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Sweet Brown Sugar BBQ Meatballs

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The Food in My Beard
Updated Mar 7, 2017
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So easy and SO delicious, these sticky glazed meatballs are sweet, savory and just a little spicy. They have a rich, deep flavor thanks to brown sugar and your favorite BBQ sauce.

More About This Recipe

  • Caramel and meatballs might seem like a weird combo, but it's actually a really common thing in different cultures! In Vietnam there’s a type of meatball called Xiu Mai that's coated in a caramel sauce. I used Xiu Mai as inspiration for these sweet brown sugar BBQ meatballs. I made some simple meatballs from scratch, but feel free to use store-bought. I usually like to broil meatballs, but for these, pan-frying works best. That’s because you get the nice browning and fat to start your caramel. Simply sear them in a frying pan and add some brown sugar. Once a quick caramel sauce forms, add a splash of BBQ sauce and you end up with a sticky-sweet and super delicious sauce. A sprinkling of chive on top adds a little freshness to this deep-flavored dish. These meatballs are great! Perfect for a party or on a sandwich.

Sweet Brown Sugar BBQ Meatballs

  • Prep Time 30 min
  • Total 30 min
  • Servings 30
  • Ingredients 11
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Ingredients

Meatballs:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup Progresso™ Panko Italian style crispy bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • Salt and pepper

Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 teaspoons chile flakes (or to taste)
  • Chopped chives (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Mix all of the meatball ingredients together and form your meatballs.
  • Step 
    2
    Heat a large frying pan with a little oil and gently, one by one, add in the meatballs.
  • Step 
    3
    After they cook for about 4 minutes, flip the meatballs and cook an additional 4 minutes. Once they're cooked on the outside, they should be a little less delicate. Making sure none are stuck to the bottom, start tossing them in the pan a little more to cook them evenly. Drain most of the fat, leaving a few tablespoons' worth in the pan.
  • Step 
    4
    Add 2 tablespoons of water to deglaze the pan, scraping up any stuck-on pieces. Add the brown sugar, adding a little more water if the pan looks too dry.
  • Step 
    5
    The sauce should start to bubble and look like dark caramel.
  • Step 
    6
    Remove from heat and add in the barbecue sauce. Stir well.
  • Step 
    7
    Remove from heat and add in the barbecue sauce. Stir well.

Nutrition

80 Calories
3 1/2g Total Fat
5g Protein
7g Total Carbohydrate
5g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
80
Calories from Fat
30
Total Fat
3 1/2g
6%
Saturated Fat
1 1/2g
7%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
20mg
7%
Sodium
160mg
7%
Potassium
70mg
2%
Total Carbohydrate
7g
2%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
5g
Protein
5g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
0%
0%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
4%
4%
Iron
2%
2%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 1 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 0 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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