Looking for a Meatball Sauce idea for Hor's D'oeuvres

[JeffJ]

Next Saturday we will be having our 23rd annual Christmas party. We have certain staples we make every year and then we always have a couple of items that are new. We've never cooked meatballs for our party and it sounds like a good idea. I'll be cooking them in advance - indirect using lump (no wood) - and will then be putting them in a crock pot so people can eat them with toothpicks. I'm looking for ideas for a sauce. I'm personally fond of a good marinara, but my wife wanted something more unique. Any and all suggestions will be welcomed.

[Max Good]

This may not be what you have in mind, but my Black Swan Gourmet BBQ Sauce with meatballs in a crock pot is a real crowd pleaser at parties. It's made with fresh pureed vegetables so it's real sauce, not just flavored corn syrup.

[EdF]

Scandinavian meatballs are pretty festive! They're also called Swedish meatballs. Here's one recipe, but there are tons of them out there, all claiming to be the best.

https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/...ls-recipe.html or https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/12/...meatballs.html

It's basically meatballs in a creamy brown gravy, sometimes with sour cream in it.

I'll bet Henrik can give some advice if you go this route.

[EdF]

Having running jokes is a good thing for a marriage!

[Mr. Bones]

Among th very best Comfort Foods, ever...

[Troutman]

Excellent suggestion. My Swedish grandma made them every year.

[JCBBQ]

These are pretty good:

https://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/chipotle-meatballs/

[Mr. Bones]

Nice, I'll haveta try that route...

Thanks, Brother!

[Santamarina]

This sounds delicious!

[Oakgrovebacon]

A can of cranberry sauce and marinara make a good meatball sauce.

[jecucolo]

I just made a batch of meatballs today for a party tomorrow. I think it is pretty close to what my grandmother used to make. My highly critical brother and sister thinks so.

INGREDIENTS
16 2-3”Meatballs:
1 pound ground beef (at least 16 percent fat)
1 pound ground pork
2/3 cup milk (whole or 2 percent)
3 slices of white bread (about 3 ounces)
1/4 cup grated parmesan or romano cheese
2 eggs
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons black pepper
2-3 garlic cloves, minced

This recipe doesn’t use bread crumbs. It uses regular white bread soaked in milk. You want the bread soaked in milk and then you squeeze out the milk. Some people use water.

So I mixed the meats together then I added the bread and mixed that in. In a separate bowl I used a stick blender to whisk the eggs, salt, pepper, parsley, garlic and Parmesan. Once that is mixed up I add it to the meat/bread mixture. I just use my hands at this point. Don’t over work the meat.

You can fry them in a little olive oil you want them brown. You can also bake them. I think 350-400 is a good temp.
Today I fried some and also smoked some on the PBC. The ones on the top are smoked. I like them both. The smoke really adds another component to the flavor.

[EdF]

Definitely an "Italian Grandma" version. Pretty much the way we do them.

[Old Glory]

Sweet and Sour Meatballs (only 3 Ingredients!!)
Ingredients

• 1 packages Frozen meatballs-32oz (or you can make your own).
• 1 1/2 cup Grape jelly.
• 1 1/2 cup Ketchup (or chili sauce if you like more zip).

Steps

• Spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.
  
  
  Add the 3 ingredients and mix together.
  Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours depending on how fast your crockpot cooks.