Last Updated on March 5, 2024
Get ready to be the most popular person at the potluck: These honey BBQ meatballs are sweet, smoky, and so satisfying.
They also happen to be on the healthier side (we won’t tell anyone if you won’t), thanks to grass-fed ground beef and homemade barbecue sauce. Store-bought barbecue sauces are often loaded with sugar, preservatives and other less-optimal ingredients. Instead, stir up the homemade sauce in this recipe — it’s easier than you think, it uses wholesome ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and it gives you great bragging rights. (“Where did I get the sauce? Oh, I made it myself, NBD.”)
In fact, we think you’ll love the sauce so much, you’ll want to use it on other things:
- As a marinade for chicken
- Brushed on ribs or beef brisket
- Spooned on top of burgers
- On top of pulled pork
Plus, the meatballs themselves are also a great option for anyone eating gluten free, as they’re bound with almond flour instead of breadcrumbs. And the recipe makes a hefty 22 meatballs, so you can feed a crowd easily.
Ingredients
- Honey BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup beef stock
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- Meatballs:
- 1 package ButcherBox ground beef 1 pound
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 2 large eggs preferably pasture raised
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together all of the ingredients for the honey barbecue sauce; set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs (except the avocado oil); mix thoroughly to combine. Form the mixture into 22 meatballs.
- Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook for 6 minutes, turning, until browned all over. Set the cooked meatballs aside while you cook the remaining meatballs.
- Reduce the heat to low and add all the meatballs back to the skillet. Pour in the honey barbecue sauce. Simmer for 30 minutes to cook the meatballs through, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.
Recipe courtesy of PaleoHacks.
Jennafer Ashley is a recipe developer, food stylist, and wellness expert passionate about creating wholesome, flavor-packed dishes. With a focus on fresh ingredients and balanced eating, she crafts recipes that make healthy cooking accessible, delicious, and inspiring for home cooks.
