George’s Barbecue Sauce Meatballs
Follow our step-by-step, photo illustrated recipe to make this quick and easy appetizer. We’re featuring North Carolina’s very own George’s Barbecue Sauce to add a bit of a twist to the standard cocktail meatball appetizer made with sauce and grape jelly. You’ll love the difference that George’s will make. Printable recipe included.
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WIN this Holiday Gift Pack from George’s Barbecue Sauce.
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Sponsored Giveaway: This contest has ended.
Congratulations to our winner – Robin.
Thank you to everyone that entered our giveaway. Our winner was selected by random drawing using the random number generator at www.random.org. I’ve already emailed our winner and we will be shipping out the prize just as soon as Robin provides a mailing address.
I’d like to once again thank the fine folks over at George’s Barbecue Sauces for providing and shipping the Holiday Gift Pack for this giveaway. It was really great to see all the different ways that our readers like to use barbecue sauce, and I was glad to see that many of them mentioned they already enjoy the George’s brand of sauces. Thanks again to everyone that entered, stay tuned for another giveaway coming soon.
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We’re giving one lucky winner this Holiday Gift Pack of George’s Sauces. You’ll get one each of their three signature sauces, a koozie, and a brochure that includes the George’s Sauces company history and some unique recipes.
Just answer this quick question in the Comment Section at the bottom of the recipe.
Question: What’s your favorite way to use barbecue sauce?
Do you slather it on ribs, coat it on chicken for the grill, or baste it on a whole pig for a family pig picking? There are lots of great ways to use your favorite barbecue sauce. No answer is right or wrong, just share your favorite way for your chance to win.
Rules:
One entry per person, pretty please.
Contest ends Thursday night at midnight.
One Winner will be selected at random and announced on Friday – December 19, 2014.
This giveaway is sponsored by George’s Sauces of Nashville, North Carolina. We will need to share your shipping address with them and they are responsible for shipping your package. Delivery before Christmas is not guaranteed. Good Luck. Just answer the question in the Comment section below.
Your comment will not immediately appear. All comments are moderated on our family friendly site. Rest assured that I will get it online just as soon as possible, and Thank You in advance for entering.
In case you don’t win, you can still order any of George’s Sauces, along with other great items, from their website. Check it out. www.georgesbbqsauce.com
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George’s Barbecue Sauce Meatball Appetizers recipe.
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It’s always exciting when a company reaches out to me here on Taste of Southern. It just let’s me know that folks are finding our recipes and that companies consider we might be a good fit for doing some work together. That’s pretty awesome in my book.
Just a couple of days ago, Wendy Perry contacted me about doing a recipe and promotion here on Taste of Southern using George’s Barbecue Sauces. George’s has offered to provide one Taste of Southern reader with a Holiday Gift Pack of THREE barbecue sauces, and hopefully we can get it to you before Christmas. We’ll try at least.
Wendy Perry is the “Marketing and Social Media Maven” at George’s Barbecue Sauce over in Nashville, North Carolina. That’s right, North Carolina has it’s own Nashville. Take THAT Tennessee.
Wendy works with Our State Magazine, has her own website, and is a Nekkid throw cooker. She’s a culinary adventurist, home economist, cooking class instructor, personal chef, caterer, food stylist, and lots of other things all rolled up into one. You’ll have to visit her site to find out about her way of “throw cooking.”
Anyway, Wendy contacted me about doing a recipe featuring one of their sauces. I was glad to participate, and happy to give you the chance to win one of their Christmas Gift Packs.
With Christmas right around the corner, I opted to do a little bit of a switch on one of our most famous Southern appetizers.
Cocktail meatballs, submerged in a mix of chili sauce and grape jelly, show up at just about every type of get together held here in the South. It’s for good reason though, they’re quick, easy, and DELICIOUS. You can cook and prepare them any number of ways.
I’m making some really quick and easy meatballs from scratch. It’s just what I do, but you could certainly use frozen. I’m also cooking them in my favorite cast iron skillet. You could bake them in the oven, toss them in the crock pot, the choice is yours. Either way, I just hope you’ll give them a try.
