It’s officially the new year and tailgating appetizers are on everyone’s mind. I wanted to get right to the point with this recipe and not bog you all down with stories of a fabled party I remember as a child. This one is about you and helping you to get ready with a few shortcuts for a perfect appetizer. Ready to score big at your next tailgate or friendly get together with these sweet and spicy baked meatballs? Easy appetizers are really important when you’re hosting the big game. Bite sized dippers are always a hit, but when you can add spicy kick with barbeque sauce, almost every single person wants to take the leftovers home and will soon be texting you for the recipe.
What you’ll need to make sweet and spicy meatballs:
- 40 Frozen pre cooked meatballs (Turkey meatballs, beef meatballs beyond meatballs and even Italian style meatballs will work great. (Costco meatballs – Kirkland brand and Sam’s Club makes the best frozen meatballs. You can make homemade meatballs, buy why? The pre cooked meatballs cut the cooking time for sure)
- 1 cup Barbeque sauce (Here’s my quick and easy DIY BBQ Sauce recipe)
- 1/2 cup chili sauce (I use Heinz Chili Sauce, but any will do)
- 1/4 cup crushed pineapple (other add ins such as red onion or large chunks of bell peppers are great ways to change up this great recipe.)
- Hot Sauce (a few dashes – add as much as you can handle)
- 1/4 tsp hot chili flakes (optional)
- Medium sauce pan
- casserole dish with a lid or aluminum foil to cover
How to get there:
- Prep the Flavor Explosion for this tangy sauce:
- Set your stove to medium heat.
- In a saucepan, mix together the barbeque sauce (here’s my recipe for a Quick and Simple Barbeque Sauce, chili sauce, crushed pineapple, hot sauce (adjust to your spice level), and throw in some optional hot chili flakes for an extra kick.
- Let it all simmer together for a magical 10 minutes. This is where the flavors get to know each other and become best friends.
- Meatball Bedtime:
- Find a baking dish that can snugly fit those meatballs. Round or square, your call!
- Gently tuck those frozen meatballs into a single layer in the dish. Teamwork is key here.
- Now, pour that glorious sauce all over them. Make sure each meatball is covered in this flavor-packed goodness.
- Bake to Perfection:
- Cover the dish with foil. We’re creating a cozy sauna for our meaty friends.
- Slide it into the oven and let the meatballs bake at 350°F (or 175°C) for about 30 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the sauce is bubbling with excitement.
- Grand Finale:
- Uncover the dish and present your masterpiece. The aroma alone will have everyone at the tailgate drooling.
- Transfer those saucy meatballs onto a platter, and voila – you’re ready to be the tailgate MVP! If you aren’t going to be able to eat them right away or you are taking them to a party, a great option is to store them in an airtight container and use a Crock Pot or whatever slow cooker you have to reheat.
Remember, the key here is to serve them immediately while they’re hot and irresistible. I find that no matter the meatball, the fat in the meat being used starts to solidify and isn’t always a tasty bite when it’s cold. So, gather your friends, grab a plate, and let the good times roll! Enjoy your sweet and spicy party experience-no matter who you’ve invited over!
Some next day fabulous recipes to make with these freezer section meatballs are to place saucy meatballs covered in cheddar cheese on a toasted hoagie roll to make the most delicious meatball subs, or place a single meatball on a Hawaiian style dinner roll with cheese, pickle and onion for some irresistible meatball sliders. The extra sauce also makes a fantastic dipping sauce for bread, cocktail weenies. The best way and only thing you need to create an outstanding recipe or easy meal from this base recipe is to use quality ingredients. Generic ingredients are wonderful, but sometimes they just don’t taste “RIGHT”. Choose ingredients that you love the taste of and adjust your recipe card and have fun!
Sweet and Spicy Baked Meatballs
Ingredients
- 40 Frozen precooked meatballs
- 1 cup Barbeque sauce Check out my recipe for a homemade, never fail barbeque sauce below.
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1/4 cup crushed pineapple
- Hot Sauce a few dashes-add what you want to your heat level.
- 1/4 tsp hot chili flakes optional
Instructions
- On medium heat, combine barbeque sauce, chili sauce, pineapple, hot sauce and red chili flakes.
- simmer for ten minutes.
- Place meatballs in a baking dish that will hold the meatballs in a single layer. I used a round baking dish, but an 8×8 should do the trick.
- Cover and coat the meatballs in the sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until sauce is bubbly.
- Serve immediately on a platter.
Notes
- If you can’t serve it immediately-use a crock pot. Just set it to low/warm.
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