Description
Delicious meatball bites with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce perfect for gatherings and cozy nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Chopped fresh herbs (optional)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley leaves (for garnish)
- Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Start by gathering all your ingredients. Preheat your crockpot on a low setting to allow for even cooking. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, egg, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to mix everything until well incorporated.
- Form the mixture into uniform meatballs, about one inch in diameter. Place them in your crockpot in a single layer. In another bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika to create the BBQ sauce. Pour the BBQ sauce over the meatballs, ensuring they are well-coated. Cover and let them cook on low for about 240-300 minutes, but you can also cook them on high for 120-180 minutes if time is short. Stir occasionally.
- Once cooked, carefully transfer the meatballs to a serving platter. Drizzle some of the remaining BBQ sauce over the top and garnish with fresh parsley leaves or toasted sesame seeds. Serve them warm with toothpicks.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with lentils and use gluten-free breadcrumbs to accommodate dietary needs. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 40mg