Smoky, tangy, and sweet—these BBQ Meatballs are packed with bursts of flavor. Get ready for a juicy bite!
Whether I’m having friends over for a potluck dinner, watching a football game, or hosting a summer holiday barbecue, there’s one item that always makes the menu. I love to cook up a batch of BBQ meatballs as an appetizer for my guests. To make them even easier to eat, I put each meatball on a toothpick. This recipe is always a crowd-pleaser, which may be why my house is always the place to gather for the Super Bowl. BBQ meatballs are the ultimate game-day snack!
If a cozy family dinner is more your speed, this recipe is perfect for a hearty weeknight meal that adults and kids will love. Instead of the traditional meatballs with red sauce, these BBQ meatballs tap into the perfect harmony of sweet, savory, and smoky. Drizzle some of the tangy sauce over mashed potatoes, and you’ve got a perfect dinner. Be sure to make more meatballs than you need, since meatball subs are a delicious and easy leftover for lunch.
Are These BBQ Meatballs Healthy?
Made with lean ground beef, whole-wheat breadcrumbs, and low-sugar BBQ sauce, this recipe is both hearty and health-conscious. Lean ground beef is high in protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Worcestershire sauce is high in sodium, which may be a consideration for some diets. You can substitute in coconut aminos for a lower-sodium alternative. Since this recipe calls for baking as the cooking method, you’ll be avoiding any added fat from frying. Low-sugar BBQ sauce is often suitable for a keto-friendly diet.
Get Creative With Your Protein
While lean ground beef is the typical meat for meatballs, I encourage you to try different options. Ground turkey and ground chicken are both readily available in grocery stores. Since they’re lean meats, they’re healthy alternatives that will still soak up all of the spices and sauces in this recipe. You could also try the Italian meatball trifecta of ground pork, ground beef, and ground veal.
If you’re following a meatless Monday, you could even try to make BBQ meatballs without meat! Vegan meatballs are probably something you haven’t considered before, but they’re actually pretty delicious. Some of my favorite recipes use beans and nuts as the base. You may be surprised to discover a new favorite.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
BBQ meatballs will last up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also put them in a well-sealed freezer bag where they’ll last for up to 2 months in the freezer. In that case, flash-freeze them on a baking tray first for about one hour. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating them in the oven at 375°F for 10-15 minutes. If they look a little dry, add more BBQ sauce or a drizzle of oil before serving.
Serving Suggestions
If I’m serving BBQ meatballs as an appetizer, I like to create a theme with toothpicks and skewers. For the summer get-togethers, Fruit Kabobs are a particularly fun and colorful addition. You’ll also want to try Devils On Horseback for a sweet and salty snack on a toothpick. Finally, a simple (and sweet) way to use this dish is in Meatball Sliders—it’s a flavorful finger food that the whole family will enjoy.
When you’re craving larger BBQ meatballs for lunch or dinner, here are some great side dish options to consider. For a meat lover’s extravaganza, enjoy them on top of Bacon Mac And Cheese. You’ll also want to save some of that BBQ sauce to enjoy over Healthy Mashed Potatoes or Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup low-sugar BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, smoked paprika, pepper, and salt. Mix until just combined.
- Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake meatballs for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven. Leave the oven on.
- Brush each meatball generously with BBQ sauce and return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, or until cooked through.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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