You could use the same sauce with those Little Smokie’s Sausages, cut up weiners, sausage balls, and more. But, let’s not get carried away and cause a lot of confusion. Try our meatballs first, then let the wheels start to turn on how you can make this recipe your very own.
Instead of using chili sauce, we’re using a bottle of George’s Original Sauce. You could select their HOT, or their SPECIAL sauce, again, it’s your choice. I’m just trying to help you get started.
I think you’ll love the new flavor that George’s makes to the recipe. It will be something a bit “different” that you guest’s might not be expecting. They’ll love it, and they’ll love you for making it.
I was no stranger to George’s Barbecue Sauces. My niece used George’s in her restaurant over in Apex a few years back, and I’ve used it for grilling chicken, pork, and other goodies for years.
We’ll never know how many whole hogs have been basted, grilled, and sauced with George’s Sauces. Older brother sold it by the gallon in his grocery store for years. It’s made right here in North Carolina, and we’re proud of it.
Great big THANK YOU’S go out to Wendy, Ashley, and all the staff over at George’s for making our giveaway possible. We appreciate your confidence in Taste of Southern, and look forward to continuing to work together. I greatly appreciate the opportunity.
So, if you’re ready for a quick and easy appetizer, grab a bottle or two of George’s, and Let’s Get Cooking!
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George’s BBQ Sauce Meatballs recipe: You’ll need these ingredients… PLUS
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You’ll need one bottle of your favorite George’s Sauce, and a jar of Grape Jelly.
George’s has three different types of barbecue sauces including, Original, Special, and HOT. The choice is yours, but for this recipe, I’m using the George’s Original Barbecue Sauce. I’m just not brave enough for the HOT.
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To begin, crumble the beef into a large mixing bowl.
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Sprinkle on the Corn Meal.
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Add the Minced Onions.
NOTE: Although I don’t picture it in the step-by-step, the world needs to know that I added about 1/2 teaspoon of Garlic Powder to the above. I just like the additional layer of flavor it adds to the meat. It’s not required and totally your decision. I do have it listed in the ingredients list with the printable recipe below though.
Thank you for listening. Now, back to our regular programming.
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Add the milk.
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Add the Salt.
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Add the Black Pepper.
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Then, jump in with both hands and mix everything up really good. I had my right hand on the camera shutter button when I snapped this photo, but I did eventually squish it up with both hands to get it mixed up well. (Smile)
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Use a teaspoon, or a small scoop, to measure out a small amount of the beef into your hand.
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Roll this around between the palms of your hands.
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Lightly press the meat mixture together as you roll it out into the shape of a ball.
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Repeat the scooping and rolling process, until you’ve got all the meat mixture rolled out into lots of meatballs.
I had just over a pound of Ground Beef, and made 25 meatballs from that amount. That’s 24 to serve, and one to TEST prior to serving.
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Place your favorite cast iron skillet on your stove top. Turn the heat up to Medium, and let the pan begin to warm up. Add about two Tablespoons of oil to the pan and let that warm up a bit.
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Place the meatballs in the skillet. Don’t overcrowd the pan at the beginning. I’m going to let this cook down just a bit, then I’ll add more.
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Keep a close watch over the meatballs as they cook. Once they’ve had a minute or two to start browning, roll them around in the pan so they don’t burn in one spot. You’ll need to keep stirring them as they brown and cook, so don’t get distracted for long.
As the first meatballs begin to brown, you can add some of the others to the pan.
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Continue to stir and roll them around in the pan until they’re done. These are almost ready, but you can probably still see a few spots of pink on some of the edges. You want to be sure they are cooked all the way through, but don’t let them overcook and dry out. You can thank me later for that tip.
I’ve managed to get all 25 into the skillet at this point. You may need to lower the heat a bit as they cook but adjusting as you go is always required in cooking.
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When they’re done, remove the meatballs from the skillet. Place them on some folded paper towels and let them drain.
NOTE: Raise your hand if you actually counted all the meatballs in the photo before this one, just to make sure I had 25 in the skillet. It’s OK, if you did. A little bit compulsive maybe, but okay none-the-less. (Smile)
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Discard the oil and drippings that are left in the skillet. Wipe it out with a paper towel and return it to the stove top.
