Description
These homemade BBQ meatballs are a delicious and hearty dish perfect for family dinners. Made with ground beef, oats, and a flavorful homemade BBQ sauce, they bake in the oven until tender and bubbly. Serve them with classic sides like mashed potatoes and green beans for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 lbs. ground beef (85/15)
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the meatballs evenly.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: Combine the ground beef, quick oats, evaporated milk, beaten egg, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Mix until well incorporated but don’t overmix to keep meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into golf-ball sized meatballs. Arrange them either divided between two smaller casserole dishes or all together in one large 9×13-inch baking dish based on your family size or preference.
- Prepare the BBQ Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt until smooth.
- Add Sauce to Meatballs: Pour the prepared BBQ sauce evenly over the meatballs in the baking dishes, ensuring each meatball is covered to soak in the flavorful sauce.
- Bake the Meatballs: Place the meatballs in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. The sauce will become bubbly, and some oil will separate during baking.
- Emulsify the Sauce: After baking, remove the dishes from the oven. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water to the sauce and stir gently to emulsify it, making the sauce cling better to the meatballs for a perfect finish.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the tender BBQ meatballs hot, ideally with sides like mashed potatoes and green beans for a wholesome meal.
Notes
- For freezer-friendly portions, divide the meatballs into two smaller pans before baking; freeze one batch for future meals.
- The use of quick oats helps bind the meatballs while keeping them moist and tender.
- If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the brown sugar slightly or adjust to taste.
- The addition of water after baking helps rehydrate and thicken the sauce for better coating.
- Feel free to swap ground beef for ground turkey or a beef/pork blend for variation.
- Ensure not to overmix the meatball mixture to avoid tough meatballs.
