Description
Cocktail meatballs are bite-sized, savory-sweet appetizers made with tender meatballs simmered in a tangy, flavorful sauce. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or game days, they’re easy to make and always a hit.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup grape jelly (or substitute with chili sauce)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Roll into 1-inch meatballs and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes until cooked through. Alternatively, pan-fry until browned and fully cooked.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine ketchup, grape jelly, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar (if using). Stir until smooth and bubbly.
- Add cooked meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve warm in a serving bowl or keep in a slow cooker on the low or warm setting.
Notes
Use frozen pre-cooked meatballs for a shortcut—just simmer in the sauce until heated through.Adjust the sweetness or tanginess of the sauce by varying the jelly and ketchup ratios.Add hot sauce or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and sauces to make it gluten-free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
