BBQ Chicken Meatballs
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Oven-baked BBQ Chicken Meatballs are savory and sweet, bursting with flavor from the tangy BBQ sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, these meatballs are perfect with a side of mashed potatoes or in a toasty sub!
BBQ Chicken Meatballs
Barbecue chicken meatballs make a great weeknight dinner. They’re sweet yet savory, hearty, and fun to eat. Add mashed potatoes and a vegetable; everyone will be happy and well-fed.
But don’t save them just for those busy weeknights! Stick a toothpick in them, put them on a fancy platter, and serve them up at your next dinner party. They make the perfect appetizer.
You’ll be surprised how easy these meatballs are to make, especially if you use ready-made barbecue sauce. I like making a double batch and putting half in the freezer for days when I don’t have time to assemble dinner.
Why Make These BBQ Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients and Substitutions for Oven Baked Barbecue Meatballs
- Ground chicken | Ground turkey or lean ground beef will also work.
- Breadcrumbs | Any kind of breadcrumbs are good for this recipe; regular and gluten-free will both work. If you are short on breadcrumbs, toast a few slices of bread and process them in the food processor until you have crumbs. I have even been known to use oatmeal instead of bread crumbs. (check out my meatloaf muffins recipe)
- Onion | I usually use yellow onions in this recipe, but you can use white or red if that’s what you have on hand. (White onion has a more robust flavor – I often save the white onion for recipes that require sauteed onions.).
- Egg | Large
- Herbs and spices | Dried oregano, Garlic (freshly minced for the best flavor, but powdered or from the jar works too – 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove of garlic), salt, and black pepper.
- Barbecue sauce | Use your favorite store-bought or make your own.
How to make BBQ Chicken Meatballs, step by step
1 Prep: Preheat the oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, egg, breadcrumbs, and half of the BBQ sauce.
2 Make the meatballs: Use your hands to mix until thoroughly combined. Roll the chicken mixture into small meatballs (this recipe makes about 15 meatballs) and place each meatball on the baking sheet.
3 Bake: Bake the meatballs at 425F for 15 minutes or until they are fully cooked (165ºF internal temperature). Remove them from the oven.
4 Add BBQ sauce: Glaze the cooked meatballs with the remaining BBQ sauce by either brushing the sauce on top or placing them in a large bowl and tossing the meatballs in the sauce.
5 Optional Step – Caramelize the sauce: Place meatballs back on the baking sheet and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes. Garnish with a bit of parsley or finely sliced green onions, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Brown First for Extra Flavor: Brown your meatballs in a skillet before baking to give them an extra flavor boost. This creates a beautiful crust that seals in the juiciness. Just a few minutes on each side will do the trick!
- Frozen Meatballs Are Your Friend: Short on time? No problem! Use frozen meatballs to save some prep time. Just pop them in the oven and bake as directed. They’re a lifesaver for busy nights.
- Keep Them Uniform in Size: Consistent size is key for even cooking. Use a large scoop or kitchen scale to ensure all your meatballs are the same size. This way, you won’t end up with some overcooked and some underdone.
- Don’t Overwork the Meatballs: When mixing your ingredients, be gentle. Overworking the meat can make your meatballs dense and tough. Mix until just combined for the most tender bites.
- Bake Without Turning: Resist the urge to flip your meatballs halfway through baking. Leaving them undisturbed helps maintain their shape and ensures an evenly browned bottom.
- Check for Doneness: Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, cut one open to ensure it’s no longer pink inside.
- Make Ahead: You can shape the meatballs ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze them until you’re ready to bake.
Variations Of BBQ Chicken Meatballs
- Instead of ground chicken, use turkey, beef, or lamb.
- Spice them up by adding a teaspoon of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried ones. Fresh oregano, basil, or parsley will all work well.
- Saute onions, shallots, or green onions and add to the meat mixture.
- Add a teaspoon of smoked paprika or liquid smoke for a smoky flavor.
- Use these meatballs in any recipe that calls for meatballs. (See a few suggestions below.)
Storage Suggestions
Leftover meatballs will be good for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freezing instructions: Meatballs can be frozen raw or cooked. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, making sure they are not touching. Wrap tightly with plastic, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
FAQs
Do I have to use store-bought barbecue sauce for this recipe?
Absolutely not. If you have a favorite barbeque sauce recipe, go ahead and use it.
Can I use frozen meatballs?
Yes, just follow the cooking instructions on the package of your meatballs.
Can I use ground beef instead of chicken?
Meatballs can really be made with any kind of ground meat, whether it be chicken, turkey, beef, or even lamb. Choose whichever one you prefer.
How do you know if meatballs are cooked?
If you have a meat thermometer, that is the best way to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Without a thermometer, you can cut one meatball in half to see if the meat is still pinkish inside. If it is, it needs to cook a bit longer.
What goes best with meatballs?
Anything goes with meatballs. My guys tend to like meatballs served with mashed potatoes or rice and green beans, but these meatballs can be served with noodles or add the meatballs to a bun and have a meatball sandwich.
Looking for other meatball recipes?
- One Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Easy Meatball Calzones
- Easy One Pot Meatball Stroganoff Recipe
- Cheesy Penne With Meatballs
Did You Make These BBQ Chicken Meatballs?
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BBQ Chicken Meatballs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 15 meatballs 1x
- Category: main dish
- Method: oven
Description
Ready in just 25 minutes, these Oven-baked BBQ Chicken Meatballs are savory and sweet, bursting with flavor from the tangy BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp. each, salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, egg, breadcrumbs and half of the bbq sauce. Use hands to mix until thoroughly combined.
- Roll chicken mixture into small meatballs. (This recipe makes about 15 meatballs.)
- Place each meatball on the baking sheet and bake at 425F for 15 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked (165ºF internal temperature).
- Remove the meatballs from the oven.
- Glaze the cooked meatballs with the remaining bbq sauce by either brushing the remaining sauce on top or placing the sauce in a large bowl and tossing the entire meatball in the sauce. Place meatballs back on the baking sheet and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Garnish with a bit of parsley or finely sliced green onions and serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball
- Calories: 88
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Protein: 7
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