Sweet Brown Sugar BBQ Meatballs

Name: Sweet Brown Sugar BBQ Meatballs
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 30
Ingredients: 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; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup barbecue sauce; 2 teaspoons chile flakes (or to taste); Chopped chives (for garnish)

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Prep 30 min
Total 30 min
Servings 30

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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.

by: The Food in My Beard

Updated Mar 7, 2017

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)

Steps

1

Mix all of the meatball ingredients together and form your meatballs.
2

Heat a large frying pan with a little oil and gently, one by one, add in the meatballs.
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.
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.
5

The sauce should start to bubble and look like dark caramel.
6

Remove from heat and add in the barbecue sauce. Stir well.
7

Remove from heat and add in the barbecue sauce. Stir well.

Nutrition Information

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.

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.