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Add the entire bottle of George’s Sauce to the skillet. Heat should be set back to Medium at this point.
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Add the entire jar of Grape Jelly to the George’s Barbecue Sauce.
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Stir the Grape Jelly until it’s fully melted in the skillet.
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Add the meatballs back into the skillet and let simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes.
Your George’s Barbecue Sauce Meatballs are now done. You can serve them immediately, or cover the pan and keep warm in your oven at about 225 degrees.
You can easily double the recipe for making the meatballs in this recipe. You’ll have plenty of sauce for another batch or two, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Any leftover sauce can be allowed to cool then frozen for later use. It’s just that good.
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Enjoy!
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Follow our step-by-step, photo illustrated recipe to make this quick and easy appetizer. We’re featuring North Carolina’s very own George’s Barbecue Sauce to add a bit of a twist to the standard cocktail meatball appetizer made with sauce and grape jelly. You’ll love the difference that George’s will make.
Ingredients
- 1 – lb. Ground Beef
- ¼ cup Cornmeal
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Onion
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 3 Tablespoons Milk
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil (for frying meatballs)
- 1 (16oz) bottle of George’s BBQ Sauce
- 1 (18oz) jar of Grape Jelly
Instructions
- Crumble the ground beef into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the corn meal.
- Add the minced onion.
- Add the garlic powder.
- Add the milk.
- Add the Salt.
- Add the black pepper.
- Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together well, until fully combined.
- Shape into 1 inch balls.
- Place the 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over Medium heat.
- Add the meatballs, cook, turning frequently until done.
- Remove the cooked meatballs from the skillet, place on folded paper towels and let drain.
- Discard the drippings from the skillet.
- Place the bottle of George’s BBQ Sauce in the skillet, over Medium heat.
- Add the jar of Grape Jelly.
- Cook mixture, stirring often, until the jelly is melted.
- Add the meatballs to the skillet.
- Reduce heat to Medium-Low, let meatballs simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Transfer to serving dish, or keep warm in 225 degree oven until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
Notes
You can easily double the recipe for making the meatballs if desired. You’ll have more than enough sauce to do so. Any leftover sauce can be allowed to cool, then frozen for use later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
Keywords: George's BBQ Sauce Meatballs Recipe, made from scratch, barbecue meatballs, southern recipes
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Your Comments: What’s your favorite appetizer to enjoy or prepare? Have you tried any of the George’s brand of barbecue sauces? I’d love to hear your comments about our recipe in the Comments Section below. It will only take a couple of minutes to share your thoughts while you’re here. And, if you try our recipe, be sure to share your results. It might just encourage some of our other readers to try it as well. Just know that all Comments are moderated. That just means that I personally read each and every one of them before they are approved for our family friendly home here on the Internet. It may take a little time for your comment to appear, but I’ll get it posted just as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.
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Be Blessed!!!
Steve
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Category: Appetizers
I love to use George’s BBQ sauce on chicken. I have not thought of using it on meatballs and look forward to it. One of my favorite appetizers is dried beef cheese ball and crackers.
We slow cook a boston butt in the smoker using hickory, applewood chips or whatever type my husband picks out. We pull the butt and slice or chop it then add the barbeque sauce. MMMMMMMMMgood.
I love to use BBQ sauce on ribs and chicken and in baked beans.
Just read your latest email. Thanks! Where we live in Louisiana is gas is $2.16 a gallon.
I love barbecue sauce slathered, coated, basted and then some for dipping. I love it mostly on chicken and pork. However your meatballs do look yummy. Will have to try them. Thanks for the recipe. I get Georges every time I go home to Rocky Mount, N.C. or my sister from Rocky Mount brings it to me.
Country ribs in the crock pot!!
Pork Steaks!
I love George’s on pork BBQ. This recipe looks great and a way to use BBQ sauce I hadn’t thought of.
Pork in the slow cooker
George’s on grilled chicken is the best I’ve ever tasted!
