Beef Meatballs with Apricot Chipotle Sauce
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Tender, easy beef meatballs pan seared and glazed with a wonderful sweet and savory sauce made with apricot jam, chipotle peppers and a few simple pantry items. These Easy Beef Meatballs with Apricot Chipotle Sauce deliver BIG flavor and are the perfect appetizer or main course served with a side.
BEEF MEATBALLS WITH APRICOT CHIPOTLE SAUCE
Another in my Meatball Series, these Easy Beef Meatballs with Apricot Chipotle Sauce are beyond lip smacking good.
I whip these bad boys up often for when friends drop by. Check out the video below to see how quickly this all comes together.
Truth be told I will make a major batch of these easy beef meatballs and freeze them so I can thaw out a dozen or more in a jiffy and the sauce comes together in no time.
These are the perfect little nibble, or if served with a side, like my Instant Pot Creamy Polenta or mashed potatoes and a Tarragon Broccoli Salad, you have a dinner.
Perfect to snack on, the beef meatballs are tender, not hard and dense, and the sauce is killer.
HOW TO MAKE MEATBALLS WITH APRICOT CHIPOTLE SAUCE
Sauce
- Over medium heat in a skillet at the oil and sauté the onion until translucent and slightly golden, about 5 minutes.
- In a bowl mix together the apricot preserves, mustard, ketchup, chipotle peppers, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Pour sauce over sautéed onions and cook for 5 minutes on low. Set aside.
Meatballs
- Add all ingredients together in a bowl (except olive oil) and gently mix together by hand until incorporated completely. Mixture will be slightly loose and wet.
- Use a small 1 1/2 inch scoop or roll into 32 small balls (about the size of a golf ball). Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the olive oil and brown the meatballs on all sides (about 5 minutes total). Do in batches to not over crowd the pan and steam them. We want them browned!
- Pour sauce over meatballs, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve warm.
For other meatball recipes try my Swedish Meatballs Recipe with Gravy, Mexican Cheese Stuffed Meatballs, or these Cranberry Turkey Meatballs. Enjoy!
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Easy Beef Meatballs with Apricot Chipotle Sauce
Ingredients
Apricot Chipotle Sauce
- 16 oz apricot preserves
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce chopped
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
Beef Meatballs
- 2 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Sauce
- Over medium heat in a skillet at the oil and sauté the onion until translucent and slightly golden, about 5 minutes.
- In a bowl mix together the apricot preserves, mustard, ketchup, chipotle peppers, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Pour sauce over sautéed onions and cook for 5 minutes on low. Set aside.
Meatballs
- Add all ingredients together in a bowl (except olive oil) and gently mix together by hand until incorporated completely. Mixture will be slightly loose and wet.
- Use a small 1 1/2 inch scoop or roll into 32 small balls (about the size of a golf ball). Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the olive oil and brown the meatballs on all sides (about 5 minutes total). Do in batches to not over crowd the pan and steam them. We want them browned!
- Pour sauce over meatballs, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve warm.
Video
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
My son absolutely loves your apricot Chipotle sauce on chicken. At the age of 4, he literally ate FIVE pieces in one sitting and that was only because I told him six was too much for a boy of his age to eat.
Love this! So happy you’re enjoying this one Nunu. 🙂