These delicious BBQ Meatballs are an easy, go-to barbecue meatball recipe that can be made in the slow cooker, oven, or simply on the stove top! Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep!
The Best BBQ Meatballs
Classic bbq meatballs are always an easy appetizer to make when hosting a family gathering or some friends on game day Sunday. They are so easy and a family favorite that everyone always enjoys! We love to serve them with some carrot sticks, celery sticks, and a some of our favorite dips. Nothing better than this bbq meatball recipe made with simple ingredients that goes with a variety of other appetizers too!
Looking for another bbq recipe? You have to try our BBQ Chicken Dip – another delicious appetizer recipe! Or try making Smoked Meatballs for a fun, new spin on this classic recipe!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy – they are only about 10 real ingredients and they cook in about 10 minutes! So simple!
- Versatile – you can smother these easy bbq meatballs in any of your favorite BBQ sauces.
- Great for meal prep – since they are so easy, it makes them perfect for a quick dinner or for meal prep!
What You Will Need
- ground beef – we love sticking with the classic ground beef for these meatballs, but you could also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- almond flour & egg – the binding ingredients of this meatball recipe that hold everything together, you could also use bread crumbs in place of almond flour.
- yellow onion – that classic onion flavor is always a must when making meatballs.
- liquid smoke – just a little bit for some added smoky flavor.
- unsweetened almond milk – option to use any plant-based milk or regular milk.
- black pepper, garlic powder, & balsamic vinegar– these are all about bringing some great flavor.
- olive oil – only needed if you are making the slow cooker meatballs or stove top meatballs.
- worcestershire sauce – this is great for a little extra flavor but if you want to keep them Whole30/Paleo compliant you will want to omit this.
How To Make BBQ Meatballs
The first steps to making this easy recipe are to combine ground beef and all the other meatball ingredients in a large bowl.
Now mix all the ingredients together with your hands or a spoon, but your hands are easier.
Roll a tablespoon of meat mixture at a time until you have formed all the meatballs. Pro tip – we love to use a cookie scoop for this!
Now use your preferred cooking method to cook them all with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Best Ways To Serve BBQ Meatballs
They are so versatile that you could serve with almost anything. Typically we are serving these alongside a variety of other appetizers. And sometime we serve them as the main dish for an easy dinner option. If that’s the case, our preferred side dishes are Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Potato Wedges, Roasted Broccolini, and Steamed Green Beans. Just make sure you have some ranch dressing for dipping!
Recipe FAQs and Tips
- Ground Beef: be sure to use very lean ground beef when making these meatballs (at least 90% lean). If you use a ground beef that is less lean it will leave a fair amount of grease at the bottom of your slow cooker.
- BBQ Sauce: you can use any BBQ sauce that you want! We love this homemade sauce!
- How long can I store leftover meatballs? you can keep cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Great for meal prep!
- Can I freeze meatballs? Yes! You can keep cooked meatballs in the freezer for 3-4 months. Wait to sauce them until you are ready to serve.
- Paleo/Whole30: to make Paleo/Whole30 omit the Worcestershire sauce and ensure you are using a Paleo/Whole30 BBQ sauce!
Other Recipes You Might Like
Easy BBQ Wings
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Instant Pot Rib Recipe
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BBQ Meatballs Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 24 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 20–25 meatballs 1x
- Category: Appetizer/Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker + Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
BBQ Meatballs Recipe – easy, go-to, homemade barbecue meatballs that can be made in the crock pot, oven, or simply on the stove top!
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill almond flour
- 1/4 of a yellow onion, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (slow cooker + stove top methods only)
BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup of BBQ sauce, more if desired
Instructions
Oven Method:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet pan.
- Combine meatball ingredients in medium bowl and mix thoroughly (using your hands is usually the easiest).
- Take a heaping tablespoon of the ground beef mixture and use your hands to roll it into a meatball. Continue until all the meat is used (you should have around 20 meatballs).
- Place meatballs in a single layer on the parchment-lined cookie sheet, approximately 1/2 – 1 inch apart.
- Sprinkle the tops lightly with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 24 minutes or until cooked through.
- Toss in your favorite barbecue sauce!
Slow Cooker Method:
- Combine all meatball ingredients in medium mixing bowl and mix thoroughly (using your hands is usually the easiest).
- Take a heaping tablespoon of the meatball mixture and use your hands to roll it into a meatball. Continue until all the meat is used (you should have around 20 meatballs).
- Add olive oil to a large cast iron skillet and bring to medium-high heat. Sear meatballs on all sides, about 2 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce to a slow cooker, add in the meatballs and cook on the LOW setting for 3-4 hours.
Stove Top Method:
- Combine all meatball ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and mix thoroughly (using your hands is usually the easiest).
- Take a heaping tablespoon of the ground beef mixture and use your hands to roll it into a meatball. Continue until all the meat is used (you should have around 20 meatballs).
- Add olive oil to a large cast iron skillet and bring to medium heat. Add meatballs to the skillet, searing then on all sides (about 2-3 minutes). Turn heat down to medium/ medium-low heat and continue cooking until meatballs are fully cooked, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Drain grease and add in your favorite barbecue sauce. Stir to coat and then serve!
Notes
- Lean Ground Beef: use a very lean ground beef for these (around 90% lean). If you use a less lean ground beef there will be an excess amount of grease in your slow cooker or skillet after cooking.
- Paleo/Whole30: to make Paleo/Whole30 omit the Worcestershire sauce and ensure you are using a Paleo/Whole30 BBQ sauce!
- Cook Time: I used the Oven cook time in the recipe card, but note that the Slow Cooker and Stove Top cook times are different!
- Dipping Sauce: I love dipping these in homemade ranch!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 meatballs
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 703.9 mg
- Fat: 12.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 37.1 g
- Protein: 41.3 g
- Cholesterol: 148.2 mg
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