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A platter of spicy meatball appetizers served with toothpicks for a tailgate party

Fiesty Meatballs Appetizer for a Tailgate Party

These spicy, saucy meatballs are a crowd-pleasing appetizer with a bold barbecue-sweet chili glaze. Perfect for tailgates, parties, or game day snacking.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360

Ingredients
  

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • baking sheet
  • parchment paper
  • saucepan or skillet
  • whisk
  • oven

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, milk, garlic, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley.
  3. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
  4. Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Brush or drizzle the meatballs lightly with olive oil.
  6. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and browned.
  7. While the meatballs bake, whisk together the barbecue sauce, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, honey, and lime juice in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
  8. Once the meatballs are done, add them to the sauce and toss gently to coat.
  9. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is hot and slightly thickened.
  10. Transfer to a serving platter or keep warm in a slow cooker for tailgate serving. Serve with toothpicks.

Notes

For easier shaping, chill the meat mixture for 10 minutes before forming meatballs. You can adjust the hot sauce to taste depending on how spicy you want the appetizer to be.