43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party

🎉 Party Meatballs

When it comes to planning parties, I’ve discovered quick and easy tips that will be helpful to you. I have some great budget-friendly meatball appetizer ideas for a party, such as a baby shower, engagement party, or birthday celebration. I like to serve meatballs as a hearty appetizer.

• Meatball appetizers are easy to keep hot and serve no matter what size of party you are having.
• Family-friendly appetizer that both kids and adults enjoy.
• Meatballs are a freezer-friendly party food to keep on hand for last minute gatherings!

Meatballs are also great for Game Day Party food. You can stuff them into hoagies or serve them as bite-sized treats tossed in my bacon BBQ Sauce. They also work for holiday parties or any time you expect a crowd.

💰Budget-Friendly Tip: Because meatballs are made with ground meat, you can add them to a selection of other Budget-friendly Appetizer Ideas for a party that’s easy on the wallet. You can even serve them up for delicious budget-friendly meat for your weeknight dinner’s main course dish.

💡 What’s the trick to meatballs that don’t fall apart?

The number one thing to do is make sure you use a binder when making your meatballs. There are quite a few ways to do this including:

• Add bread pieces soaked in milk or mix in dried bread crumbs and eggs.
• Use crumbled Ritz crackers and egg mixture with the raw meat.
• You can also use eggs as a binder.

🏆 Top Tip For Making Perfect Round Meatballs

Use a cookie scoop when forming the meatballs. This helps pack them together without overhandling the meatball mixture, which makes them tough.

Should meatballs be cooked before putting in sauce?

It is best to cook meatballs before putting them in the sauce. Browning meatballs until golden brown in a frying pan is best to add color to the outside of the meat, seal the juices, and also help them keep their shape. It also helps separate grease before putting the meatball in the sauce. After they’re browned, finish cooking them 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 do I keep meatballs soft after cooking?

There’s no one way to achieve tender meatballs, but here are some tricks I’ve used, especially when they will be kept hot for an extended period of time.

• Add moisture when making the meatballs. This could be from veggies, barbecue sauces, or a little bit of ice water.
• Don’t over-mix 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.
• Use a timer to prevent overcooking overcook the meatballs.
• Use a mixture of meat with some fat. I like to use 30% high-fat meat to 70% lean ground beef for a soft meatball.

🧊 Can I cook frozen meatballs?

Yes, you can cook frozen meatballs. The big advantage of frozen meatballs is most are already cooked so they just need to be heated.

Cook them in a preheated oven at 350° F. Place the number of frozen meatballs you want in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet and toss them into your sauce.

🏆 TOP TIP: Be sure not to have the meatballs too close together; there should be an inch or more space between them to allow air to circulate around them, which heats and browns them at the same time.

Should I thaw meatballs before going in a crockpot?

No, it’s not necessary. 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.

Add the rest of your ingredients on top and follow the cooking time in the recipe.

🔥 What’s the best way to keep party meatballs hot?

• 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 cleaning up after the party a breeze.

Crockpot Meatballs For A Party

Creamy Rich Meatballs and Gravy Recipe (Easy Slow Cooker)

Learn how to make tender meatballs with abundant rich flavorful gravy using a slow cooker. This step-by-step recipe will teach you how to create a delicious appetizer or satisfying meatballs and creamy gravy sauce meal sure to impress your family and friends.

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Saucy Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe; Easy Slow Cooker

These sweet and sour meatballs are a mouth-watering combination of tender meatballs, juicy pineapple chunks, and colorful bell peppers, all simmered in a delicious blend of sweet BBQ and teriyaki sauce. Preparing them is a breeze; it only requires 10 minutes of prep time, and your slow cooker takes care of the rest. You can serve these delicious Hawaiian meatballs as a main dish over rice or as a simple appetizer at your next party.

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3 Ingredient Sauce Ideas For Easy Crockpot Meatballs

When you need an easy appetizer, all you have to do is grab some frozen meatballs and pick your sauce combination. The best part is it will take you less than 5 minutes to prep these saucy meatballs.

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Traditional Meatballs With A Twist

If you’re looking for classic flavors that appeal to a wide variety of people then look no further. These meatballs make the perfect appetizer to serve large groups. They’re guaranteed to be a hit!

Here you will find meatballs in barbecue sauce, marinara sauce, buffalo sauce, and the famous grape jelly meatballs!

Homemade BBQ Meatballs Recipe Easy Slow Cooker

This easy BBQ meatballs recipe guarantees juicy, tender hand-rolled meatballs covered in a homemade smokey barbeque sauce and then simmered in a slow cooker. Perfect for easy entertaining or an easy home-cooked weeknight dinner.

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Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

Buffalo Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are the perfect quick snack or appetizer that you can make ahead and freeze in large batches. Then when you need a quick party snack just place them in your air fryer and bake. Sauce them up mild, medium, or extra hot.

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Let’s face it, sometimes we get pressed for time but that’s when it’s time to reach for kitchen tools that make life easier! The slow cooker meatballs are great because you can set them up and let them cook for hours with very little attention.

The Instant Pot is great for cooking your favorite homemade meatballs recipe quickly and much easier than other methods! Or reach for the air fryer for smaller groups or to use when the oven is full of other appetizers.

Discover old favorites but also some exciting new ways to serve meatballs for any special occasion.

International Meatball Recipes

Give your easy cocktail meatballs a makeover by making them with an international flair! In many instances, it’s just a simple swap of a meatball sauce recipe that’s needed to change it up.

There are lots of ways to incorporate more diverse flavors into your party menu! Let’s look at a few ways that are some of my favorites!

Party Cocktail Meatballs

If you’re looking for unique ways to serve up meatballs, then stop here! These are a little extra special, which makes them perfect for a fancier gathering. They’ll still work for football parties, too but they may involve a bit more work than some of the other meatball recipes!

Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatballs Appetizer

These Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatball Appetizers are made with creamy Alfredo angel hair pasta & Italian-style meatballs.

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Meatballs Made Without Beef

While beef or a combination of meats are most commonly used for meatballs, there are other meats you can shape into meatballs!

Cheesy Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs Recipe

This Cheesy Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs recipe is a delightful twist on the classic dish. These flavorful meatballs combine ground chicken, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings, all nestled in a rich marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family meal or when entertaining guests. These classic parm meatballs are sure to become a family favorite.

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Vegan Cocktail Meatballs

These vegan meatballs make the perfect party food when you’re expecting vegans or vegetarians at a party! They’re tasty enough to appeal to everyone attending, but a great way to cater to friends and family who don’t eat meat.

Meaty Vegan TVP Meatballs

Vegan tvp meatballs that are meaty, flavorful & meat eaters approved. They are also quick & easy to make.

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