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Home » RECIPE » Appetizers » Beer BBQ Meatballs

Beer BBQ Meatballs

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By: Shinee Published: 11/01/2016Updated: 6/08/2021

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Ditch that grape jelly cocktail meatball recipe. And spoil your guests with beer BBQ meatballs instead! Juicy tender meatballs in smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. The BEST!

{scroll down for video tutorial}

Ditch that grape jelly cocktail meatball recipe. And spoil your guests with these beer BBQ meatballs instead! Juicy tender meatballs in smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. The BEST!

Grape jelly meatballs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea (or should I say bowl of meatballs?)

Garrat and I, for example, aren’t fans. Too sweet, too strong, simply not for us. To be fair, I tried to like it, I really did. I used different recipes, variety of jellies, but it’s just a no-go in our family.

But that’s ok! Being different is ok. In fact, it’s awesome! Because you get to be creative and find something you absolutely love! Like these amazing beer bbq meatballs!!

Ditch that grape jelly cocktail meatball recipe. And spoil your guests with these beer BBQ meatballs instead! Juicy tender meatballs in smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. The BEST!

You see, I adore meatballs.

They’re a total comfort food around here, and you’ll always find frozen homemade meatballs in my freezer. It’s easy to fix a quick dinner with meatballs on busy/lazy nights, and also effortless to feed a crowd!

But one can only take so much meatballs and pasta, right? Not to mention how refreshing it’s to serve something totally different for a change. That’s why I was determined to create something similar to grape jelly cocktail meatballs for game day gatherings.

And success!!! These beer bbq meatballs are a game-changer!

Juicy tender meatballs swimming in a pool of smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. Oh that sauce!!! It’s I-can’t-stop-licking-my-fingers-kind-of-good… To die for! (Ok, not really, but it’s really, really good!)

Couple of tips for success
  • The secret to my juicy, tender meatballs is Panko. It’s super light Japanese breadcrumbs, available pretty much at any supermarkets. I picked up this tip from Food Network a while back. I hated when no matter how well I mixed the meat with soaked bread, some meatballs would still end up with chunks of bread. (<- Have you had this problem, or is it just me?) My biggest pet peeve, and that’s been forever resolved with this Panko trick. Perfectly moist, juicy meatballs without any weird bread hanging out inside! ????
  • The easiest way to perfectly uniform meatballs is this medium cookie scoop. Shaping meatballs has never been so easy!
  • You can use any kind of beer that you like to drink. I like medium bodied beer and I think it’s best for this recipe. But just like wine, whatever you like to drink would be perfect for cooking. Except darker stouts would probably give bitter taste, so I’d steer clear from them.
  • The same goes about barbecue sauce. I’ve tried honey barbecue, hickory smoked barbecue, and loved them all. You can easily manipulate the flavors of this dish by choosing different beers and bbq sauces. Go wild and find your favorite.

Ditch that grape jelly cocktail meatball recipe. And spoil your guests with these beer BBQ meatballs instead! Juicy tender meatballs in smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. The BEST!

Let me know how it turns out for you, if you give it a try. I’d love to hear your feedback. Thanks so much for reading.

Beer BBQ Meatballs

Ditch that grape jelly cocktail meatball recipe. And spoil your guests with beer BBQ meatballs instead! Juicy tender meatballs in smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. The BEST!
5 from 4 votes
serves: 54 meatballs
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total : 1 hour
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Ingredients

For meatballs:

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 cup Panko Japanese breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the sauce:

  • 1 cup BBQ sauce of your choice
  • 1 cup beer of your choice
  • Couple squirts of Sriracha
  • Pinch of salt
Note: I test all my recipes with both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (177°C).
  • To make the meatballs, in a large bowl, combine beef, panko, garlic, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
  • To make uniform meatballs, use a medium cookie scoop and form 1.5-inch meatballs. Roll each meatball between you palms to smooth them out.
  • To make the sauce, whisk together BBQ sauce and beer. Stir in couple squirts of Sriracha and pinch of salt.
  • Arrange the meatballs in a baking dish. Add the sauce over the meatballs and carefully mix until meatballs are coated. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through. (If you’re using frozen meatballs bake for about 1 hour.)
  • You can also use slow cooker to cook the meatballs. Simply place the meatballs with sauce and cook for 5 hours on low.

Tips & Notes:

For video tutorial and additional notes, read the post above.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 61kcal (3%) Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 4g (6%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 18mg (6%) Sodium: 166mg (7%) Potassium: 67mg (2%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 21IU Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 9mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Author: Shinee
Course:Appetizer
Cuisine:American
Did you make this?Show me your creation! Tag me @shineshka and hashtag it #sweetandsavorybyshinee!
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This recipe was originally published on September 29th, 2014.

