Easy Barbecue Meatballs Recipe

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Barbecue meatballs are a classic comfort food that never goes out of style. Whether you’re hosting a party, meal prepping for the week, or simply craving something savory, this easy recipe has you covered. With minimal prep and maximum flavor, these meatballs are sure to become a staple in your recipe collection.

Tender, juicy meatballs smothered in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Perfect for parties, game day, or an easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup finely diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

For the Sauce

  • 2 cups barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup grape jelly
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

Making the Meatballs

  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Don’t overmix or the meatballs will become tough.
  3. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs (about golf ball size).

Cooking Method Option 1: Slow Cooker

  1. Place meatballs in the slow cooker.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, grape jelly, Worcestershire sauce, and red pepper flakes.
  3. Pour sauce mixture over the meatballs.
  4. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Cooking Method Option 2: Oven

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Place meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
  4. Meanwhile, combine sauce ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Transfer meatballs to a serving dish and pour the warm sauce over them.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks
  • Serve over rice for a main dish
  • Add to hoagie rolls for meatball sandwiches

Storage

  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days
  • Freeze cooked meatballs with sauce for up to 3 months

Tips

  • For extra flavor, add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the meatball mixture
  • Use a cookie scoop to make uniformly-sized meatballs
  • The sauce can be adjusted to taste – add more jelly for sweetness or more barbecue sauce for tanginess