Barbecued Meatballs
Gluten Free Living – 2017
Hey, guys, I know I’ve told you how much I enjoy meatballs before. Well Barbecued Meatballs are some of my favorites. Especially since this delicious recipe is made in the crockpot. This is not the simple 3 or 4 ingredient recipe with grape jelly and ketchup. But it is still quite easy to make. Especially since I don’t precook the meatballs. I place the meatballs in the crockpot raw and then add the homemade barbecue sauce and cook. That’s it.
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One of my long-time friends has shared a lot of recipes with me over the years. The first time we ever went to her house for dinner she served Barbecued Meatballs over rice. I loved them. When I started hunting for the recipe I couldn’t find it, but I did find one of her Barbecue Sauce recipes so I used that and my own meatball recipe for this concoction. I could always count on Mimi to dig up some of the best, most mouthwatering recipes and this one is so satisfying.
I would make one main recommendation about this recipe. Unless you precook the meatballs (not what I recommend), then omit the butter in the barbecue sauce when you make it. Even though I used a 96% lean ground beef, the meatballs will still cook down in the sauce so you won’t need the extra oil in the sauce. If you choose to precook the meatballs then you can add the butter.
If you enjoy meatballs, these Barbecued Meatballs are not only good as appetizers, but they are terrific served over rice as well. They make a delicious meal especially if you don’t have time for an elaborate dinner. I used 4C brand gluten free bread crumbs to keep this recipe gluten free. (I find it at Walmart). Obviously, you can use regular bread crumbs if you’re not gluten intolerant.
Prepare yourself for a lip-smacking meal that the whole family will enjoy.
Barbecued Meatballs are great as an appetizer or as a main dish served over rice.
These delightful meatballs are terrific.
If you’re looking for a tasty main dish meal, serve Barbecued Meatballs over rice.
Here’s what I did.
I used these ingredients for the BBQ sauce. I also added honey because I wanted the sauce a little sweeter. The mason jar contains pink Himalayan sea salt and the glass measuring cup contains brown sugar.
Place ketchup in a mixing bowl. Add brown sugar, onions, salt, pepper, parsley, mustard, vinegar and lemon juice. (If you want to cook the meatballs raw, then omit the butter).
Add Worcestershire sauce.
Add honey. Stir to combine.
I used these ingredients for the meatballs.
Place 96% ground beef in a mixing bowl. Add egg, onions, garlic, gluten free bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
Add parsley, Italian seasoning, oregano, pepper and Lawry’s seasoned salt.
Combine ingredients with your hands until mixture is very well mixed. Shape into golf-ball sized balls.
Place meatballs in a crockpot. Cover with sauce (minus butter if using raw meatballs), and cook on low heat about 4-6 hours.
Add toothpicks to serve as appetizers, or remove to bowl and serve over hot, cooked rice.
Cooking this in the slow cooker makes it so easy.
Each meatball is so mouthwatering.
Barbecued Meatballs are great for days when you don’t have a lot of time to spend cooking or slaving over a hot stove.
Time to eat.
Here’s the recipe.
BARBECUED MEATBALLS
(Recipe inspired from Mimi Pownall, Black Mountain, NC)
Barbecued Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 crockpot
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 large mixing bowl
Ingredients
BARBECUE SAUCE:
- 2 cups ketchup (I used Hunts without high fructose corn syrup)
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter (omit if using raw meatballs, see note below)
- 1 large onion diced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. pink Himalayan sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
MEATBALLS:
- 2 lbs. 93% or 96% lean ground beef (do not use any percentage less)
- 1 cup 4C Gluten Free Italian Style Bread Crumbs or use regular bread crumbs
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 3 tbsp. dried parsley
- 2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. Lawry’s seasoned salt
Instructions
BARBECUE SAUCE:
- Combine all ingredients except water and place in a crockpot.
- Add water only if necessary to thin sauce.
- Stir in raw meatballs.
- Cook on low heat about 4-6 hours.
MEATBALLS:
- Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl with your hands.
- Roll into balls and place raw in slow cooker over top of barbecue sauce.
- Add any remaining onions that weren’t combined with the meatballs and sprinkle them over top.
- Cook on low heat about 4-6 hours or until meatballs are cooked all the way through.
- Stir occasionally.
Notes
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
Nutrition
We love Barbecued Meatballs and believe you will too.
A light sprinkling of parsley over the top is the finishing touch.
Serve Barbecued Meatballs with a fork or chop sticks! 🙂
You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!
Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs
Barbecued Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 crockpot
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 large mixing bowl
Ingredients
BARBECUE SAUCE:
- 2 cups ketchup (I used Hunts without high fructose corn syrup)
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter (omit if using raw meatballs, see note below)
- 1 large onion diced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. pink Himalayan sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
MEATBALLS:
- 2 lbs. 93% or 96% lean ground beef (do not use any percentage less)
- 1 cup 4C Gluten Free Italian Style Bread Crumbs or use regular bread crumbs
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 3 tbsp. dried parsley
- 2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. Lawry’s seasoned salt
Instructions
BARBECUE SAUCE:
- Combine all ingredients except water and place in a crockpot.
- Add water only if necessary to thin sauce.
- Stir in raw meatballs.
- Cook on low heat about 4-6 hours.
MEATBALLS:
- Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl with your hands.
- Roll into balls and place raw in slow cooker over top of barbecue sauce.
- Add any remaining onions that weren’t combined with the meatballs and sprinkle them over top.
- Cook on low heat about 4-6 hours or until meatballs are cooked all the way through.
- Stir occasionally.