Ditch that grape jelly cocktail meatball recipe. And spoil your guests with beer BBQ meatballs instead! Juicy tender meatballs in smoky, rich and slightly sweet beer bbq sauce. The BEST!

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  1. gretchen miller says

    Posted on 2 December 2016 at 6:13 pm

    Can a little corn starch be stirred into the sauce to thicken or will sauce thicken on its own as it cools?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 2 December 2016 at 10:37 pm

      Yes, you can add a little cornstarch, if you want thicker sauce.

      Reply
  2. Tricia says

    Posted on 13 November 2016 at 11:37 am

    Super easy and tasted great! I made these yesterday for our family reunion. All but 5-6 meatballs were gone in 15 minutes after I set them down on appetizer table. Those five came home with me but we’re eaten this morning by my son! My cousin made meatballs too, your recipe, but different BBQ sauce and beer. Hers’ were served at mealtime but we’re eaten just as much as mine! Thanks from both of us! 

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 14 November 2016 at 2:56 pm

      Tricia, this is fantastic! So glad you and your family got to enjoy these meatballs for both appetizer and the main meal. I love how they’re so versatile that you can use different BBQ sauce and beer to change things up. Thank you so much for coming back and leaving your feedback. It means a lot to me.

      Reply
  3. Kent says

    Posted on 4 November 2016 at 1:36 pm

    I have a similar dislike of bread in meatballs or meatloaf but I never considered bread crumbs. Instead I use an old trick of my Mom’s, 1/4 cup uncooked oatmeal for each slice of bread the recipe calls for. Better texture, better flavor (IMO anyway) and easy.You can use a blender or food processor (even a coffee grinder reserved for grains only) but I’ve never found it necessary just measure and add. I’ve never tried Stone Ground Oats though, don’t know how that would work.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 8 November 2016 at 12:07 pm

      Hi, Kent! That’s very interesting trick!! I never thought of oatmeal, and I’ll definitely try that! Thanks for sharing your tip!

      Reply
  4. Laurie says

    Posted on 3 May 2016 at 5:17 pm

    Did you use a high or low fat ground beef (20% or 7%)

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 4 May 2016 at 7:46 pm

      We usually make our own ground beef, so not really sure what’s percentage. I suggest to go with 7% fat, as ours isn’t very fatty. Hope this helps, Laurie.

      Reply
  5. Jessica - The Novice Chef says

    Posted on 28 January 2016 at 11:21 am

    These sound amazing! My husband would love it if I made these for the football game!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 28 January 2016 at 11:44 am

      Do it! It’ll be a hit, Jessica. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Emily says

    Posted on 22 December 2015 at 11:32 pm

    Have you ever frozen these? What would the freezer instructions be?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 24 December 2015 at 10:11 am

      Emily, you can freeze the meatballs before cooking in the sauce. To freeze the meatballs, I usually shape the meatballs and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. I put the baking sheet with meatballs in the freezer until completely frozen. Then I just put them in a freezer bag to store, or if I’m storing for a long time, I vacuum seal them. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  7. Lori S says

    Posted on 27 October 2015 at 9:27 am

    I made these twice! Once just for my hubby & me and then again for an Octoberfest we hosted at our house. They were a huge hit! The flavors are outstanding. This will be my “party” dish when invited to bring a covered dish! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 29 October 2015 at 9:30 am

      So glad to hear that you and everyone love these meatballs! It’s our favorite too! Thanks for leaving your feedback! ❤️

      Reply
  8. Marissa @ OMG FOOD says

    Posted on 30 September 2015 at 9:58 am

    Yes, please! This is an appetizer I can get behind. I’ll take a whole batch, thanks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 1 October 2015 at 9:03 am

      🙂 Thanks, Marissa!

      Reply
  9. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says

    Posted on 29 September 2015 at 8:52 pm

    I can’t wait to try these…the beer and bbq combo sounds fantastic! YUM!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 30 September 2015 at 8:47 am

      Yes! It’s so good! Thanks for visiting, Michelle!

      Reply
  10. Ramya Menon @ War and Cheese says

    Posted on 15 September 2015 at 11:24 pm

    Those loook soooooooo yum. Meatballs with beer <3 <3 <3! love it. 

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 16 September 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Thanks, Ramya!

      Reply
  11. Madeline Moyer says

    Posted on 2 September 2015 at 6:10 pm

    Wow- made these to test out for a later party. Used 1-ish pound ground chuck, 1-ish pound ground sirloin and 1-ish pound ground pork.