I use BBQ sauce on any kind of meat, even meatloaf on occasion. But there is nothing like picking up a rack of ribs (or half rack if you want to seem dainty in front of your man folk, and biting in and let the wonderful flavor of the meat and sauce burst into your mouth. And short sleeves are a must, cuz you’re gonna have juice dripping down to your elbows! Yummy! That’s what we are having for Christmas dinner! Going the non-traditional, laid back style.
I like it on all meats, but my all time favorite would be in my Turkey burgers. BBQ sauce just give the turkey a good old kick and keeps them for being dry.
I’ve never had George’s but it and those meatballs are making my mouth water!!!!
I LOVE to mix 3 different BBQ sauces to make a glaze for my meatloaf. I’ll put some aside and use it as a dipping sauce for my fries that I have with my meatloaf sandwich. Comfort food central. LOL! Happy Holidays Everyone.
Good Morning Steve,
Ribs are great especially if the sauce sticks to your fingers & cheeks & chin . . .
I look forward to the comments with your receipts. Thanks, /G
The word “barbecue” brings back fond memories of college days in the SF Bay Area. We would drive about 40 miles north along the coast to Johnson’s Oyster Farm and pick up a bag of freshly harvested oysters. Then set up our Haibachi grill at a nearby beach and shuck the oysters. A dollop of bottled BBQ sauce and onto the grill. When cooked we ate them with just a squeeze of lemon juice. Simple pleasures were the best then and still now.
I use barbecue sauce to enhance the sauce for our sloppy joes
My favorite way to use BBQ sauce up until today was slow basting on ribs on the grill…..but now….thanks to Steve….
I have to say chicken but I have never met a pig I didn’t like a little barbecue sauce on either.
To finish the ribs and a little on the side.
I like barbecue sauce over pulled pork barbecue. Mmmmm, so good!
I love BBQ sauce on ribs and chicken!
My favorite is using on pulled pork for barbecue sandwiches.
I love barbecue sauce on ribs and chicken!!! Yummy!!!
Hi Steve, We’re a meatball-sub loving family, so that’s probably one of my favorite ways (and your recipe looks delicious, will have to try it for a different take on our regular meatball recipe). Also, we really love bbq…so George’s would make a great complement when serving that.
Thanks for the giveaway and a very Merry Christmas to you from all of the Girotti gang!
Pork ribs
those meatballs look so good, but I’ll take it on pulled pork.
Chicken and ribs but those meatballs sure look tempting!
I like using bbq sauce on my chicken breasts when I cook them on the grill….
Barbeque sauce on chicken is my favorite.
In Texas, it’s beef for us. I’ve got a package of Li’l Smokies in the freezer that would be great with George’s BBQ Sauce. Merry Christmas to you and yours and the best in the coming year.
Love it on ribs and chicken! Love Nashville, NC, too! My BFF lives there.
Those meatballs look really yummy! I like barbecue sauce with sweet potato fries.
Never tasted George’s.
Oh my! BBQ sauce on so many things..chicken, pork, steaks, sandwiches, chicken. I guess my favorite would be pork, though. It is really awesome with Boston butt!
BAR-B-Q SAUCE ON ALL THE MEATS GOES WITHOUT SAYING. HOWEVER I LOVE MY BAR-B-Q BAKED BEANS THE BEST OF ALL.
Brisket.
Chicken
BBQ sauce in beans! Oh yum!
Hi Steve I have not spoke to you in a while I use Barbeque sauce on lots of food such steak, ribs, chicken, pork, meat loaf and half smokes Merry Christmas.
There are two favorite uses of BBQ sauce – ribs and pork! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it!! (Love to read about other people’s favorites – some people are so creative!)
Hi Steve – although the meatballs look delicious, my favorite way to use barbecue sauce is on chicken! Love me some barbecue chicken.
Best on ribs, but good a hundred other ways as well.
I like barbecue sauce on beef and pork ribs, pare boiled and cooked in the oven. Linda
I love barbecue sauce with thin sliced ham on a toasted bun with a pickle . yum
Steve
Barbecue sauce is great on pork, bean, chicken, fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, and Vienna sausages. My favorite is vinegar sauce on smoked pork. Thanks for all you do
My favorite use for bbq sauce is just the traditional way on pulled pork, but it’s also great to dip french fries in.
