Chili Jalapeño Meatballs
Juicy, tender meatballs baked to perfection and coated in a bold sweet-and-spicy chili-jalapeño sauce. Perfect threaded on skewers as appetizers or served alongside rice, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad for dinner. Simple, flavourful, and irresistibly sticky.
Prep time
15 min
Cook time
20–25 min
Serves
Ingredients
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Meatballs
- 1 lbground beef or ground turkey
- ⅔ cupbreadcrumbs
- 1egg, slightly beaten
- ¼ cupwater
- 3 tbspminced onion (or 1 tbsp dried onion flakes)
- 2 clovesgarlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
- pinchsalt and pepper
Sauce
- 1 jar (10–12 oz)Heinz chili sauce
- 1 jar (10–12 oz)green jalapeño jelly
Homemade Chili Sauce (optional alternative)
- 1 cuptomato ketchup
- ¼ cupbrown sugar
- 2 tspwhite vinegar
- ½ tsppaprika
- pinchsalt
- optionaldash of hot sauce
Garnish & Serving
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Skewers (for appetizer-style serving)
- Optional sides: rice, mashed potatoes, or green salad
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lbground beef or ground turkey
- ⅔ cupbreadcrumbs
- 1egg, slightly beaten
- ¼ cupwater
- 3 tbspminced onion (or 1 tbsp dried onion flakes)
- 2 clovesgarlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
- pinchsalt and pepper
Sauce
- 1 jar (10–12 oz)Heinz chili sauce
- 1 jar (10–12 oz)green jalapeño jelly
Homemade Chili Sauce (optional alternative)
- 1 cuptomato ketchup
- ¼ cupbrown sugar
- 2 tspwhite vinegar
- ½ tsppaprika
- pinchsalt
- optionaldash of hot sauce
Garnish & Serving
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Skewers (for appetizer-style serving)
- Optional sides: rice, mashed potatoes, or green salad
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
In a bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, water, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined — do not overmix.
- 3
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, roll mixture into even-sized balls (~1–1½ inches). Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- 4
Bake for 20–25 minutes depending on the size of the meatballs, or until fully cooked (internal temp ~160°F / 71°C for beef, 165°F / 74°C for turkey).
- 5
While meatballs bake, combine chili sauce and jalapeño jelly in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until heated through and jelly is fully incorporated.
- 6
Toss baked meatballs in the sauce until well coated. Thread onto skewers and sprinkle with fresh parsley for appetizer-style, or serve alongside rice, mashed potatoes, or a green salad for dinner.
Melissa's Notes
Don't overmix the meatballs — that's the key to keeping them tender. Use a cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking. Adjust the heat by adding extra jalapeño jelly or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce. If making the homemade chili sauce, simmer all ingredients in a small saucepan until slightly thickened.
Nutrition Information
Per meatball — based on 16 meatballs, sauce included
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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