Secret Sauce Meatballs
Discover the ultimate crowd-pleaser with these Secret Sauce Meatballs—tender, flavor-packed bites simmered to perfection in a rich and tangy homemade sauce. Combining a juicy blend of ground beef and pork, these meatballs are seasoned with a medley of Italian herbs, onion, and garlic for maximum flavor. The real star of the dish, however, is the "secret sauce," a savory-sweet combination of ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and a hint of ginger, thickened to velvety perfection. Perfectly browned and then simmered until irresistibly tender, these meatballs are ideal served over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles. Ready in under an hour, this versatile recipe is perfect for busy weeknight dinners or impressing guests at your next gathering.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 lb ground pork
- 0.75 cup breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 0.5 cup ketchup
- 0.25 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 0.5 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix together gently with your hands until evenly combined, being careful not to overmix.
Using your hands, form the mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. This should yield about 18-20 meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Sear the meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side until browned. You may need to cook them in batches. Remove the meatballs and set them aside.
In the same skillet (keeping the browned bits for flavor), prepare the secret sauce. Lower the heat to medium-low and add ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and ground ginger. Stir well until combined and bring to a simmer.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens slightly.
Return the seared meatballs to the skillet, gently spooning the sauce over them to coat. Cover the skillet with a lid and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 10-12 minutes until they are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Serve the Secret Sauce Meatballs hot over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles, garnished with fresh parsley or green onions for a pop of color.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
672 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 44.1 g | 56% | |
| Saturated Fat | 14.9 g | 74% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 164 mg | 55% | |
| Sodium | 1275 mg | 55% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 33.9 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.2 g | 4% | |
| Total Sugars | 14.6 g | ||
| Protein | 35.1 g | 70% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.6 mcg | 3% | |
| Calcium | 90 mg | 7% | |
| Iron | 4.5 mg | 25% | |
| Potassium | 556 mg | 12% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
