Cocktail Meatballs

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of potlucks.

I never really was….you do not really know who made the food, if their kitchen is clean, do they wash hands frequently etc. etc.

Then, when food issues came into play, I had to be careful about what I could pick up and eat. In a way, that was nice because I’d have good excuse to not eat something at a potluck if I didn’t really feel like eating it.

So, if I go to a potluck, I often bring more than one thing. And I like to bring something substantial. You can always find raw veggies and a fruit salad at a potluck so bringing a meat dish to fill myself up, is a good idea.

Today I have a delicious cocktail meatball recipe to share with you. I’ve made it several years now and always at Christmastime. It just seems like a special recipe and not one you’d make on a random evening.

Every time I bring it somewhere it gets rave reviews. And it is easy to keep hot at a potluck as long as you have a crockpot.

So, next time you need to whip up a big batch of something to take somewhere, why not these cocktail meatballs? They also work great for your at-home party.

Also shared at Allergy Free Wednesday. Gluten Free Wednesday.

Cocktail Meatballs

From: Peggy of Allergy Free Test Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup gluten free or regular oatmeal
• 1 3/4 cup ketchup (free of HFCS)
• 1 1/4 cup blackberry preserves (free of HFCS)
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1 T. taco seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix beef, eggs, and oatmeal together and shape into one inch balls.
3. Place meatballs on two cookie sheets.
4. Bake for about 15 minutes-20 minutes.
5. In a bowl, mix the ketchup, blackberry preserves, coconut sugar, taco seasoning and garlic powder.
6. Place into a crockpot and turn temperature to high.
7. When meatballs are finished cooking, place on paper towels to absord any grease.  Then fold into sauce in the crockpot.
8. Keep on temperature on high until the sauce is hot.  Then turn to low. 
9. After several hours, you may need to turn the crockpot off or to warm if the sauce gets too hot.