Classic BBQ Meatballs
On July 21, 2021 (Updated October 24, 2023)
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These BBQ Meatballs are the ultimate made-from-scratch meatball bursting with amazing BBQ flavor. They’re delicious on their own or served alongside other tasty BBQ.
BBQ Meatballs
Looking for a BBQ recipe that is awesome for just about any situation? Enter BBQ meatballs!
These smoky, tender meatballs are the perfect snack, appetizer, or hearty main dish. Toss a few on top of pasta for the most incredible BBQ dinner or serve them as a side with a massive BBQ platter. They’re beyond versatile!
We’re keeping things simple and classic with these meatballs. Beef and pork combine for a meatball that is incredibly flavorful and juicy. The subtle wood smoke and my Texas Style BBQ Sauce make these meatballs authentically “BBQ”. You can make this sauce yourself using my recipe for Texas BBQ Sauce or save yourself some effort and have it delivered straight to your door with my pre-made Texas Style BBQ Sauce.
Ingredients for Smoked Meatballs
Ready to put together some amazing smoked meatballs? Here’s what you’ll need to grab from the store or your pantry before diving into the recipe.
- 2 pounds ground beef. Make sure and use 85/15 meat to fat ratio for the best results.
- 1 pound ground pork.
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Beef Seasoning. You can purchase this rub from my store. If you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute with 2 teaspoons each of the following: salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
How to Make BBQ Meatballs
Here’s how to do it! For a full tutorial and ingredients scroll below to the recipe card.
- Make the meatballs. Form these bad boys up by combining all ingredients listed above in a mixing bowl. Stir gently to combine. Then, use your hands to loosely form them into equal-sized balls. Mine were around 2 ounces each.
- Smoke. Turn on your favorite smoker (Camp Chef for me!) and get it running around 225 degrees F. Oak and cherry woods both taste great with these meatballs.
- Sauce. Sauce these meatballs with Texas Style BBQ Sauce. Continue smoking until the meatballs reach 165 degrees F.
- Dig in! Remove the beautifully smoked and sauced meatballs from the grill grates with tongs. Enjoy these however you please.
Tips for Making BBQ Meatballs
Take note of a few of these tips before you dive into making BBQ meatballs.
- Swap the meats! This recipe is a great base for any type of meatballs you want to make. Lamb, turkey, venison, chicken, you name it! This recipe will yield great flavored and super moist meatballs. Simple substitute the beef with your meat of choice!
- Play with sauces. The meatball base is so classic, you can swap the sauces to change up the flavor profiles. Try my Teriyaki BBQ Sauce with some grilled pineapple for awesome Hawaiian-style meatballs, or douse the meatballs in my Smoked Tomato Sauce and load them up on a crunchy roll for a smoky sub that will blow your mind.
- Make a large batch. Double the amounts of everything in a recipe for a big batch that you can freeze and reheat later on. Smoke the meatballs until they are cooked through (without saucing) and then freeze in an airtight container. Defrost before reheating on the grill or oven at 275 degrees F until cooked through. Sauce during the last few minutes of heating and enjoy tasty meatballs with less effort.
More Meatball (and Meatloaf!) Recipes
If you loved these meatballs, you’re sure to love these other meatball and meatloaf recipes!
BBQ Meatballs Recipe
Here’s hoping these delicious meatballs grace the plates of you and your loved ones soon. Don’t forget to leave us a comment on social media or a review here on Hey Grill Hey to let us know how your cook went! It’s always a joy hearing from you!
Classic BBQ Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef 85/15
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Beef Seasoning or equal parts salt, pepper, and garlic powder
- ½ cup Texas Style BBQ Sauce or your favorite ketchup-based BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F using your favorite hardwood. I love oak and cherry for these meatballs.
- Make the meatballs. Combine all meatball ingredients, except the BBQ sauce, in a large bowl and combine gently with your hands. Shape the meat mixture into even sized balls (around 2 oz each) and place on a lightly oiled flat cooling rack.2 pounds ground beef, 1 pound ground pork, 2 eggs, ½ cup milk, ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tablespoons Beef Seasoning
- Smoke. Transfer your meatballs (still on the rack) to the smoker grates. Close the lid and smoke the meatballs until they reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees F. This typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours, so start checking the internal temperature after about 45 minutes.
- Sauce. Baste the meatballs with your BBQ Sauce. Close the lid of the smoker and continue cooking until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.½ cup Texas Style BBQ Sauce
- Enjoy! Remove the meatballs from the smoker and carefully from the rack (tongs seem to work best). Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
