Tasty Cocktail Meatballs

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: oats

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Oats are healthier and crushed crackers are often cheaper.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner while ground pork can be less expensive.

barbecue sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade sauce

💰Cheaper: ketchup

Homemade sauce can be healthier, while ketchup is often cheaper.

Start by placing 1 pound of lean ground beef in a large mixing bowl.

Crack open 1 large egg and add it to the ground beef.

Crush some salted soda crackers in a Ziploc bag using a rolling pin until fine, then measure out about 1/2 cup and add it to the meat mixture.

Add about 1/3 cup of finely chopped sweet onion to the mixture and mix together.

Add 2 tablespoons of water to the mixture for moisture and mix again.

Season with salt and black pepper, using between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon of each, and stir to distribute.

Using clean hands, pinch up a bit of the meat mixture and roll it into small balls about 1 inch in diameter.

Place the meatballs on a greased cookie sheet, allowing room for them to cook and flip.

Preheat the barbecue to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place the pan with meatballs on the grill and cook, checking frequently, for about 10 minutes until they start to brown underneath, then flip them over and continue cooking for another 10 to 12 minutes.

While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the sauce by combining 1/2 cup of pure seedless raspberry jam and 1/2 cup of red chili pepper jelly in a mixing bowl.

Add 3/4 cup of chili sauce to the bowl and mix together, then add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1.5 teaspoons of lemon juice, mixing until combined.

Pour the sauce into a large non-stick frying pan and heat on high until it starts to bubble, stirring while waiting.

Once the meatballs are done, add them directly to the sauce and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring to coat the meatballs evenly with the sauce.

Serve the meatballs with party pricks and lightly sprinkle with dried parsley.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens