Meatballs are easy make-ahead party food, so browse through these 60 delicious and easy meatball appetizer recipes for your next party. You are sure to find the perfect meatball recipe that your guest will love them so much they will want your recipe!
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Browse through these simple tips for cooking meatballs, and you will have the perfect tender meatball that is full of great flavor and holds together in your sauce.
FAQ
How to cook frozen meatballs
If you buy frozen meatballs, most are already cooked. However, it still is a good idea to heat frozen meatballs until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. To do this, preheat the oven to 350. Place the number of frozen meatballs you want in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Be sure not to have the meatballs too close together; there should be an inch or more space between them—Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet and toss them into your sauce.
Should I thaw meatballs before going in a crockpot?
You can put frozen meatballs directly into your crockpot. It's best to have them on the bottom so they will get the most heat. Then add the rest of your recipe's ingredients into the crockpot and follow the recipe's time for cooking.
Do eggs make meatballs harder or softer
Eggs do not make meatballs softer or harder. They are a binder that helps hold the meatballs together while they cook. However, the eggs will make meatballs more spongy and dense.
Is it better to bake or pan fry meatballs?
Pan fry or baking meatballs is a good way to cook them. However, baking them allows any grease to cook out onto the baking sheet. This makes them a bit more healthy.
How to keep cocktail meatballs warm for a party
- Stovetop: keep them warm over very low heat for up to 1 hour
- Crockpot: After you have cooked the meatballs in sauce, transfer to a crockpot and set the temperature to a warm setting. They will keep for several hours. It is good to stir every hour to keep the sauce from sticking to the slow cooker.
- Chafing dish: An affordable option for large parties to keep food warm is a chafing dish. Another perk is they make clean up after the party a breeze.
24 Piece Party Serving Kit Includes Chafing Kits and Serving Utensils
Tips
With a few basic tips, you can cook great meatballs for your next party or dinner.
Secret to tender meatballs
- A good tip is to add day-old bread soaked in milk or water into your meatball ingredients. Mix this into your meat mixture for a light, tender meatball.
- Be sure you do not overcook your meatballs. Cooking ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork too long makes it tough.
- It is also a good idea to start with chilled meat and then add 1/3 cup of ice-cold water a little at a time. This is a secret to keeping meatballs tender without adding calories.
- Add your meatballs into a sauce after cooking so they do not dry out.
How to make meatballs that don't fall apart
Make sure you use a binder when making your meatballs. You can add bread pieces soaked in milk or mix in dried bread crumbs and eggs. Another great option is to use crumbled Ritz crackers and egg mixture with the raw meat. Some have also found success using flour mixed into the meat mixture. It is also a good idea to use a cookie scoop when forming the meatballs. This helps pack them together without overhandling, which makes them tough.
Should meatballs be cooked before putting in sauce?
Its best way is to first brown meatballs until a golden brown in a frying pan. Then let them finish cooking in the sauce. This method gives the meatballs a light, crunchy outside and a juicy tender inside. It also infuses a flavor from the meatballs into the sauce.
How to keep meatballs soft after cooking
- Add moisture when making the meatballs. This could be from veggies, barbecue sauces, or a little bit of ice water.
- Don't overmix when preparing the meatballs or pack them into balls too tightly.
- Keep the meatballs larger than an inch in diameter. Smaller than an inch tends to dry out when cooking.
- Pan-fry the outside of your meatballs first before adding to the sauce. This seals in the juices and keeps the inside tender.
- Be sure to set a time and don't overcook the meatballs.
- Add 30% high-fat meat to 70% lean ground beef for a soft meatball.
Meatball appetizers
All these party meatballs will make great easy appetizers, and they could also make a delicious main course dish for your weeknight meal. Also, meatballs are a great item to keep in your freezer for quick, entertaining snacks.
If you have the gang over for the Super Bowl or any other game day parties, meatballs are a great man-pleaser choice when it comes to party food. You can make them ahead of the game and then keep them warm in a crockpot. This way, your guest can dish out their own anytime during the game. Also, be sure and check out my Game Day Party Food Bars; it's packed with great party food ideas.
BBQ sauce covered meatballs
Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs with Grape Jelly, Sriracha & BBQ Sauce
Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs: Using frozen meatballs, grape jelly, sriracha and bbq sauce, you’ll have a crowd favorite in just two hours!
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BBQ Chicken Meatballs
These BBQ Chicken Meatballs are one of my favorite easy party appetizers, but they also make a delicious dinner when served with a veggie side!
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Smokey BBQ Meatballs
These meatballs turn a classic into a smoky BBQ treat! Perfect for parties or a delicious dinner.
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Marinara sauce
Mozzarella Stuffed Mushrooms - Melty, Oozy Centers
Make these cheese stuffed meatballs without using eggs or breadcrumbs. Instead, use a savory 2-cheese blend that gives them the body and flavor of pizza.
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Meatball Marinara
If pork & beef meatballs topped with tons of parmesan & some garlic bread is your thing then you are gonna love this meatball marinara recipe
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Sour meatballs
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sweet and Sour Meatballs is an easy recipe for mini meatballs flavored with fresh ginger, cilantro, scallions and garlic, shaped into mini meatballs and simmered in a homemade sweet and sour sauce.
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Easy recipes
Instant Pot Chili Meatballs - Cranberry Chili Meatballs
These Cranberry Chili Meatballs, made with only 4 ingredients, will become your go-to cocktail meatballs recipe!
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Easy Ingredient Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs
Want an easy appetizer that doesn’t disappoint? Try these 3 Ingredient Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs and you’ll be the hit of your next party.
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Cranberry Meatballs | The Perfect Quick & Easy Appetizer!
These Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect appetizer for your next get together! Make a delicious party food in just 10 minutes with 6 simple ingredients!
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Air fryer meatballs
Air Fryer Meatballs | Couple in the Kitchen
Once you make air fryer meatballs, you’ll never make them another way again!
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Crockpot meatballs
A savory and delicious 3-ingredient crockpot Coca-Cola® meatballs recipe, perfect for game day.
Crockpot Meatballs with Blackberry Chili Sauce
Crockpot meatballs are fantastic for holiday and game day parties. The sweet and slightly spicy blackberry chili sauce adds a ton of flavor to these light meatballs! Crockpot Meatballs Recipe with Blackberry Chili Sauce Whether you’re planning for a cocktail party or a game day get-together with fri…
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Crockpot Gluten Free BBQ Turkey Meatballs | The Rustic Foodie®
These gluten free Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs are healthy and easy to make. They’re baked and then tossed in a tangy barbeque sauce!
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Instant pot
Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs
Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs, an easy, sweet and spicy cocktail meatball appetizer for holiday parties or game day.
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Instant Pot BBQ Sweet Meatballs
This simple meatball recipe is the perfect choice for every party but you can also serve them as an appetizer during a weekend dinner with your family and friends. Just place them nicely on a tray with toothpicks and a small bowl of sauce to be used as a dip by your guests. These meatballs are quick…
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EASY KOREAN MEATBALLS (INSTANT POT)
THESE GLAZED KOREAN MEATBALLS ARE EASY TO PREPARE AND TAKE MINUTES TO COOK! In recent years Korean food become some of our favorite dinner time meals. From spicy Tteokbokki, Jajangmyeon to Japchae, Korean culture has
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Instant Pot Cocktail Meatballs Recipe (Pressure Cooker Meatballs)
An easy recipe for instant pot cocktail meatballs. Delicious homemade meatballs cooked in a rich sticky sauce are juicy and flavorful. These pressure cooker cocktail meatballs are ready for serving in 30 minutes!
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Grilled meatballs
Grilled Peach BBQ Meatballs {Appetizer or Main Dish} - Out Grilling
Peach BBQ Meatballs are tender, juicy and delicious for a bite-sized appetizer. Grilled ground beef meatballs tossed in Peach BBQ Sauce.
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Sweet and Sour Meatballs With Cranberry Sauce
With just a few ingredients, Sweet and Sour Meatballs With Cranberry Sauce cook themselves in the slow cooker for a deliciously saucy appetizer!
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Italian meatballs
Delicious Meatball Parmesan Bites
Meatball Parmesan Bites. Tender meatballs infused with garlic, breadcrumbs, and parmesan, bathed in red sauce and topped with melted cheese.
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30 Minute Chicken Marsala Meatballs - foodworthfeed
These 30 Minute Chicken Marsala Meatballs have all of the flavors of Sicily in bite-sized meatballs, with mushrooms and Marsala cream sauce.
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Cake Pop Maker Mediterranean Meatballs With Dill Pesto
These Mediterranean meatballs are filled with feta, spinach and other herbs and seasonings. They are then served with a fresh dill pesto.
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Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatballs Appetizer | All that’s Jas
These Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatball Appetizers are made with creamy Alfredo angel hair pasta & Italian-style meatballs.
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Greek meatballs
Your friends and family will applaud when you serve this healthy and delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs. Eggplant is a great way to add moisture to meatballs and it's good for you.
Easy Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)
Juicy, tender Greek meatballs that are bursting with flavours of oregano, mint, parsley and red onion. This a super easy and delicious recipe.
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Greek Meatballs - Keftedes
Greek meatballs - keftedes, often called the Greek National food are so easy to make. They can be a snack, a yummy appetizer or the star of the table.
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Sweedish meatballs
WHOLE30 SWEDISH MEATBALLS - Organically Addison
These Whole30 Swedish Meatballs are hearty, savory, and so flavorful! The gravy is smooth and creamy. This is an easy and healthy recipe!
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Indian meatballs
Mini Indian Meatballs with Curry Coconut Sauce
Mini Indian Meatballs with Curry Coconut Sauce. With Indian spices added like turmeric and fresh mint, served in a delicious sauce.
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Mexican recipes
Mexican Meatballs With Avocado-Crema Sauce
These tender, succulent Mexican meatballs come with just the right kick of spice and a decadent avocado-crema sauce for your dipping pleasure.
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Taco Meatballs | Air Fried Keto Taco Meatballs
These low carb Taco Meatballs are absolutely bursting with taco flavor! They’re quick and easy to make thanks since they’re cooked in the air fryer!
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Asian meatballs
These Sweet Sesame Ginger Meatballs are an Asian-style turkey meatball that can be served as an appetizer or on a bed of rice for a complete meal! #meatballs #turkey #easy #sesameginger #asian #recipe
Asian Pork Meatballs
Asian Pork Meatballs - A quick and easy appetizer filled with flavor! Ground pork meatballs combined with spices and topped with a sticky asian sauce!
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Sweet & Zingy Asian Meatballs
Not your standard potluck meatballs! These Sweet & Zingy Asian Meatballs have a delicious, complex flavor. They can be made ahead & served in the crockpot.
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Asian Meatballs - Amazing Appetizer or Main Dish
These Asian Meatballs go together in a flash and make for a tasty appetizer for a special event or can be served as a delicious weeknight meal for the whole family to enjoy.
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Cocktail party meatballs
Sweet Gochujang Meatballs Appetizer - Instant Pot or Regular
Sweet Gochujang Meatballs appetizer using frozen mini cocktail meatballs with garlicky maple gochujang sauce. Recipe for Instant pot, Regular and slow cooker.
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Delicious Cocktail Meatballs - The Flavor Bender
Cocktail Meatballs - juicy, flavorful meatballs coated in a honey sriracha sweet and spicy sauce. Perfect appetizer for parties or as game day snacks.
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Cocktail Meatballs
Cocktail Meatballs are a perfect appetizer for all your holiday parties!
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Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish
This bourbon meatballs appetizer recipe is so delicious, you will want to eat them for a meal and not just for an appetizer! Succulent and tasty!
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Brie-Stuffed Turkey Meatballs
These Brie-Stuffed Meatballs are incredibly moist turkey meatballs with a delightful brie cheese surprise in the middle!
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Grape jelly sauce meatballs
BEST Grape Jelly Meatballs — Salt & Baker
Grape Jelly Meatballs can be served as a main course or an appetizer for game days! These crockpot grape jelly meatballs are easy to make and loved by all!
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Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs (Easy 4-Ingredient Recipe)
These 4-ingredient crockpot grape jelly meatballs make the perfect cocktail meatball appetizer for potlucks, parties, and BBQs.
