These BBQ Meatballs are the ultimate easy comfort-food dinner! Juicy homemade meatballs are seasoned with simple pantry staples, coated in your favorite BBQ sauce, and roasted alongside tender green beans. Served with creamy mashed sweet potatoes, this is a balanced, family-friendly meal that comes together on one sheet pan with minimal effort. It's truly the definition of an easy recipe! Did I mention this was meal prep friendly as well?
If you're looking for an easy way to make homemade meatballs without spending hours in the kitchen, this recipe is for you. The combination of savory beef meatballs, tangy BBQ sauce, sweet potatoes, and roasted green beans makes this a delicious meal for busy weeknights but these barbecue meatballs can also be served as a party appetizer, game day recipe, or BBQ meatball slider filling.
If you enjoy this recipe make sure you check out my Tortellini Bake with Boursin & Tomato, One Pot Turkey Lasagna Soup, and my Healthy Mississippi Pot Roast.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: Everything comes together with simple ingredients and straightforward steps.
- High-protein meal: Ground beef provides a satisfying source of protein.
- Family-friendly: Sweet potatoes and tangy BBQ sauce make these meatballs a hit with kids and adults.
- Minimal cleanup: The meatballs and green beans roast together on one large baking sheet.
- Meal-prep friendly: Portion everything into airtight containers for an easy lunch or dinner throughout the week.
- Versatile: Serve these homemade meatballs as a main dish, perfect appetizer, or BBQ meatball sliders.
- Balanced meal: You get protein from the juicy meatballs, carbohydrates from the sweet potatoes, and vegetables from the green beans.
Jump to:
Ingredients
BBQ Meatballs
- Ground Beef - I use 85/15 ground beef for juicy, flavorful meatballs that don't dry out while baking.
- Quick Oats - Help bind the meat mixture together while adding a little extra fiber.
- Salt & Black Pepper - Simple seasonings that enhance the savory flavor of the meatballs.
- Garlic Powder - Adds delicious savory garlic flavor without needing fresh garlic.
- Onion Powder - Brings extra depth and flavor to the meat mixture.
- BBQ Sauce - The star of the show! Choose your favorite BBQ sauce, preferably one with little or no added sugar if that's your preference.
For the Sides
- Sweet Potatoes - Naturally sweet, creamy, and packed with nutrients. They make the perfect pairing for tangy barbecue meatballs.
- Green Beans - Add freshness, color, and a serving of vegetables to this easy meal.
- Avocado Oil - Helps the green beans roast beautifully while adding healthy fats.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Prep the Oven- Preheat your oven to 400°F and set your rack to the middle position.
- Cook the Sweet Potatoes- Wash your sweet potatoes thoroughly and place them in a large pot of water. Boil for 15-20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and soft. Remove them from the pot and allow them to cool slightly.
- Make the Meatball Mixture- Add the ground beef, quick oats, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to a large bowl.
- Use your hands to gently combine the ingredients until the seasonings are evenly distributed. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
- Form the Meatballs- Form the mixture into 16-18 evenly sized meatballs using your hands or a large cookie scoop. Place the meatballs in the center of an extra-large baking sheet in a single layer. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the raw meat.
- Add the Green Beans- Add the green beans to each side of the meatballs. Drizzle the green beans with avocado oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Add the BBQ Sauce- Add your BBQ sauce to a small bowl. Using a basting brush, brush the BBQ sauce evenly over the tops of the meatballs.
- Bake- Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Allow the meatballs to rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Make the Mashed Sweet Potatoes- Once the sweet potatoes have cooled enough to handle, peel away the skin. Add the sweet potato flesh to a bowl and mash with a fork until smooth and creamy. Add a pinch of salt to taste.
- Serve- Serve your BBQ meatballs with mashed sweet potatoes and roasted green beans. Add a little extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping, and enjoy!
Substitutions
- Ground Beef: Swap for ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork. Ground turkey is a great option if you prefer a leaner meatball.
- Quick Oats: Use breadcrumbs, panko, or gluten-free breadcrumbs instead.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite homemade barbecue sauce or a low-sugar BBQ sauce. For extra flavor, try a smoky, spicy, or tangy variety.
- Sweet Potatoes: Regular potatoes, baby potatoes, or mashed cauliflower can be used instead.
- Green Beans: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, or zucchini are great vegetable swaps.
- Avocado Oil: Olive oil or another neutral cooking oil works well.
- Gluten-Free: Use certified gluten-free quick oats and make sure your BBQ sauce is labeled gluten-free. If using breadcrumbs instead of oats, choose certified gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Dairy-Free: This recipe is naturally dairy-free as written. Just check the BBQ sauce and any other packaged ingredients to make sure they don't contain dairy.
