Make the best homemade BBQ meatballs recipe with this easy guide! Perfect for dinner, appetizers, or meal prep. Ready in under an hour!
If you’re looking for the best homemade BBQ Meatballs recipe, you’ve come to the right place! There’s something undeniably comforting about a plate of homemade BBQ meatballs. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner, a game-day appetizer, or a party dish, these meatballs are always a hit. My two teen boys can never get enough of them, and my husband calls them “the best meatballs ever!” Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll be hooked, too.
Let’s dive into how to effortlessly create these irresistibly flavorful BBQ meatballs right in your kitchen.
My Very Own BBQ Meatballs Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe for BBQ Meatballs
- Quick & Easy: With only 10 minutes of prep, this recipe is perfect for busy moms like me.
- Homemade BBQ Sauce: Forget store-bought! This sauce is smoky, tangy, and sweet — everything a great BBQ sauce should be.
- Versatile: Serve these as a main dish, an appetizer, or even in meatball subs.
- Family Approved: My boys practically inhale these every time I make them!
Ingredients You’ll Need for Homemade BBQ Meatballs
For the Meatballs:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 1/4 cups bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
For the BBQ Sauce:
- 16 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Substitution Tip: Light brown sugar works just as well if you don’t have dark brown sugar.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients and mix thoroughly.
2. Form the meat mixture into balls, about 2 tablespoons each, and place them on a 9×13-inch baking sheet. Work in two batches if needed.
3. Bake the meatballs for 25–30 minutes until fully cooked. While the meatballs are baking, prepare the BBQ sauce.
4. Prepare the BBQ sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, ground mustard, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
5. Combine the meatballs and sauce: Once the meatballs are done, transfer them to a large skillet. Pour the prepared BBQ sauce over the meatballs and stir to coat them evenly.
6. Simmer the meatballs: Bring the skillet to a simmer and cook the meatballs with the sauce for 10–15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Serve warm, and watch them disappear!
My Tips for the Best Homemade BBQ Meatballs Recipe
- Don’t Skip the Onion: Finely diced onion adds fantastic flavor and moisture to the meatballs.
- Use Lean Ground Beef: This keeps the meatballs from becoming greasy.
- Double the Recipe: These meatballs freeze beautifully, so make a double batch and save some for later.
- Taste-Test the Sauce: Adjust the sweetness or smokiness to your liking before pouring it over the meatballs.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic Pairings: Mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or baked beans.
- Appetizer Style: Serve with toothpicks at your next party.
- Sub Sandwiches: Pile them into hoagie rolls with melted cheese for a delicious BBQ meatball sub.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
- Reheating Tips: Warm them in a skillet over low heat or microwave, adding a splash of water to the sauce if needed.
FAQs
1. What Tools Do I Need?
You’ll need:
2. Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You can bake the meatballs and prepare the sauce a day ahead. Store them separately in the fridge, then combine and simmer when ready to serve.
3. What Substitutions Can I Make?
- Swap light brown sugar for dark.
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Add a pinch of cayenne for a spicy kick.
Final Thoughts
These BBQ meatballs are more than just a recipe — they’re a cherished family tradition in my home. Whether it’s my boys devouring them on a random Tuesday night or my husband sneaking a few extras during dinner, they’re always a hit. I’d love to hear how they turn out for you, so don’t forget to leave a comment or share your version on Instagram. Tag me at @hipmamasplace so I can see your creations!
I hope you like this homemade bbq meatballs recipe – be sure to give it a review below!
Also don’t forget to follow Hip Mama’s Place on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Looking for more easy and delicious dinner ideas? Check out our other recipes below!
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The Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever with the Tastiest BBQ Glaze
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Easy Italian Meatball Sandwiches
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Homemade BBQ Meatballs
Description
Make the best homemade BBQ meatballs with this easy recipe! Perfect for dinner, appetizers, or meal prep. Ready in under an hour!
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cups bread crumbs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup onion, finely diced
For the BBQ sauce:
16 oz can tomato sauce
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/3 c dark brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl add all of the ingredients for the meatballs.
- Mix together to combine.
- Form the meat mixture into balls that are about 2 tablespoons each.
- Place meatballs on a 9 x 13 inch baking sheet. You will have to do 2 batches.
- Bake meatballs for 25-30 minutes
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare the barbeque sauce.
- To prepare the BBQ sauce, add the tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar to a mediumbowl and whisk to combine.
- Add brown sugar, smoked paprika, ground mustard, and salt and whisk to fully combine.
- Set aside.
- Once the meatballs have finished baking, set them all into a large skillet and pour all ofthe BBQ sauce over them. Stir to make sure that each meatball is coated in sauce.
- Bring the meatballs and sauce to a simmer and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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These BBQ meatballs look delicious and so easy to make! Perfect for a quick dinner or party appetizer. I will definetly try this recipe!
Nice idea for meatballs! These look very flavorful. I can see how this would be a good crowd pleaser.
As a mom I’m always looking for recipes that are quick, easy, and loved by the whole family—these BBQ Meatballs tick all the boxes! With 10 minutes of prep, they’re perfect for dinner, parties, or meal prep.
while we don’t eat meat, i can see how i can use this idea for other vegetarian alternatives easily and with great success.. love your plating
Meatballs are so delicious, I have never tried them with rice though. It does look pretty tasty so I will for sure try this recipe out!
I can already imagine how delicious these meatballs are! The way you described your boys “inhaling” them made me laugh because that’s exactly how my kids act with their favorite meals.
This barbecue sauce looks so delicious, I have to try making it one of these days! It looks like it would go well on a bunch of different foods!
YUM! I love this BBQ meatball recipe. I especially love the snaked paprika. My family is going to love this!
I haven’t made meatballs in such a long time. These sure do look amazing too. I’ll have to make sure to make these sometime soon.
These are so good! I added a little cayenne to mine for some heat, and we all loved them.
We do love meatballs here! I will have to make these for our next movie night. They’ll be a hit.
Author
My family and I truly enjoy this recipe for homemade bbq meatballs. I highly recommend you try it to see for yourself! 🙂