Description
These homemade BBQ meatballs combine ground beef with oats and evaporated milk for tender, flavorful bites baked in a tangy, smoky homemade BBQ sauce. Perfectly baked until bubbly and served best with mashed potatoes and green beans, this recipe makes a comforting main dish that can be easily doubled or frozen for later meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 lbs. ground beef (85/15)
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for baking the meatballs evenly.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, quick oats, evaporated milk, beaten egg, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and kosher salt. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs. Place them evenly into either two smaller casserole dishes or one large 9×13 baking dish, depending on your preference and family size.
- Prepare the BBQ Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt until smooth and well combined.
- Coat Meatballs with Sauce: Pour the prepared BBQ sauce evenly over the meatballs, ensuring they are well coated.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the dish or dishes in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. During baking, the sauce will bubble, and oil will separate slightly from the meatballs.
- Emulsify Sauce: After removing from the oven, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to the pan and stir gently. This helps emulsify the sauce, allowing it to cling perfectly to the meatballs.
- Serve: Serve the tender BBQ meatballs hot with your choice of sides such as mashed potatoes and green beans for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- For freezing, divide the meatballs before baking into two smaller pans; bake one and freeze the other unbaked for a future meal.
- Adjust chili powder to taste if you prefer more or less heat in your meatballs.
- Ensure the meatballs are uniform in size to guarantee even baking.
- Adding a bit of water after baking is essential to remove excess oil and improve sauce texture.
