Plump, juicy and soft, these Party Cocktail Meatballs are baked and served with a fabulous Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce that’s super quick to make. Great make ahead for parties!
I know it’s Monday so I should be sharing a sensible quick ‘n easy meal, but it’s Monday Meatball Mania* today and the party season is upon us so cocktail meatballs it is!!
Plump, juicy and soft – as all meatballs should be – these Cocktail Meatballs are served with a Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce. Individually, you’ll find both tasty. Combine them together – and woah. It’s kind of like Chimichurri Sauce. By itself, you wonder why people go bonkers over it. Eat it with steak and you understand. 🙂
* Monday Meatball Mania is a “thing” that my friend Jo from Jo Cooks and I started at the beginning of this year where we each agreed to share a meatball recipe on the last Monday of every month. Why are we doing this? Because we both agree that all foods that come in ball shapes are exceptionally tasty, there should be more of it, and meatballs are arguably the King of all Ball Shaped Foods, so this is our contribution to making this world a better place.
↑↑↑ Note how I roll out my meatballs: measure and dollop it all out, then roll them into balls. I’ve made a lot of meatballs in my time. Pending the invention of a meatball maker, this is the most efficient way I’ve been able to come up with for rolling meatballs.
↑↑↑ Also note: pork + beef. Because this = optimum tenderness, juiciness, flavour and texture for cocktail meatballs (in my humble, meatball obsessed opinion).
↑↑↑ Also…. baked not fried. Because this = rounder, easier, healthier. Wait until you see me giving these babies a squeeze in the video to show you how soft they are ….. 😂
These Cocktail Meatballs are served with a Sweet & Sour Sauce that I coat the meatballs with as well as serving on the side for dipping. If you usually use store bought, I really urge you to try homemade just once – I am pretty sure you’ll be converted for life! It’s incredibly easy to make with pantry staples – vinegar, ketchup, sugar, cornflour / cornstarch, water and soy sauce (<– No, it doesn’t taste Asiany, soy sauce provides the salt + extra flavour). Just plonk it all into a saucepan, whisk and simmer for a couple of minutes until it thickens.
These Cocktail Meatballs reheat really well, so they’re ideal for gatherings. Bake them, let them cool, then cover and refrigerate or freeze. Microwave to reheat and they’ll become nice and soft again. The Sweet & Sour Sauce keeps for days too – I’m not exactly sure how long, but it’s the sort of thing I’d still consume even a week after making it.
Put them out with toothpicks and serve them at your next party. Or… make them for DINNER!!! I mean, I know I call them Cocktail Meatballs. But really, they’re just Sweet & Sour Meatballs. That’s a dinner meal, right?! – Nagi x
More cocktail food for parties
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Coconut Shrimp / Prawns with Thai Mango Dipping Sauce
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See all Dip Recipes, all Party Food and the Top 25 Party Foods!
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Cocktail Meatballs with Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (Note 1)
- ½ onion
- 250 g / ½ lb beef mince (ground beef) (Note 2)
- 250 g / ½ lb pork mince (ground pork) (Note 2)
- 1 egg
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1½ tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 3/4 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Sweet and Sour Sauce (makes ~ 1 cup):
- 1 tbsp cornflour/ cornstarch
- ¼ cup / 65 ml water
- ½ cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup / 100g brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- ¼ cup / 65 ml tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (Note 2)
Garnish (optional):
- Finely chopped chives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220C / 430F (standard) or 200C / 390F (fan / convection).
- Grate onion into a large bowl using a standard box grater. Add breadcrumbs and mix to coat. Leave to soak for a few minutes.
- Add remaining Meatballs ingredients. Mix well with your hands until combined.
- Measure out level tablespoons and dollop onto work surface. Roll into balls. (My way of rolling balls - fast!)
- Place a rack on a baking tray (optional, Note 3). Spray rack generously with oil. Place balls on the rack.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until browned. Remove tray from oven, immediately transfer meatballs in a large bowl (if you leave them, they stick).
- Drizzle with enough sauce to coat the meatballs. Toss gently, then transfer to serving bowl / plate. Garnish with chives, if desired.
