This meatball recipe, inspired by the Pioneer Woman’s very first cookbook, has become my absolute favorite over the years. The ability to prepare a large batch and freeze them for future meals is a game-changer for busy weeknights. Recently, a friend and I dedicated a day to freezer cooking, and these meatballs were at the top of my list. Focusing on hamburger meat for our freezer cooking session was surprisingly efficient, and we’re already planning our next one centered around chicken. While these meatballs are delicious on their own, the addition of the Pioneer Woman’s homemade BBQ sauce elevates them to an entirely new level of yum! We love enjoying them with the BBQ sauce, but they’re also incredibly versatile. From meatball sandwiches to spaghetti sauce, or simply baked for a quick and easy dinner, these homemade meatballs are a winner every time, easily surpassing any store-bought frozen versions.
Bowl of Comfort Meatballs with BBQ Sauce
Freezer Tips for Make-Ahead Meatballs
Freezing meatballs is simple and efficient. The key is to partially cook the meatballs first. After browning them, place them on a cookie sheet and freeze for at least 3 hours, or even overnight. This pre-freezing step ensures that the meatballs freeze individually, preventing them from sticking together in a large clump. Once frozen solid, package about 20 meatballs per zip-top bag for convenient meal portions. For the BBQ sauce, prepare it separately and freeze in doubled zip-top bags to prevent leaks.
Freezing meatballs on a cookie sheet
Pioneer Woman’s Comfort Meatballs Recipe
This recipe, adapted from the Pioneer Woman’s blog, creates tender and flavorful meatballs that are perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients for Meatballs:
- 1-1/2 lbs Ground Beef
- 3/4 cups Oats
- 1 cup Milk
- 3 tbsp Very Finely Minced Onion
- 1-1/2 tsp Salt
- 1-1/2 tsp Fresh Pepper (or more to taste)
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (for coating)
- Canola Oil
Instructions for Meatballs:
- If cooking immediately, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). If freezing, you can skip this step for now.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, oats, milk, minced onion, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Roll the mixture into medium-small sized meatballs. Place them on a cookie sheet.
- Freeze the cookie sheet with meatballs for about 15 minutes. This helps them firm up before browning.
- Remove meatballs from the freezer and immediately dredge them in unseasoned flour, ensuring they are lightly coated.
- Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches until they are nicely browned on all sides, but not cooked through.
- If cooking immediately, transfer the browned meatballs to a baking dish. If freezing, return them to the cookie sheet to freeze completely.
Pioneer Woman’s Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
The Pioneer Woman’s homemade BBQ sauce is the perfect complement to these meatballs, adding a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor.
Ingredients for BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 3 tbsp Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 4 to 6 tbsp Onion, diced
- 1 dash Tabasco Sauce (or your favorite hot sauce, to taste)
Instructions for BBQ Sauce:
- In a saucepan, combine all BBQ sauce ingredients.
- Simmer over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the flavors have melded together.
Combining Meatballs and BBQ Sauce
If baking immediately, pour the homemade BBQ sauce over the browned meatballs in the baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is bubbly.
If using frozen meatballs, you can bake them directly from frozen. Simply place the frozen meatballs in a baking dish, pour the thawed BBQ sauce over them, and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until heated through and cooked.
Serving of Comfort Meatballs with BBQ Sauce
Serving Suggestions
These Comfort Meatballs with Homemade BBQ Sauce are incredibly versatile and can be served in many ways. They are delicious served over egg noodles, creamy mashed potatoes, or fluffy white rice. Enjoy this comforting and flavorful meal!
