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Cocktail Meatballs in a super easy sweet and sour sauce with a subtle kick of heat! The best appetizer!
An instant hit at your table. Juicy, tender cocktail meatballs simmered in an irresistibly sticky, sweet and sour sauce are so addictive your guests won’t stop at one.
Watch them disappear in minutes!
COCKTAIL MEATBALLS
This cocktail meatballs recipe needs to come with a disclaimer. I never see meatballs disappear so fast as I do when I put these in the middle of a table.
Make the meatballs from scratch OR if you’re pressed for time, buy plain, frozen ready-made meatballs and add them into the 4-ingredient sauce.
(Don’t use seasoned meatballs as they may clash with the flavours in the sauce. Garlic meatballs are fine to use.)
HOW DO YOU MAKE PARTY MEATBALLS?
This meatball recipe is easy to make with minimal ingredients. Just like most meatball recipes, you’re going to combine together lean ground beef (mince), onion, ketchup (tomato sauce for Aussies), Worcestershire sauce and breadcrumbs.
Use a small cookie scoop (approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons capacity) to scoop them out and roll into balls.
Bake them in the oven for about 25 minutes until they’re cooked, then throw them into our incredible sweet and sour sauce for the most irresistible cocktail meatballs.
SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE FOR MEATBALLS
The sauce itself is so easy to prepare, with ingredients I’ll bet you already have or can get your hands on in a flash:
- Cranberry jelly (not whole cranberry sauce). You can also use Grape jelly if you have it on hand.
- Chili sauce: Use the Heinz chili sauce in a bottle that has a ketchup consistency. You can find it next to all of the ketchups in your store.
- Brown sugar — light or dark.
- White vinegar, apple cider vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice.
FOUR ingredients for one of the best sauces you’ll try for cocktail meatballs.
Heat all of the ingredients in a skillet until combined.
Add in your meatballs and let them simmer for a good hour before serving.
Don’t skip this step. The sauce needs time to simmer and settle into the meatballs, tenderising them while blending all of the flavours together.
This is what makes your cocktail meatballs stand out from the rest.
CROCK POT MEATBALLS
You can also add the meatballs with sauce into a 3 or 4 quart (litre) capacity crock pot or slow cooker bowl and simmer them on low heat setting for an hour before your guests arrive.
Flick the switch to ‘keep warm’ setting so your guests can enjoy fresh, warm cocktail meatballs throughout the evening!
MAKE AHEAD
If making your meatballs from scratch, prepare them (rolled into balls) up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate in airtight containers.
When you need them: get your sauce going, throw in the meatballs (crock pot or skillet), simmer on low for an hour, switch to keep warm and voila! Easy cocktail meatballs!
Looking for more appetizers? Try these recipes!
Swedish Meatballs
Teriyaki Beef Meatballs
Mongolian Glazed Meatballs
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Cocktail Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef mince
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup ketchup Australian tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup onion finely chopped or grated
- 16 ounces jellied cranberry Ocean Spray brand
- 12 ounces Heinz chili sauce adjust to suit your tastes/heat preference
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Like a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the beef, eggs, ketchup (tomato sauce), Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs and onion. Use a small cookie scoop ( 1 1/2 tablespoon capacity) to roll into small meatballs. (Arrange onto prepared baking sheet as you go.)
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once while cooking.
- While meatballs are cooking, combine the sauce ingredients in a large skillet or a slow cooker on low heat. Stir to blend, then add the meatballs. Simmer for 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If I make the sauce in the crock pot, after baking them in the oven- do I put them in the crockpot on keep warm for an hour as I would simmer on the stove top?
Hi Cat, check out step 4 in the recipe card towards the bottom. Add the meatballs to the sauce on low heat in your crock pot.
Just made these and they are so delicious! Will definitely make it again!
Hi Bev, thank you for your kind words, I am so glad that you’ve enjoyed this recipe!
Can I cook the meatballs in the sauce in the crockpot rather than baking them?
Hi, when making ahead do you suggest cooking them before storing in airtight containers, then toss with sauce on day of, or leaving them uncooked until needed?
I know this is probably a stupid question…but I seldom step foot in the kitchen…and I really would like try to make these for a party…the pic shows a chopped green on top. It’s not listed in ingredients. Is it parsley? Is it added right before serving?
Hi Marcia… not a stupid question at all! Yes, it is parsley.
I made this recipie once but subbed the cranberry jelly with a cherry jelly, because it was what I had on hand. It came out amazing. So sweet, sour, tart and delicious.
Terri Ann cherry filling sounds just as good!
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It doesn’t say. But do you cover the crock pot while the meat balls are heating
Hi Silvoa. Yes, for best results they are covered while heating.
Hi Karina, I am allergic to egg, what else can I use to bind the meatballs?