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Grape Jelly BBQ Meatballs

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Baking Sheet or Skillet
  • Saucepan or Slow Cooker
  • Tongs or spatula

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb ground pork for added flavor and tenderness
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated onion
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

For the Sauce

  • 1 cup grape jelly
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce use your favorite brand; smoky flavors work best
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar optional, for a tangy kick

Instructions
 

Prepare the Meatballs

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, grated onion, egg, milk, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
    glass mixing bowl filled with a mixture of raw ground beef and pork

Shape the Meatballs

  1. Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Cook the Meatballs

  1. Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake the meatballs for 20–25 minutes or until cooked through.
  2. Skillet Method: Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides, then cover and cook until fully done, about 10–12 minutes.

Make the Sauce

  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine grape jelly and BBQ sauce. Stir until the jelly melts and the mixture is smooth. Add apple cider vinegar if you want a tangier flavor. Let the sauce simmer gently.

Combine

  1. Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 5–10 minutes to absorb all the flavors.

Serve

  1. Transfer the glazed meatballs to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color, and enjoy!