    Doubled the sauce ingredients. Tossed the garlic in to the panko to whirl thru the food processor. Skipped the pan lining of foil (wasteful and I’m always afraid i’ll get a small piece in my mouth-ugh!) Followed the directions on baking but next time I’ll roll ’em over half way thru to get all that yummy sauce glazed on all sides well. AMAZINGLY GOOD! They will be made again and again.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 3 September 2015 at 9:00 am

      Hi, Madeline! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed the meatballs. I love that you used the mixture of cuts and types of meat! I bet it added even more flavor. 🙂 Thanks for trying my recipe and for your feedback!

      Reply
  12. Marty says

    Posted on 19 June 2015 at 7:37 pm

    Can I marinate the meatballs in the sauce overnight and then slow cook it all the next day?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 20 June 2015 at 8:31 pm

      Marty, I’m not sure how it will hold up the overnight marinating. If they are frozen meatballs, I think it’ll be fine.

      Reply
  13. Becca from ItsYummi.com says

    Posted on 23 January 2015 at 8:30 am

    You are SO right that these will knock the socks off of those grape jelly meatballs! Yum!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 23 January 2015 at 5:04 pm

      Thank you, Becca! They’re delicious!

      Reply
  14. Shelly says

    Posted on 22 December 2014 at 4:21 pm

    Made these tonight and they were delicious!!! Even the hubby gave it two thumbs up! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 22 December 2014 at 6:20 pm

      Great to hear that, Shelly! I’m glad you tried my recipe! Thank you for letting me know. 🙂

      Reply
  15. Renee @ Awesome on $20 says

    Posted on 19 October 2014 at 2:59 pm

    I love serving meatballs over couscous for dinner. It’s so fast and simple. This sauce sounds awesome. Plus, my husband will love an excuse to buy beer.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 19 October 2014 at 9:18 pm

      Meatballs are the best! 🙂 Thank you, Renee!

      Reply
  16. janet says

    Posted on 12 October 2014 at 7:28 am

    what kind of bbq sauce…sweeet?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 12 October 2014 at 10:22 am

      It’s totally up to you. Whatever you like is good. I used honey bbq sauce.

      Reply
  17. Harriette says

    Posted on 9 October 2014 at 1:27 am

    Sounds great, but what is Sriracha?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 9 October 2014 at 9:08 am

      It’s a spicy sauce. Very well known by its big bottle with rooster on it and green cap. 🙂

      Reply
  18. No1DawgFan says

    Posted on 8 October 2014 at 9:19 pm

    I can’t wait to try these on Game Day! I know you said any flavor beer, but what do you think about using Redds Apple Ale? Thanks

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 8 October 2014 at 10:43 pm

      Hmm, I’ve never had Redds Apple Ale, and honestly have no idea what to say. Quick google search gave me an impression that it’s a light fruity beer. So it might get overpowered by BBQ sauce. I usually drink medium bodied beers and they usually work great. For this particular recipe, I used Samuel Adams Octoberfest that I had on hand.

      Reply
  19. Mira says

    Posted on 29 September 2014 at 9:39 pm

    These look amazing and I love the idea of flavorful beer barbecue sauce! Sriracha is my favorite hot sauce! You have a great blog and picture are amazing! Found you through food gawker and I’m glad I did! I have to save and pin so many from the recipes here, because I love them!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 29 September 2014 at 10:04 pm

      Welcome to my blog, Mira. I’m so glad you found it. “When in doubt, add Sriracha” is my mantra. Haha jk, but really I almost always add Sriracha when I need a little kick! 🙂

      Reply
  20. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    Posted on 29 September 2014 at 6:32 pm

    These meatballs look incredibly delicious but the hero of this dish is definitely that beer and barbecue sauce! It sounds seriously amazing and jam packed full of yummy flavour. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 29 September 2014 at 10:02 pm

      The sauce is definitely the hero! Thank you, Thalia!

      Reply
    • holly says

      Posted on 18 October 2014 at 12:58 pm

      What’s the green stuff on top to make them look pretty?

      Reply
      • Shinee says

        Posted on 18 October 2014 at 1:45 pm

        Holly, I sprinkled some dried chives.

        Reply
        • holly says

          Posted on 18 October 2014 at 5:44 pm

          Thank you. I’m making these next Sunday when the girls from work come to meet our new baby. They look so good.

        • Shinee says

          Posted on 18 October 2014 at 9:25 pm

          That sounds awesome! Congrats on your new addition. 🙂

    • Betty Gilliam says

      Posted on 16 November 2016 at 9:45 am

      can these be made ahead and frozen?

      Reply
      • Shinee says

        Posted on 16 November 2016 at 8:24 pm

        Yes, but before cooking in the sauce. I wouldn’t suggest freezing after you cook them in the sauce.

        Reply
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