This post contains affiliate links meaning if you purchase through the link I will receive a small commission. When my son was in elementary school he was tired of the run of the mill sandwiches. I was desperate to find something he would enjoy in his lunchbox. Now this is a kid who will eat just about anything and will try just about anything at least once. I thought and thought and it finally came to me – why not make one of my favorite appetizers into a hot lunch for him. I pitched him the idea of mini BBQ meatballs. He was totally game.
I used a package of ground beef that was about a pound and a half. That made 30 meatballs. About 10 fit into the thermos I have but I form all of the meatballs and freeze in packages of 10. 10 is plenty for my son along with the other things I pack in his lunch. I tried cooking them and freezing, which works well in theory however I would forget to take them out the night before to defrost. I cook them up in the morning, they take a bit longer from frozen and that way I feel they are fresher. If you’re a better planner it is time saving to cook them ahead. It’s also easy to cook them the day before, cover in barbecue sauce and store in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a bit of extra barbecue sauce in the morning and pack for lunch.
These mini bbq meatballs were such a hit with my son and his friends. A Mom friend texted me to ask how I made them because her son raved about the mini meatballs.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Barbecue sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine ground beef and seasonings to taste.
- Using a small cookie scoop or your hands, roll ground beef into mini meatballs. Saute in a pan until cooked through.
- In a saucepan combine cooked meatballs with your favorite barbecue sauce and heat through.
Check out these back to school recipes perfect for snack, lunch and more! Thank you to Cynthia from Feeding Big for hosting this week long event. Check back each day for new recipes!
Lunch Box Mini BBQ Meatballs by Family Around the Table
Avocado Dip by A Day In The Life on The Farm
Roasted Beet Hummus by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
