Firecracker Meatballs Recipe | The Recipe Critic


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Prepare to boost your dinner with these firecracker meatballs! Juicy beef meatballs are baked to perfection after which tossed in a candy and spicy buffalo-based sauce, making a scrumptious meal that’s good for any night time of the week.

When you’re searching for methods so as to add somewhat extra spice to your meals, do that firecracker salmon or this firecracker hen. Then make this straightforward fried rice as a aspect; will probably be a crowd-pleaser for certain!

overhead shot of firecracker meatballs doused in sauce in a skillet with wooden spoon. overhead shot of firecracker meatballs doused in sauce in a skillet with wooden spoon.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Fast and Simple Dinner: You may prep these forward of time, after which as soon as you’re able to bake, dinner will probably be prepared in 20 minutes!
  • Filled with taste: These firecracker meatballs are like a festive firecracker of taste in your mouth. I like all the seasonings in them, and don’t even get me began on the sauce! Yum!

Firecracker Meatballs Recipe

Firecracker meatballs are a pleasant manner so as to add spice and selection to your weekly meal planning. Not solely that, you possibly can completely change out the protein to match your preferences or what you may have obtainable. They arrive collectively rapidly and simply, making them good as a aspect dish, fundamental course, and even an appetizer for gatherings.

To make it an entire meal, use this fool-proof instantaneous pot rice recipe. Get your greens in with this scrumptious inexperienced beans recipe and don’t neglect dessert; it’s a must to attempt my all-time favourite, mango sticky rice recipe!

What’s in Firecracker Meatballs?

Everyone knows “firecracker” means spiciness, however what precisely offers these meatballs their kick? I’ll provide you with a touch… it’s all concerning the purple pepper flakes! Take a look at the recipe card on the backside of the publish for all the precise measurements.

  • Floor beef: That is the star of the present and supplies texture and taste.
  • Panko breadcrumbs: The breadcrumbs assist maintain the meatballs collectively and supply a lightweight texture to stop them from changing into too dense.
  • Egg: The eggs bind the meatballs collectively.
  • Inexperienced onion: Offers a light recent taste and a slight crunch.
  • Toasted sesame seeds: Add a nutty-rich taste.
  • Garlic: Who doesn’t love a little bit of garlic of their meatballs? Don’t knock it til you attempt it!
  • Ginger: Provides a heat, candy taste with a touch of spice that additionally provides depth to the meatball taste profile.
  • Crimson pepper flakes: That is what cranks up that warmth and is the place the time period “firecracker” comes from.
  • Soy Sauce: Provides the meatballs a savory, umami saltiness.
  • Salt: Enhances the flavors of all the opposite components.
  • Pepper: Provides a contact of warmth and compliments the opposite spices.
overhead shot of labeled meatball ingredients. overhead shot of labeled meatball ingredients.

What’s Firecracker Sauce Made from?

Spicy firecracker sauce is all about warmth, tanginess, and a contact of sweetness. It’s good for including a energetic kick to your favourite meals!

  • Buffalo sauce: This scorching sauce acts as the bottom of the firecracker sauce and provides a tangy, spicy, barely buttery taste.
  • Brown sugar: Provides sweetness to stability out the warmth.
  • Apple cider vinegar: Helps stability the sweetness of the brown sugar in addition to the richness of the buffalo sauce.
  • Crimson pepper flakes: Provides the sauce an additional kick of warmth.
  • Toasted sesame seeds: Add a nutty taste and texture.
  • Salt: Enhances the flavors of all of the components within the sauce, guaranteeing every part reaches its full potential in style.
Overhead shot of labeled ingredients for sauce. Overhead shot of labeled ingredients for sauce.

The right way to Make Firecracker Meatballs

  1. Preheat: Preheat oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix: In a big bowl, add the bottom beef, breadcrumbs, egg, inexperienced onions, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger, purple pepper flakes, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Combine every part till properly mixed.
  3. Form into balls: Form the combination into about 1-inch balls and place the shaped meatballs in an excellent layer on the baking sheet.
  4. Bake meatballs: Bake the meatballs for 12-Quarter-hour, flipping midway via. Prepare dinner till the meatballs are golden on the surface and now not pink on the within.
  5. Make the sauce: Whereas the meatballs are cooking, whisk collectively the buffalo sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, sesame seeds, purple pepper flakes, and salt in a medium bowl till clean.
  6. Warmth sauce with meatballs: As soon as the meatballs have completed cooking, add them and the sauce to a skillet over medium warmth. Toss to coat, and let simmer.
  7. Serve: Benefit from the firecracker meatballs heat over your alternative of rice—whether or not it’s white, brown, and even cauliflower rice. For added aptitude, sprinkle with inexperienced onions, sesame seeds, and purple pepper flakes to style.

Suggestions for Tender, Good Meatballs

  • Don’t overcook! Make certain to regulate the meatballs and take them out simply after they’re now not pink. Then they are going to be juicy and crumble in your mouth!
  • Combine when chilly: Whenever you combine every part collectively, you wish to combine it as chilly components. So make certain to take every part out of the fridge simply earlier than you begin cooking. This helps stop the fats from melting earlier than you cook dinner the meatballs!
  • Protein variations: If floor beef isn’t your choice, floor hen, floor turkey, or floor pork are glorious options. Simply be attentive whereas cooking to stop overcooking.
  • Spice or no spice? These firecracker meatballs are supposed to be spicy, however for those who aren’t a fan of spice, you possibly can cut back the warmth by lowering the quantity of purple pepper flakes. 

Close up shot of large wooden spoon scooping meatballs out of a  skillet. Close up shot of large wooden spoon scooping meatballs out of a  skillet.

The right way to Retailer Leftover Meatballs

These firecracker meatballs are greatest served recent out of the skillet and piping scorching! However you possibly can preserve leftovers within the fridge and reheat them later!

  • Within the Fridge: As soon as the meatballs have cooled, then, place them in an hermetic container. Put it in your fridge for 3-4 days.
  • To Reheat: You may reheat them within the microwave, however I favor crisping them up within the air fryer. Place the meatballs in a single layer in your air fryer, then warmth for 3-4 minutes at 370 levels Fahrenheit.

Close up shot of plated rice and a fork skewering a meatball. Close up shot of plated rice and a fork skewering a meatball.

Extra Meatball Recipes to Attempt

Meatballs are a scrumptious and budget-friendly solution to feed your loved ones and add some pleasure to your weekly dinners. In search of extra inspiration? Take a look at these improbable meatball recipes that can make your weeknight meals much more pleasurable!

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  • Preheat oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • In a big bowl add the bottom beef, breadcrumbs, egg, inexperienced onions, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger, purple pepper flakes, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Combine every part till properly mixed.

  • Form the combination into about 1-inch balls and place the shaped meatballs in an excellent layer on the baking sheet.

  • Bake the meatballs for 12-Quarter-hour, flipping midway via. Prepare dinner till the meatballs are golden on the surface and now not pink on the within.

  • Whereas the meatballs are cooking, in a medium bowl whisk collectively the buffalo sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, sesame seeds, purple pepper flakes, and salt till the sauce is clean.

  • As soon as meatballs have completed cooking, add the meatballs and sauce to a skillet over medium warmth and toss to coat and warmth the sauce.

  • Serve the meatballs heat over rice. Garnish with inexperienced onions, sesame seeds, and purple pepper flakes, if desired.

Energy: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 5gFats: 5gSaturated Fats: 2gPolyunsaturated Fats: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fats: 2gTrans Fats: 0.3gLdl cholesterol: 24mgSodium: 435mgPotassium: 96mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 107IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

Diet info is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.



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