- Vegetarian: For a vegetarian version, replace the ground beef with your favorite plant-based ground meat alternative. You can also make lentil or black bean meatballs, although the texture and cooking time may vary.
Variations
- Make BBQ Turkey Meatballs: Swap the ground beef for ground turkey for a lighter meatball option. Because turkey is leaner, be careful not to overbake the meatballs.
- Add a Little Heat: Mix red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce into your BBQ sauce for spicy barbecue meatballs.
- Make BBQ Meatball Sliders: Serve the meatballs on small slider buns with extra BBQ sauce, crunchy cabbage, pickles, or coleslaw.
- Make Them an Appetizer: Make smaller meatballs and serve them with toothpicks and a bowl of BBQ sauce for dipping. These would be perfect for game day, birthday parties, or your next party.
- Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs: You can use homemade or store-bought meatballs and add them to a crock pot with your favorite BBQ sauce. Cook on low for about 2-3 hours, until heated through.
- Add Extra Veggies: Add chopped bell peppers, onions, broccoli, or zucchini to the baking sheet for an even more vegetable-packed meal.
Equipment
- Extra-large baking sheet
- Large pot
- Large mixing bowl
- Small bowl
- Basting brush
- Large cookie scoop, optional
- Fork
- Cutting board
- Knife
Storage
Allow the meatballs and sides to cool before transferring them to an airtight container.
Store leftover meatballs in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
For meal prep, divide the BBQ meatballs, mashed sweet potatoes, and green beans into individual meal prep containers. Keep extra BBQ sauce in a separate small container if you'd like to add more when serving.
Freezer Storage
The cooked meatballs can also be frozen. Place cooled meatballs into a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to about 3 months for best quality.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat until warmed through.
Christina's Dietitian Tip
For a balanced meal, I love pairing these BBQ meatballs with the mashed sweet potatoes and green beans rather than serving the meatballs alone. You get protein from the beef, carbohydrates and fiber from the sweet potatoes, and additional fiber, vitamins, and minerals from the green beans.
Choose a BBQ sauce with less added sugar. You can also make your own homemade bbq sauce to better control the ingredients and quality.
FAQ
Yes! Ground turkey works well in this BBQ meatball recipe. Since turkey can be leaner than beef, avoid overmixing and overcooking the meatballs.
Absolutely. If you're short on time, you can use your favorite frozen or refrigerated meatballs and simply coat them with BBQ sauce before baking.
Yes! You can prepare the meatball mixture ahead of time, shape the meatballs, and refrigerate them until you're ready to bake.
Ground beef meatballs should reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Use a meat thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball to check.
Dinner
More family friendly dinners:
Meal Prep
Looking for more meal prep friendly recipes? Don't miss these!
Jump to: Recipe
Easy and Delicious BBQ Meatballs
Equipment
- Extra-large baking sheet
- Large Pot
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Small Bowl
- Basting Brush
- Large Cookie Scoop (optional)
- Fork
- Cutting Board
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef 85/15 or 90/10
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ⅓ cup Quick Oats
- 4 Medium Sweet Potatoes
- 1 lb of Green Beans Pre trimmed and washed
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce look for a no added sugar or low added sugar option
- Avocado Oil
Instructions
- Prep the Oven- Preheat your oven to 400°F and set your rack to the middle position.
- Cook the Sweet Potatoes- Wash your sweet potatoes thoroughly and place them in a large pot of water.
- Boil for 15-20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and soft. Remove them from the pot and allow them to cool slightly.
- Make the Meatball Mixture- Add the ground beef, quick oats, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to a large bowl. Use your hands to gently combine the ingredients until the seasonings are evenly distributed. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
- Form the Meatballs- Form the mixture into 16-18 evenly sized meatballs using your hands or a large cookie scoop. Place the meatballs in the center of an extra-large baking sheet in a single layer. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the raw meat.
- Add the Green Beans- Add the green beans to each side of the meatballs. Drizzle the green beans with avocado oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Add the BBQ Sauce- Add your BBQ sauce to a small bowl. Using a basting brush, brush the BBQ sauce evenly over the tops of the meatballs.
- Bake- Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Allow the meatballs to rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Make the Mashed Sweet Potatoes- Once the sweet potatoes have cooled enough to handle, peel away the skin. Add the sweet potato flesh to a bowl and mash with a fork until smooth and creamy. Add a pinch of salt to taste.
- Serve- Serve your BBQ meatballs with mashed sweet potatoes and roasted green beans. Add a little extra BBQ sauce on the side for dipping, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Leave a Reply