Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Meatballs
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9 INGREDIENTS • 3 STEPS • 15MINS

Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Meatballs

Quick and easy Thanksgiving appetizer that will impress you! Use store-bought Italian-style meatballs and take them to a whole new level with our special Maple syrup chili sauce. The delicious and warming combination of sweet and spicy is perfect for a Thanksgiving midday snack. Your friends and family will love it!
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Quick and easy Thanksgiving appetizer that will impress you! Use store-bought Italian-style meatballs and take them to a whole new level with our special Maple syrup chili sauce. The delicious and warming combination of sweet and spicy is perfect for a Thanksgiving midday snack. Your friends and family will love it!

How To Make Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Meatballs

This recipe is so quick and easy, especially working with frozen meatballs; it’ll only take you 15 minutes and just three steps:
  • Combine all the ingredients of the sweet and spicy sauce in a saucepan. Mix everything together and let it cook on medium heat until the sauce thickens. It will be thick enough when it coats the back of the spoon.
  • Since the cocktail meatballs are frozen, there is no extra preparation for this but just to put them in thickened sauce and toss it around until it's warmed throughout.
  • That's about it! Serve warm at your next holiday party or bring to the next potluck.


Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Frozen Meatballs - the frozen meatballs we usually see in the groceries are fully cooked meatballs already and would just need to be warmed up. You can also make homemade meatballs from scratch; you can use this recipe: Cocktail Meatballs.
  • Maple Syrup - this is the sweet element for the sauce. Honey can also be a good substitute since they both have caramel flavor notes and give the sauce a great glossy finish.
  • Worcestershire Sauce - packed with umami flavor that makes you want to eat more of this tasty cocktail meatballs recipe. You can also use soy sauce, but Worcestershire sauce has a more complex flavor with some sourness and notes of molasses.
  • Chili Sauce - you can always use your go-to chili sauce for this, depending on your heat level preference. We can also recommend using Heinz chili sauce.
  • Seasonings - we're using pantry staples for the seasonings on this one. We'll be using some onion powder, chili powder, ground ginger, and some fresh thyme. You can also add some garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to taste.


Tips & Suggestions

  • For our vegan friends, you can use our Tempeh Meatballs recipe for vegan-friendly meatballs, just don't forget to omit the curry paste.


Frequently Asked Questions

How to store Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Meatballs?

Whether you have leftovers or have made this recipe ahead, you can store them in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, you can quickly reheat it in the microwave or stovetop just until the meatballs are warmed throughout.



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15MINS
Total Time
$1.97
Cost Per Serving
Ingredients
Servings
4
us / metric
Frozen Meatball
1 lb
Frozen Meatball, warmed
Maple Syrup
1 cup
Maple Syrup
Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp
Worcestershire Sauce
Chili Sauce
1/2 cup
Chili Sauce
I used Heinz®
Chili Powder
1/2 tsp
Chili Powder
Onion Powder
2 tsp
Onion Powder
Ground Ginger
1/2 tsp
Ground Ginger
Fresh Thyme
4 sprigs
Fresh Thyme
Fresh Thyme Leaves
to taste
Fresh Thyme Leaves
for garnish
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Author's Notes

If you are using different brands of chili sauce, you might need to adjust the maple syrup according to the sweetness of the chili sauce.
Cooking InstructionsHide images
step 1
In the saucepan over medium heat, add Maple Syrup (1 cup), Worcestershire Sauce (1 Tbsp), Chili Sauce (1/2 cup), Chili Powder (1/2 tsp), Onion Powder (2 tsp), Ground Ginger (1/2 tsp), and Fresh Thyme (4 sprigs). Cook for about 8 minutes until it thickens.
step 2
Once the sauce has thickened, add the Frozen Meatball (1 lb) and toss them in the sauce for 2 minutes until well coated.
step 3
Serve hot with toothpicks. Optionally, garnish with Fresh Thyme Leaves (to taste) and extra sauce.
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RECIPES TAG
Appetizers
Dairy-Free
Beef
Comfort Food
Snack
Shellfish-Free
Quick & Easy
Italian
Side Dish
Thanksgiving
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