BBQ Meatball Sliders Recipe

Ground beef: The main protein for the meatballs, providing a rich and hearty flavor.

Breadcrumbs: Used to bind the meatball mixture together and add texture.

Beaten egg: Acts as a binder to hold the meatball mixture together.

Garlic powder: Adds a subtle garlic flavor to the meatballs.

Onion powder: Enhances the savory taste of the meatballs with a hint of onion.

BBQ sauce: Coats the cooked meatballs, adding a sweet and smoky flavor.

Slider buns: Soft buns that hold the meatballs, making them easy to eat as sliders.

When forming the meatballs, make sure to keep them uniform in size to ensure even cooking. A useful trick is to use a small ice cream scoop or a cookie scoop to portion out the meat mixture. This not only speeds up the process but also helps in achieving consistent meatballs that cook at the same rate. Additionally, lightly oiling your hands can prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your fingers, making it easier to shape the meatballs.

• ground beef - Substitute with ground turkey: Ground turkey is a leaner option and can provide a similar texture and flavor when seasoned well.

• ground beef - Substitute with ground pork: Ground pork adds a slightly different flavor profile and can make the meatballs juicier.

• breadcrumbs - Substitute with oats: Oats can act as a binder similar to breadcrumbs and add a bit of texture.

• breadcrumbs - Substitute with crushed crackers: Crushed crackers can provide a similar binding effect and add a bit of flavor.

• beaten egg - Substitute with flax egg: A flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoon water) is a good vegan alternative that helps bind the ingredients.

• beaten egg - Substitute with applesauce: Applesauce can act as a binder and add moisture to the meatballs.

• garlic powder - Substitute with minced garlic: Minced garlic provides a fresher, more robust garlic flavor.

• garlic powder - Substitute with shallot powder: Shallot powder offers a milder, slightly sweet garlic-like flavor.

• onion powder - Substitute with finely chopped onions: Fresh onions can provide a more intense and fresh onion flavor.

• onion powder - Substitute with scallion powder: Scallion powder offers a milder, slightly sweet onion flavor.

• bbq sauce - Substitute with teriyaki sauce: Teriyaki sauce offers a different but complementary sweet and savory flavor.

• bbq sauce - Substitute with marinara sauce: Marinara sauce provides a tangy, tomato-based alternative.

• slider buns - Substitute with Hawaiian rolls: Hawaiian rolls add a sweet, soft texture that pairs well with savory meatballs.

• slider buns - Substitute with mini ciabatta rolls: Mini ciabatta rolls offer a slightly chewy texture and a rustic flavor.

• Allow the meatballs to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make them soggy.

• Place the cooled meatballs in an airtight container. If stacking, separate layers with parchment paper to avoid sticking.

• Store the slider buns separately in a sealed plastic bag or airtight container to maintain their freshness and prevent them from becoming soggy.

• For freezing, arrange the cooled meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they are not touching. Freeze until solid, about 1-2 hours.

• Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.

• To freeze the slider buns, wrap each bun individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. This prevents freezer burn and maintains texture.

• When ready to use, thaw the meatballs and slider buns in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat the meatballs in a saucepan with bbq sauce over medium heat until warmed through.

• For a quicker option, reheat the meatballs in the microwave. Place them in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals until hot.

• Toast the slider buns lightly in the oven or on a skillet to refresh their texture before assembling the sliders.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the BBQ meatball sliders on a baking sheet.
  3. Cover them loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the buns from drying out.
  4. Heat in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through.
  5. For an extra touch, you can brush a little bbq sauce on the meatballs before reheating.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the BBQ meatball sliders on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover them with a damp paper towel to keep the buns soft.
  3. Microwave on medium power for about 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. If needed, heat in additional 30-second increments until the meatballs are hot.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Preheat a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of olive oil or butter to the skillet.
  3. Place the BBQ meatball sliders in the skillet and cover with a lid.
  4. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even warming.
  5. If the buns start to get too crispy, you can add a splash of water to the skillet and cover immediately to create steam.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C).
  2. Place the BBQ meatball sliders in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Heat for about 3-5 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure they are warming evenly.
  4. For a crispy touch, you can brush a little butter on the buns before reheating.

• Toaster Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the BBQ meatball sliders on the toaster oven tray.
  3. Cover them loosely with aluminum foil.
  4. Heat for about 10-12 minutes, or until the meatballs are warmed through.
  5. For an extra flavor boost, you can sprinkle a little cheese on top before reheating.

• Oven: Used to bake the meatballs at the specified temperature until they are cooked through.

• Mixing bowl: Used to combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, garlic powder, and onion powder.

• Baking sheet: Used to place the formed meatballs on for baking in the oven.

• Saucepan: Used to heat the BBQ sauce over medium heat.

• Spatula: Used to mix and coat the meatballs with BBQ sauce in the saucepan.

• Measuring cups: Used to measure out the breadcrumbs and BBQ sauce accurately.

• Measuring spoons: Used to measure out the garlic powder and onion powder accurately.

• Whisk: Used to beat the egg before adding it to the meatball mixture.

• Tongs: Used to handle the hot meatballs when transferring them from the baking sheet to the saucepan and then to the slider buns.

• Knife: Used to slice the slider buns if they are not pre-sliced.

• Cutting board: Used as a surface for slicing the slider buns.

Use pre-made meatballs: Save time by using store-bought meatballs instead of making them from scratch. Just heat and coat with bbq sauce.

Quick sauce heating: Microwave the bbq sauce for a faster heating process instead of using a saucepan.

Pre-toast buns: Toast the slider buns in the oven while the meatballs are baking to save time.

Batch cooking: Double the recipe and freeze half of the meatballs for a quick meal next time.