🙂
On ribs, pulled pork and, would you believe, hard boiled eggs alone or on a salad. what flavor!
Blessings!
HI STEVE ,,, BABY BACK PORK RIBS
I use barbecue sauce on many meats, but really like on pork
My whole family loves to cook. I think nothing is better than a big juicy barbecued burger. My kids like chicken with sliced garlic, sprinkled red pepper flakes with bbq sauce poured over it and baked until thick and bubbly. Mmmm.
I’m afraid I use BBQ sauce all of the time. I just put it on the table like some people do ketchup, as well as when I cook. I have even been known to put a dab in my spaghetti sauce to give it a little extra flavor. 5m4Z
Oh my- Tons of stuff! One favorite way? On baked bbq chicken thighs/legs. 2nd? Between french fries or mixed in mac n cheese!
Ground turkey barbecue meatballs
I like to use BBQ sauce with cocktail wieners in a crock pot. Easy and always go over well for pot luck dinners.
I use barbecue sauce in many recipes. My favorite is to add it to the meatloaf mixture, instead of ketchup.
I mix George’s BBQ sauce with ketchup and brown sugar for my sauce on top of meatloaf. It gives it just the right amount of sweet kick!
I love BBQ sauce on grilled chicken breast and pork chops. Pulled pork is also one of my favorites….yummy!!
On ribs
Got to be ribs…any kind of ribs: St Louis style, Country style, Baby back, boneless, or beef.
I love barbeque sauce anytime I can use it. Love it on pulled pork, in my special barbeque beans, ribs, sauces (like the meatball one with grape jelly, I have even dipped my french fries in barbeque sause. Taste so good.
Oven barbecued chicken and smoked brisket on the grill are my favorite ways to use barbecue sauce. Have never heard of George’s; would love, love to try it! Thanks for the chance to win some of it.
Hi Steve,
I love barbecue sauce on grilled chicken.
Chicken in the oven or on the grill with plenty of sauce.
Picture of BBQ meatballs says it all.I bring a batch to family gatherings so it will be a chance to try a different sauce. Thanks
I use bar-b-que sauce in a lot of ways. Love it slathered in meats. When I cook meat in the pressure cooker I add bar-b-que sauce to beef broth for the cooking liquid for a taste of summer in the winter or rain. I add a healthy dose to navy or great northern beans in the pressure cooker. It is marvelous in meatloaf, too. Anytime I want to zap up the flavor quotient I add a bit.
My favorite way to use barbecue sauce is as a coating on chicken and ribs. Chicken wings are my favorite and when they have that coating that has been baked or grilled in they are delicious.
I love a southern BBQ sandwich with pulled pork and lots of slaw.
lov it on chicken best then pork
Ribs (and anything else that’s edible).
Thanks bunches Steve!
We can’t wait to ship some lucky winner this gift box. I hope they will come join our fun facebook crowd too at http://www.Facebook.com/GeorgesBBQSauce and our newsletter too with all sorts of recipes with George’s I have fun concocting… some “normal” and some a bit “way out there!” LOL
Merry Christmas… from Nashville NORTH CAROLINA!
George’s Original BBQ Sauce also makes great BBQ coleslaw (with a kick). I use a bottle of sauce and add a head of shredded cabbage and about a quarter cup of sugar. Let it marinate for a day or so in the refrigerator. Great on bbq sandwiches or on the side for a bbq plate.
I like using barbecue sauce to make ham BBQ’d sandwiches.
I love barbecue sauce on brisket.
My favorite way to use bbq sauce is in preparing baked beans by scratch.
I love barbecue sauce on ribs!
LOVE using George’s on pork roast!!
Besides using BBQ sauce on my meatballs and over meatloaf, I also like using it on Brisket
I use George’s Barbecue Sauce on a Boston Butt that I cook in the crock pot. It makes great BBQ and my family loves it. Thanks for all the good step by step receipes.
Hi Steve!
My favorite way to use barbecue sauce is to throw some boneless skinless chicken breasts in a crockpot with a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce. By the end of the afternoon all you have to do is shred the chicken and put it on some hamburger buns for a quick shredded chicken barbecue sandwich!
Have a great day!