite and I know your family will love BBQ Meatballs as well.
Why You’ll Love BBQ Meatballs
- Easy and Effortless Preparation: Creating these BBQ Meatballs is a breeze, making it a perfect choice for both novice and experienced cooks alike.
- Irresistible Sweet and Sticky Sauce: The homemade barbecue sauce adds a sweet and sticky coating to the meatballs, transforming them into flavor-packed delights.
- Versatile Appetizer or Main Course: Whether you’re planning a party or just a cozy dinner, these meatballs can be served as a delightful appetizer or the star of the main course.
- Family-Friendly Crowd-Pleaser: Loved by kids and adults alike, these BBQ Meatballs are a hit at family gatherings, ensuring everyone leaves with smiles and satisfied taste buds.
- Perfect Blend of Savory Goodness: With a mix of ground beef and pork, these meatballs boast a perfect balance of savory flavors that will keep you coming back for more.
Ingredients Needed To Make BBQ Meatballs
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Slices of bread
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Milk
- Eggs
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Olive oil
How To Make BBQ Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prepare a broiling pan.
- Sauté diced onions and bell peppers until translucent.
- Pulse bread slices in a blender to form a fine crumb.
- Mix all ingredients (except BBQ sauce) until combined.
- Portion meatballs onto the broiling pan using a 2″ scoop.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Toss meatballs in homemade BBQ sauce, then bake for an additional 10 minutes until bubbly.
- Enjoy!
Variations & Substitutions
- Feel free to experiment with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter twist.
- Adjust the flavors to your liking. If you like things a little spicier, add a chopped jalapeno to the sauteed onions. You can also add heat to the barbecue sauce with a pinch of cayenne.
- This recipe is completely Dairy Free and Gluten Free. However, you can make this same recipe with regular heavy cream and your favorite type of bread.
- While making your own barbecue sauce takes these BBQ Meatballs to the next level, you can also use your favorite bottled sauce for this recipe.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make these meatballs ahead of time?
Absolutely! Prepare the meatballs in advance, refrigerate, and then toss them in the BBQ sauce just before serving.
Can I freeze the meatballs?
Certainly! Freeze uncooked meatballs on a tray, then transfer to a bag. Thaw before baking and saucing.
How do I ensure the meatballs stay moist?
Adding milk to the mixture keeps the meatballs moist and tender.
Can I use store-bought BBQ sauce?
While homemade is recommended, a good-quality store-bought sauce can be used as a time-saving option.
BBQ Meatballs
Savory meatballs are baked and then tossed in a sweet and sticky homemade barbecue sauce.
Equipment
- 1 Blender/food processor
- 1 broiler pan/baking sheet
- 1 2-inch scoop
Video
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion (finely diced)
- 1 red or green bell pepper (finely diced)
- 3 slices bread
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 pounds ground pork
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 2 eggs
For the Homemade BBQ Sauce:
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
Make the BBQ Sauce:
- Mix all the ingredients together and cook in a small stock pot until sugar dissolves.
Make the Meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a broiling pan with nonstick baking spray and set aside.
- Heat a medium skillet on medium-low heat with the olive oil. Add the onions and bell pepper and sauté until the onion is translucent. Set aside and allow to cool.
- Place the bread slices in a blender or food processor. Pulse until they form a fine sandy crumb.
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl except for the barbecue sauce. Mix until just combined.
- Use a 2-inch scoop to portion out the meatballs onto the prepared broiling pan.
- Bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes.
- Transfer the meatballs to a casserole dish and toss with the barbecue sauce. Return them to the oven for 10 minutes until the sauce is bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Crock Pot Variation
- Mix and form the meatballs exactly the same — same ingredients, same 2-inch scoop size.
Optional but recommended: quickly brown them in a skillet for 2–3 minutes per side just for extra flavor and structure. Don’t cook through — just get color. - Whisk the BBQ sauce separately first. Don’t dump ingredients straight into the pot — it never blends the same.
- Add a thin base layer of sauce to the bottom of the crock pot so nothing sticks or burns.
- Layer meatballs in gently (it’s okay if they stack).
- Pour the rest of the sauce evenly over top. Do NOT stir.
- Cook on:
- LOW for 4–5 hours (best texture — my preferred way)
- or HIGH for 2 1/2 hours if you’re in a rush
- Final 15–20 minutes: crack the lid or tilt it slightly to vent steam so the sauce thickens + gets glossy.
- Gently toss before serving. They’ll be super tender — don’t overmix.
Nutrition
Calories: 646kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 34gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 171mgSodium: 1351mgPotassium: 818mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 897IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 116mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheSaltyCooker or tag #thesaltycooker!
I love meatballs. Any kind and all different ways. But these ones have to be one of my favorites. The best bbq meatballs I’ve ever made. I’ve made them exactly like the recipe, as well as replaced the beef with chicken and the pork with turkey sausage. Both ways turned out great. Oh and using the ice cream scoop hack is a lifesaver. I’m never making meatballs any other way. Thank You The Salty Cooker!!
This looks so delicious and I will definitely try it! The only thing I’d change is to use ritz crackers, instead of bread. I use ritz in my meatloaf, which this is basically the same concept, and it’s a game changer! Try it!! I think you’ll be thankful you did. 😊
What is Liquid smoke Please??
Hello, This is liquid smoke https://amzn.to/4nt7tGC
Thank u, I finally got the recipe! Made them yesterday Friday! Delish. Their like my meatloaf recipe. Got your homemade BBQ sauce too. It’s a keeper.😃
What do you serve them with as a main course?
mashed potatoes, rice, green beans, cornbread.
How are these dairy and
gluten-free with the addition of milk and bread?
Danielle uses dairy free milk and gluten free bread
Has anyone tried these with ground turkey?
You can!