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Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce - Flavor Mosaic
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooked Perfect® Meatballs. All opinions are 100% mine. These Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce are tender and juicy and flavorful appetizer meatballs that are super easy to make for a party. When I was a kid one of my...
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Holiday party ideas
Easy Meatball Bites (Wrapped in Crescent Dough)
These are the easiest and tastiest dough wrapped meatball bites around! Adults and kid alike will marvel at how delicious these are to enjoy!
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Cranberry Meatballs - Mom Foodie
Cranberry meatballs may just be the ideal holiday party appetizer. The BBQ sauce for these meatball appetizers is made with cranberry sauce and chili sauce. While the pictured version is finished in the oven, these
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Family favorites
Raspberry Black Bean Meatball Skillet
A spin off of a popular appetizer, this Raspberry Black Bean dip meatball skillet will definitely become your next go-to meal!
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Smoked BBQ Turkey Meatballs (GF, DF, Paleo, Whole30)| Hot Pan Kitchen
These BBQ Turkey Meatballs are small but pack a ton of flavor. Easily prepped in one bowl, they’re perfect as part of a weeknight dinner or as party food.
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Tsukune (Japanese grilled chicken meatballs)
Tsukune, Japanese grilled chicken meatballs, with keto teriyaki sauce is sweet, salty, and absolutely delicious! This is the best low carb Tsukune recipe!
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Baked Pork Meatballs - Pineapple & Buffalo Sauce
These mini baked pork meatballs make for a delicious and easy make ahead appetizer. A sweet and spicy canapé that will impress your guests.
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Spicy meatballs
Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
These buffalo chicken meatballs are the BEST! I add a secret ingredient to the hot sauce making them super delicious and packed with flavor!
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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
These Buffalo Chicken Meatballs incorporate all of the delicious flavors of a spicy chicken wing in the form of a meatball.
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Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Meatballs Recipe - Appetizer Addiction
Slow cooker sweet and spicy meatballs are the perfect appetizer for any occasion! Made from scratch these meatballs are a crowd pleaser. Easy recipe.
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Sticky Honey Sriracha Meatballs – Real Food with Sarah
These Sticky Honey Sriracha Meatballs combine staple pantry ingredients for the perfect weeknight family meal everyone will love.
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Chicken meatballs
Low Carb Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe | Wholesome Yum
See how to make buffalo chicken meatballs with just 6 ingredients! This easy low carb keto buffalo chicken meatballs recipe is a mashup of wings + meatballs, with only 10 minutes prep.
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Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs + Sour Cream Dip Recipe
Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs! Finely chopped ham and Swiss cheese add tons of flavor to this low carb appetizer or ground chicken entrée.
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Turkey meatballs
Greek Turkey Meatballs - The Darling Apron
These baked Greek Turkey Meatballs are loaded with flavor and include feta cheese & sundried tomatoes baked right in. Serve with homemade tzatziki.
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Keto Baked Asian Turkey Meatballs Recipe | Wholesome Yum
Learn how to make healthy, keto Asian turkey meatballs that are full of flavor, with 10-minute prep! This baked ground turkey meatball recipe has simple ingredients and just 6 grams net carbs.
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Healthy Turkey Meatballs Recipe
Healthy Turkey Meatballs are flavorful and moist! They’re bound together with oatmeal (no breadcrumbs), dairy-free, & easy to make with only 8 ingredients in 30 minutes (baked or stovetop)!
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Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatballs - Food Meanderings
These Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatballs are easy, festive,healthy and WW friendly, making them the perfect holiday appetizer!
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Vegan meatballs
Meaty Vegan Tvp Meatballs
Vegan tvp meatballs that are meaty, flavorful & meat eaters approved, yet also healthy at the same time ! They are also quick & easy to make.
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Vegan Swedish Meatballs
These delicious Vegan Swedish Meatballs are reminiscent of the classic IKEA version. They are perfectly textured and seasoned with warm spices. Then they are smothered in a rich and creamy gravy that is the epitome of comfort.
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Vegan Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Vegan Meatballs with sweet and sour sauce. Healthy plant-based gluten-free appetizer. OR serve them with marinara sauce for a vegan dinner.
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Addie
This is so helpful for entertaining! Thank you!