Description

These freezer-friendly barbecue meatballs are a perfect solution for busy moms looking to prepare delicious, hearty meals ahead of time. Made with a flavorful blend of ground beef, oats, and spices, then smothered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, these meatballs can be baked fresh or frozen for convenience. Ideal for quick dinners or gatherings, they combine ease, taste, and nutrition in one satisfying recipe.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Meatballs:

2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups milk
2 cups oats or bread crumbs
1 onion, diced
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
3 lbs ground beef

For the Sauce:

2 cups ketchup
1½ cups brown sugar
½ cup diced onion, optional
1 tsp Liquid Smoke, optional
½ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

To Assemble Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, oats or bread crumbs, diced onion, salt, pepper, and ground beef. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated. Shape the mixture into one-inch meatballs and place them on a greased baking dish if baking immediately, or on a cookie sheet if freezing for later use.
To Bake Meatballs: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Place the meatballs in the oven and bake them for 18-20 minutes. Once baked, carefully drain the grease from the pan. While the meatballs are baking, prepare the barbecue sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Pour the prepared barbecue sauce over the meatballs and return them to the oven to bake for an additional 10-20 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked.
To Freeze Meatballs: After shaping the meatballs, place them on a cookie sheet in a single layer and freeze for about one hour until firm. Remove the frozen meatballs from the cookie sheet and transfer them into airtight, zip-top freezer bags. Label the bags with the date and freeze the meatballs for up to 3 months. When ready to use, bake directly from frozen, adjusting cooking time as needed.

Notes

You can substitute oats with bread crumbs if preferred for a different texture.
Liquid Smoke in the sauce is optional but adds a pleasant smoky depth to the flavor.
Make sure to drain excess grease after the first baking to keep the meatballs from being too oily.
These meatballs freeze well and are perfect for meal prepping ahead of time.
Cooked meatballs can also be reheated in a slow cooker or microwave for convenience.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 5 meatballs
Calories: 176 kcal
Sugar: 13 g
Sodium: 287 mg
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 4.4 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 17 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 8 g
Cholesterol: 38 mg

Keywords: barbecue meatballs, freezer-friendly meals, make-ahead meatballs, easy dinner, busy moms recipe, ground beef meatballs, baked meatballs, barbecue sauce meatballs