Wednesday, September 19, 2007

BBQ Meatballs (Freezer/Crockpot Meal)

Meatballs:
3 lbs ground beef (I use turkey these days)
1 12 oz can evaporated milk (I do whatever I think I should do)
1 C oatmeal
1 C cracker crumbs (or another C oatmeal)
2 eggs
1/2 C chopped onions (or more)
2 tsp garlic powder (use fresh)
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp chili powder

Sauce:
2 C Catsup
1 C Rapadura (brown sugar)
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (WHAT is this stuff - Zander won't eat this meal so I use it)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (I use fresh)
1/4 C chopped onion

To make meatballs, combine ingredients (mixture will be soft) and shape into walnut size balls. Place meatballs in a single layer on wax paper-lined cookie sheets; freeze until sold. Store frozen meatballs in freezer bags until read to cook.

To make sauce, combine ingredients and stir until "sugar" dissolves. Place frozen meatballs in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan; pour on the sauce. Bake at 350* for an hour.

Yield 80 meatballs.

I'm trying to get favorites on the blog s0 that I'm not at the whim of "I Don't Know" who puts my cookbooks in strange places. I use this sauce as our BBQ sauce - you can use LESS sugar. I've used this over meatloaf. It's WONDERFUL to have the meatballs in the freezer - you can make so many DIFFERENT meals with them. In a pinch you can even buy Sam's meatballs and top with sauce. LOL

I have a lot of sauce recipes to throw in a crock pot or oven with meatballs. LOL

For more yummy eats check my recipe index.

6 comments:

Debbie said...

De'Etta, you put the meatballs in the freezer uncooked? We've always done them cooked...is uncooked better? Do they taste better. The recipe looks great.

Lisa in Jax said...

This looks good too and I've already made the meatballs.lol

Cynthia said...

The meatballs sound yummy. Your receipe is almost the same as mine except mine doesn't call for evaporated milk.. just eggs for the liquid. I'll have to give yours a try. Do you freeze them after they are cooked or before?

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Debbie - I don't know if they would be better cooked or uncooked...but yes, I put them in uncooked - easier for me....I don't have to mess with cooking them until they are in a frozen state and covered with sauce. LOL

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

OH - Debbie - it works well if your meatballs are precooked too....

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Cindy - got this from a rancher in Hardin. LOL I don't like using evaporated milk these days.....I could try just eggs and skip it...these are soft when you make them.....