Make this spicy meatball recipe for a tasty main course or appetizer! The tender meatballs have a perfect kick, and the 3-ingredient sweet and spicy sauce is incredible!
I like to make a double batch and freeze half in a ziplock bag or freezer safe container for a busy weeknight dinner or party.
I’ve had meatballs with grape jelly before, but when a friend gave us a jar of jalapeno jelly for Christmas, I knew it would be the perfect base for a spicier version.
You can use all jalapeno jelly, but using two kinds adds a fruity depth of flavor that is unbeatable! I’ve tried grape, plum, and apricot jam, and all are delicious!
My family loved these so much the first time I made them that they asked me to make them again the next week!
Try serving them for potlucks or game day – they are always an instant crowd pleaser!
How to make spicy homemade meatballs
- PREP – Place a metal cooling rack inside a baking sheet. Spray both with cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- COMBINE – Mix the ground beef, oats, eggs, onion, milk, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire, ketchup, and parsley in a large bowl with your hands.
- FORM – Use a small cookie scoop to portion the ground meat mixture into equal-sized meatballs.
- BAKE – Evenly space the meatballs on the cooling rack. Bake in a preheated oven at 400° for 13-15 minutes, or until they are brown all the way through.
- SAUCE – Prepare the sauce while the meatballs cook. In a small bowl (or large pot), whisk together the sauce ingredient.
- HEAT – Combine the hot meatballs and sauce in a large pot. Cook over medium heat for 5-8 minutes, or until heated through, stirring gently to coat evenly.
Can I make these meatballs in a crockpot?
Yes! After cooking the meatballs, place them in your crock pot and drizzle the sauce over the top. Cook at HIGH heat for an hour, or at LOW heat for 2-3 hours. You can also just use the warm setting to keep them hot until you are ready to serve them.
Can I fry the meatballs instead of baking them?
Absolutlely! Simply brown them in a skillet in a couple tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil over medium-high heat. It’s best to cook them in two batches so you have enough space to turn them and cook all sides evenly.
Variations:
- You can replace one of the pounds of ground beef with ground pork.
- For a smoky flavor, replace half of the chili sauce with BBQ sauce.
- Feel free to adjust the level of heat by adding more or less red pepper flakes.
- If you are really in a hurry, you can use frozen meatballs and simply make the sauce. Try to buy spicy meatballs if you can find them.
- You can make smaller cocktail meatballs, just decrease the baking time.
More meatball recipes:
- BBQ Sauce for Meatballs
- Waikiki Meatballs
- Swedish Meatball Sauce with Sour Cream
- Meatballs in Cream Sauce
- Teriyaki Meatballs
- Keto Meatballs
- Peppered Meatballs with Dill Sauce
- Keto Swedish Meatballs
Spicy Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup oats
- 2 large eggs
- 6 Tbsp grated onion
- 6 Tbsp milk
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 ½ tsp worcestershire sauce
- 3 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp parsley
Sauce
- 1 cup chili sauce
- ½ cup jalapeno jelly
- ½ cup grape jelly (or any flavor of jelly)
Instructions
- Place a wire rack inside a large cookie sheet. Spray both with cooking spray. (For easier cleanup, you can line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil first. Preheat your oven to 400°.
- Combine the ground beef, oats, eggs, onion, milk, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, worcestershire, ketchup, and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly until well combined. (I like to use my hands, but you can use a heavy duty wooden spoon.) For tender meatballs, don't overmix.
- Shape the meatball mixture into equal-sized meatballs. I used a 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop for portion control.
- Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes, or until they are cooked all the way through. The internal temperature should be close to 165°.
Sauce
- While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the sauce. Whisk together the chili sauce and jelly in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
- Transfer the cooked meatballs to a large pot. Add the sauce and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
Notes
- If you don’t have jalapeno jelly, you can replace it with another flavor of jam and add 1/2-1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a few teaspoons of hot sauce.
- To make the meatballs in a crockpot, place the hot cooked meatballs and sauce in your slow cooker and cook on high for about an hour, or until heated through. You can also cook them on low for 2-3 hours, or use the warming setting to keep them hot until you are ready to serve them.
- Leftover meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Nutrition
Whether you need a make ahead dinner or party appetizer, this spicy meatball recipe is the ticket! They are easy to whip up and have great flavor!
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