- Serve meatballs with toothpicks and remaining Sauce for Dipping.
SWEET and SOUR SAUCE:
- Combine ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine.
- Bring to simmer, stirring / whisking regularly, then simmer until it thickens to a syrup consistency – or thicker if you like. (about 3 minutes)
- Pour meatballs in a bowl, pour a bit of sauce to coat. Serve with remaining sauce, garnished with chives.
Recipe Notes:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
LIFE OF DOZER
Did I mention that his robe comes with a HOOD???!! 😂
I made these Nagi, for a family party…scrapped the plate clean! So easy to do. I really enjoy your recipes and this website is so easy to use, I`ve told many family and friends. Thankyou!
So easy, worked a treat. Husband wants me to make the sauce & freeze for him for when I’m away!
Oh P.S. use a medium sized cookie scooper to make them WAY easier. (We love our OXO brand one) Yay for no touching the meat haha. They weren’t perfectly round, but turned out great!
And don’t forget to spray the cookie sheet before you put the meatballs on. Way easier to clean if you don’t forget this step. 😁
Made a BUNCH of meatballs for “cannonballs” for our mermaid pirate party. The first batch I thought the meat needed more salt and garlic powder, and the sauce more brown sugar/honey. A little too vinegary.
Made for a fun dinner over rice, but probably should have halved the sauce not double it 😅
I made this tonight with American wagyu beef. I used champagne vinegar because that was what I had. You are right that the fumes cooking the sauce is a lot but wow! These might be the best meatballs I have ever eaten.
Very fancy Carol! I bet they were awesome with wagyu!! N x
These meatballs are absolutely delicious and the sauce is an absolute must to have with them. Meatballs hold together really well and baking them in the oven is simply and easy. A gem of a recipe.
Is there any chance you could leave the tomato sauce out? Will this ruin the recipe? Thanks
The video link does not work:/
I want to make these for a friend who can’t eat onions or the white part of any onions such as spring onions. What can I use as a substitute please? I was thinking maybe celery. What do you recommend?
Many thanks. I love your recipes.
I want to make these for a friend who can’t eat onion or the white part of any onions such spring onions. Any suggestions for how I can change up this recipe? What can I soak the breadcrumbs with instead of onion please?
These meatballs were so delicious and super easy to make. The sauce is an absolute highlight as well. Made them for a birthday party and they were the first to go. Everyone loved them.
Can the meatballs and sauce be prepared but not cooked, the day before and stored separately in the fridge?
I hope she replies. I’d like to make in the morning and keep it in the fridge and bake it in the evening.
This recipe is awesome! I made it tonight, meatballs are perfect and the sauce is the best!! So tangy and delisciuos.
Since I live in rural Alberta, Canada and my sons are hunters, we used venison, (Deer Meat). The method for the meat was amazing and venison is very lean since we buther it ourselves. The meat was moist and very flavourfull! We will adopt this method to making homemade burgers from now on. Our challenge is coming up with a name…Nagi Burgers or simply Dozers! Lol
Than you again Nagi for such a simple and perfect recipe! Another new family favourite.
Louise, same here! But I’m using elk and moose. Did you add the pork or just use the venison?
Hi Cindy
I just used the plain venison as the grated onion adds enough moisture.
Made these the other night and am addicted. They went way to fast so want to double the batch this time. Would I double everything including the egg? Or stick to one egg?
Hi Leah, if you click the servings and scale up, all the ingredients will scale up for you 🙂 N x
These were delicious! I made them for a small party and they were gone within a few minutes. Thank you!
Awesome Erin! N x
Best quick and easy sweet sour tangy sauce ever. 😘 thank you
Could I use 1/4 cup maple syrup instead of brown sugar?
Also, I’m going to try using 1/2 chicken & 1/2 turkey. Will I have to manually turn the meatballs to brown them on both sides?
Could I use 1/4 cup maple syrup instead of brown sugar?
Also, I’m going to try using 1/2 chicken & 1/2 turkey. Will I have to manually turn the meatballs to brown them on both sides? Thanks! First time trying this recipe for friends.