Description
These Marmalade Meatballs combine savory ground beef with a tangy and sweet orange marmalade barbecue sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or served over rice or noodles for a hearty meal, these flavorful meatballs offer a delightful balance of sweet, salty, and savory notes with a subtle heat from red pepper flakes. Ready in just 40 minutes, they’re an easy crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for frying, optional)
Sauce
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, arranging them on a plate or tray.
- Cook the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs carefully and cook them for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally to brown all sides. Alternatively, you can bake the meatballs by placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and baking in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes until cooked through and browned.
- Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the orange marmalade, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce is smooth and bubbly.
- Combine Meatballs and Sauce: Transfer the cooked meatballs into the saucepan with the sauce. Toss gently to coat each meatball evenly. Let them simmer in the sauce for 5-7 minutes to absorb the flavors and heat through.
- Serve: Serve the marmalade meatballs hot. They’re perfect as an appetizer with toothpicks or served over rice or noodles as a main course. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired for a pop of color and freshness.
Notes
- You can bake the meatballs as a healthier alternative to frying.
- For added spice, increase the red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce to the sauce.
- These meatballs can be made ahead and reheated gently in the sauce.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Leftover meatballs freeze well and retain flavor when reheated.
