Description
Mountain Meatballs are a flavorful and hearty American dish featuring tender ground beef meatballs baked to perfection and simmered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or served over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles for a satisfying main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs and place them evenly spaced on a greased or foil-lined baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and nicely browned on the outside.
- Prepare Sauce: While the meatballs bake, whisk together barbecue sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar in a large saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it starts to simmer.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Add the baked meatballs to the simmering sauce and stir to coat them evenly. Let them simmer gently for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally so they absorb the flavorful sauce.
- Serve: Serve the meatballs warm as a delicious appetizer or over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles for a hearty main dish.
Notes
- For a smoky twist, add smoked paprika to the meatball mixture or use a hickory-style BBQ sauce.
- These meatballs freeze well; allow them to cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
