BBQ Smoked Meatballs

BBQ Smoked Meatballs are tender, juicy meatballs that are smoked on your Traeger! Fire up your electric smoker and make this smoked meatball recipe today. They are perfect for dinner, a game day appetizer, entertaining and more. Make a double batch and freeze half of them for an easy freezer meal. This is an easy smoker recipe perfect for everyone to try!

Tender and juicy, these BBQ Smoked Meatballs are smoked right on the Traeger. This hands off recipe for BBQ meatballs does not involve a lot of fuss and can be made in a hour.

Truly, this is the best smoked meatballs recipe! It is my favorite new recipe and the easiest way to make perfect smoked meatballs. And you know what’s best? They freeze great! I love that because I can use this recipe to make Grilled Meatball Subs when I don’t feel like cooking! And if you love this recipe, then you’ll love smoked stuffed meatballs and Blackstone meatballs too.

Why You’ll Love These Smoked Meatballs!

• It’s quick! That’s right it only takes less than a hour to make them with minimal prep time.
• Simple ingredients. These are pantry staples that are easy to find.
• Make them ahead of time! You can prep the meatballs ahead of time or even use frozen ones.

Ingredients for Smoked Meatballs

Ingredients for Meatballs

• Ground beef – an 80% lean hamburger meat is the best for meatballs but whatever you have will be perfect
• Ground pork – this adds such a great flavor to the smoked meatballs
• Italian seasoned Panko crumbs – if you can only find plain, add your own Italian seasoning made from dried oregano, dried parsley, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper!
• Yellow onion – if you don’t have any onion on hand, you can substitute about 1 scant tablespoon of onion powder
• Milk – whichever milk you keep at home is perfect but a higher fat will give a little more flavor to your meatballs
• Eggs – these will help the meat to bind together
• Shredded cheese – the perfect combination of parmesan, mozzarella and cheddar will have you going back for more
• Salt – no explanation necessary here!
• Seasoned salt – seasoned salt is totally a secret ingredient in so many great dishes
• Ground Black Pepper
• Garlic powder – you can’t have meatballs without some garlic!

BBQ Sauce Ingredients

• BBQ sauce – use your favorite store bought sauce or make your own!
• Honey – liquid will be easiest to stir
• Brown sugar – make sure it is packed when you measure it out

How to Make BBQ Smoked Meatballs

1. Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs in a mixing bowl and form into 1” meatballs.
2. Preheat smoker to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Place meatballs on preheated smoker and smoke for 30-40 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. While meatballs are smoking, combine BBQ sauce ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Remove from smoker and gently stir in BBQ sauce. Serve immediately.

What to serve with smoked meatballs

• The perfect addition to any get together is always a pasta salad!
• Really put your smoker to good use with the delicious potato skins.
• Build a delicious meatball sub with buns, cheese and vegetables.
• Hot Dog Burnt Ends are always a crowd pleaser!

What Pellets Should be Used for Smoked Meatballs

We recommend a hickory pellet or competition blend for this easy meatball recipe. Other great wood chips to use here are alder and apple pellets for a lighter flavor.

How Can You Tell When Meatballs Are Done?

You will need an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meatballs. The safe internal temperature for meatballs is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do not trust the color of the meat because the beef can stay red when it is smoking.

What does milk do to meatballs?

Milk will add moisture to your meatballs. It will also tenderize the meat. If you must substitute, you can use water, there just won’t be any extra fat or flavor from the milk.

Why do meatballs fall apart when cooking?

Too much, or too little binder! They will fall apart if there’s not enough binder, likewise, they will fall apart if there’s too much. Like Goldilocks, the mixture has to be just right!

Chilling the mixture before forming meatballs is always a plus. If the meat mixture is cold, it’s less likely to stick to your fingers and hands. The less handling, the more tender the meatball.

We didn’t have any trouble with this recipe falling apart. We used a small ice cream scoop to scoop the meat mixture with and it worked great!

What is the secret to tender meatballs?

If you over mix your meatballs, the meat will become tough, it is that simple! Of course, the moisture from the eggs, milk and Panko will help to keep the meatballs tender, but it is most important that you do not over mix!

Make Ahead Tips

You can prep the meatball mixture, form the meatballs and store them in the refrigerator for up to two days before smoking them.

Another option is to use frozen premade meatballs. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before smoking them.

We like to make a double batch of smoked meatballs. After smoking the meatballs, we freeze them in an airtight freezer safe container for up to three months. When you are ready to enjoy them, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and heat. An easy way to heat this second batch is in your crock pot covered in sauce.

How to Store Leftovers

If you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

You can also freeze them by placing them in an airtight, freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Leftovers

You can heat them in the oven in an oven proof dish between 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit until they are warmed to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

We have also warmed them on stove top in a saucepan until heated through.

Using a microwave is another option!

These BBQ Smoked Meatballs are sure to be a hit at the dinner table! A short cook time means you’ll be eating delicious, smoky, sticky meatballs in no time. Served as an appetizer or main, these will be enjoyed by everyone!

More Delicious Smoker Recipes!

• Our viral Smoked Ribs are so delicious and anyone can make these fall off the bone tender ribs!
• At your next party, serve up a batch of Poor Man’s Burnt Ends. Tender, fall apart pieces of roast with so much flavor.
• Love jalapeño poppers? If you do, Smoked Armadillo Eggs are going to be your new favorite thing! 
• Ready for the best bacon ever? Smoked Bacon is so easy to make and will have your mouth watering because it’s perfectly smoky, crispy and addictive.