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Best Bite-Size BBQ Meatballs: Easy Game Day Appetizer

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These bite-size football meatballs with BBQ glaze are quick, easy, and perfect for game day. Made with simple ingredients, they stay tender and moist with a sticky-sweet caramelized exterior that disappears from the platter before halftime.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
  • Chopped fresh parsley or chives (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let them sit for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the ground beef, beaten egg, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce to the bowl. Use your hands to gently mix everything together until just combined (about 30 seconds).
  4. Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Gently shape it into an oval, tapering the ends slightly to look like a tiny football. Place each shaped meatball on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about an inch of space between them. You should get about 20-24 meatballs.
  5. Bake the meatballs for 12 minutes.
  6. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush each meatball generously with BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes.
  7. Brush on a second layer of BBQ sauce. Bake for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and caramelized around the edges.
  8. Let the meatballs rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or chives if desired.

Notes

Don’t overmix the meat to keep meatballs tender. Double-glaze for a sticky-sweet crust. Let meatballs rest after baking to set the glaze. For a different cooking method, brown in a skillet and cook in a slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: BBQ meatballs, football meatballs, game day appetizer, bite-size meatballs, easy meatballs

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/best-bite-size-bbq-meatballs-easy-game-day-appetizer/