BBQ Meatball Skewers

Name: BBQ Meatball Skewers
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2.4 lb ground beef (85/15); 3/4 cup breadcrumbs; 2 whole eggs; 1 3/4 tsp garlic powder; 1 3/4 tsp onion powder; 1 3/4 tsp kosher salt; 1 1/4 cups BBQ sauce; 16 whole cherry tomatoes; 3/4 cup pickled red onions; 6.4 cups shredded cabbage mix

Glazed beef meatballs on skewers with quick slaw for ten

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 25 min
Serves 8
Difficulty: easy

Seasoned beef meatballs are baked, glazed with sticky BBQ sauce, and threaded onto skewers with pickled onions and cherry tomatoes. A quick vinegar slaw on the side keeps the bite balanced.

Why crews like it: Skewers turn meatballs into portable game food without buns getting soggy. They reheat in minutes and look intentional on a platter—not like leftover spaghetti night.

380Cal

28gProtein

22gCarbs

20gFat

Ingredients

2.4 lb ground beef (85/15)
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
2 whole eggs
1 3/4 tsp garlic powder
1 3/4 tsp onion powder
1 3/4 tsp kosher salt
1 1/4 cups BBQ sauce
16 whole cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup pickled red onions
6.4 cups shredded cabbage mix

Instructions

Mix and roll meatballs: Combine beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt until just mixed. Roll into 40 equal meatballs about 1.5 inches across for two per skewer.
Bake the meatballs: Arrange on a wire rack over a sheet pan. Bake at 425°F for 18–20 minutes until browned and internal temp reaches 160°F in the center. Target oven/smoker temperature: 425°F.
Glaze and finish: Brush generously with BBQ sauce and bake 5 more minutes at 425°F until glaze sets sticky. Internal temp should still read at least 160°F after glazing. Target oven/smoker temperature: 425°F.
Quick slaw: Toss cabbage with apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of oil, salt, and pepper. Drain excess liquid so slaw stays crisp on the platter.
Skewer and serve: Thread two meatballs, a tomato, and pickled onion on each skewer. Arrange on a platter with slaw cups for grabbing between plays.

Tonight's spread

BBQ meatball skewers with slaw cups and extra glaze for dunking.
Cornbread muffins for crews who want something sweet alongside smoky meatballs.

Hall tips

Wet hands when rolling meatballs—they stick less and stay round.
Reduce BBQ sauce by half before glazing if store sauce is thin and runs off.
Swap beef for half turkey if you want lighter skewers without changing the format.

Meal prep

Roll meatballs uniform so they bake evenly. Soak wooden skewers 30 minutes if grilling for presentation. Glaze can be reduced ahead for a thicker stick.

Leftovers

Slide meatballs off skewers into sub rolls with extra slaw.
Chop into a rice bowl with the slaw and hot sauce.

Wire rack
Sheet pans
Skewers
Mixing bowls
Instant-read thermometer