Stove-Top Bbq Meatballs: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

BBQ meatballs are a delicious treat and a great party appetizer. They can be made with ground beef, turkey, chicken, or pork, and are often served with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or a fresh green salad. You can make them in the oven or on the stove. This article will focus on the latter.

To cook BBQ meatballs on a stove, you'll need to heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add some oil. Carefully place your meatballs in the hot skillet and sear for about 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Then, lower the heat to medium and cook the meatballs, flipping occasionally, until they're done. The total cooking time will depend on the size of your meatballs, but it should be around 10-20 minutes.

If you want to add a BBQ sauce to your meatballs, you can make a simple sauce by adding ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and spices to the skillet and bringing it to a boil. Once the sauce is ready, add the meatballs and simmer for about 10-15 minutes.

Characteristics	Values
Pros	Don't have to use an oven, don't heat up the house with the oven, fewer dishes if you cook the meatballs in a sauce
Cons	Messier, less aesthetically pleasing, more hands-on
Meatball ingredients	Ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, onion, salt, cheese, garlic, oats, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper
Meatball preparation	Mix ingredients, shape into balls, bake
Meatball cooking	Sear in a skillet on medium-high heat, flip after 2 minutes, lower heat to medium and cook for 10-20 minutes
Sauce ingredients	Ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, barbecue sauce, water, onion, liquid smoke, garlic powder
Sauce preparation	Add ingredients to skillet, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low
Meatball and sauce combination	Simmer meatballs in sauce for 10-15 minutes

What You'll Learn

How to make BBQ meatballs from scratch?
How to cook store-bought BBQ meatballs on a stove?
How to make a BBQ sauce for meatballs?
How to cook meatballs in BBQ sauce?
How to serve BBQ meatballs?

How to make BBQ meatballs from scratch

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
1 cup cracker or bread crumbs
1/4-1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 large egg
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

First, preheat your oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, combine the egg, milk, oats, onion, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Add the ground beef and mix well. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls. Place the meatballs on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.

While the meatballs are baking, make the barbecue sauce. In a saucepan, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, onion, liquid smoke, and garlic powder. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for two minutes, stirring frequently.

Once the meatballs are baked, remove them from the oven and pour the hot sauce over them, ensuring each meatball is well coated. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes.

Your BBQ meatballs are now ready to be served! They go great with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or a fresh green salad.

Tips

For an extra spicy kick, add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the barbecue sauce.
You can use ground turkey, chicken, or pork instead of beef for a different flavor profile.
For an extra smoky flavor, add more liquid smoke or use smoked paprika in the meatball sauce.
Insert a small cube of cheddar cheese into the center of each meatball before baking for a gooey surprise.
To keep your BBQ meatballs moist, avoid overmixing and overcooking the meat.
If you don't have an oven or don't want to use it, you can cook the meatballs on a stove in a skillet. Simply heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add oil, and carefully place the meatballs in the hot skillet, searing for about 2 minutes on each side. Lower the heat to medium and cook the meatballs until they're done, flipping occasionally (total cooking time will depend on the size of your meatballs).

How to cook store-bought BBQ meatballs on a stove

Cooking store-bought BBQ meatballs on a stove is a convenient option if you don't have an oven or don't want to heat it up. It's also a great way to avoid extra dishes if you plan on cooking the meatballs in a sauce later. However, it can be a bit messier and more hands-on than baking them.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to cook store-bought BBQ meatballs on a stove:

Step 1: Prepare your skillet

Place a skillet on your stove and turn the heat up to medium-high. Add a few tablespoons of oil to the skillet and wait for it to heat up.

Step 2: Sear the meatballs

Carefully place your store-bought BBQ meatballs in the hot skillet. Sear the bottom of the meatballs for about 2 minutes, then flip them over and sear the other side for another 2 minutes, or until they are nicely browned.

Step 3: Lower the heat and continue cooking

After searing, lower the heat to medium. Continue cooking the meatballs, flipping them occasionally, until they are cooked through. The total cooking time will depend on the size of your meatballs, but it usually takes around 10-20 minutes.

Step 4: Finish with a sauce (optional)

If you want to add extra flavor or moisture to your meatballs, you can finish cooking them in a sauce. Simply follow the previous steps until your meatballs are seared, then add them to your favorite BBQ sauce or another sauce of your choice. Gently simmer the meatballs in the sauce until they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. This will take around 10 minutes, depending on the size of the meatballs. If you don't want your sauce to thicken, you can add a lid while simmering.

And that's it! You now have delicious, stove-cooked BBQ meatballs that can be served as a party appetizer or a tasty family dinner. Enjoy!

How to make a BBQ sauce for meatballs

How to make BBQ sauce for meatballs

Ingredients

Ketchup
Brown sugar
Apple cider vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Spices (smoked paprika, salt, pepper, chilli powder, garlic powder)
Water
Nutmeg
Onion
Liquid smoke

Method

Add the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and spices to a skillet.
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat to low.
Add the meatballs and simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
For a thinner sauce, add some water to the mixture.
For a spicier sauce, add some nutmeg or chilli powder.
For added flavour, chop up an onion and add it to the sauce.
For a smokier flavour, add some liquid smoke to the mixture.

How to cook meatballs in BBQ sauce

Ingredients

Ground beef
Bread crumbs/cracker crumbs
Eggs
Milk/evaporated milk
Onion
Salt
Ketchup
Brown sugar
Apple cider vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Smoked paprika
Chilli flakes
Cheese (optional)
Oil

Method

First, make your meatballs. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, bread crumbs/cracker crumbs, eggs, milk/evaporated milk, onion, and salt. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls.

Next, heat a skillet or large frying pan with a little oil over medium-high heat. Carefully place the meatballs in the pan and sear for about 2 minutes on each side, until browned.

Once the meatballs are browned, add the barbecue sauce. You can make your own by mixing ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika in a separate bowl. Or, you can use your favourite store-bought variety.

Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for about 10-15 minutes, until they are cooked through. If you're using the oven, bake the meatballs for 18-20 minutes, then add the sauce and return to the oven for a further 10-12 minutes.

If you like, add a small cube of cheese to the centre of each meatball for a gooey surprise. You can also add a spicy kick with red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.

How to serve BBQ meatballs

BBQ meatballs are a versatile dish that can be served as a party appetiser or a family meal. Here are some ideas for how to serve them:

As a Main Course

Serve BBQ meatballs with a side of mashed potatoes and steamed or sautéed green beans. Make sure there's enough sauce on the meatballs to complement the mash.
For a summer dinner, serve the meatballs in crusty bread with a large leafy salad and pickles.
For a German-inspired meal, pair the meatballs with potato salad and sauerkraut.
For a simple dinner bowl, serve the BBQ meatballs with rice and steamed or stir-fried greens. Again, ensure there's enough sauce so that the rice isn't dry.
For campfire vibes, serve your BBQ meatballs with baked potatoes, baked beans, and coleslaw.
For comfort food, try mac and cheese with broccoli, a big salad, and BBQ meatballs.
For an Asian-inspired meal, serve Asian-style BBQ meatballs (like Korean BBQ Meatballs) over noodles and heaps of stir-fried vegetables. Alternatively, use zucchini noodles or serve the meatballs in lettuce cups with coleslaw.

As an Appetiser

BBQ meatballs can be a great party appetiser. Serve them with a slightly sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, or with a side of coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Other Sides

Other sides that go well with BBQ meatballs include: