Your taste buds are about to do their own end zone dance once they get a taste of these savory little spheres! End Zone Meatballs are tender, beefy, juicy, and beautifully seasoned. Then, they put on their delicious game day jersey; a thick, tangy, tropical pineapple sauce that offers the perfect balance of savory and sweet. End Zone Meatballs get the taste touchdown for the win!
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the sauce:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2/3 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 4 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple in syrup, chunks or crushed, drained and syrup reserved
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- green onions, optional, to taste, sliced, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –In a large bowl, add the beef, the breadcrumbs, the eggs, 1/4 cup of the chopped onion, the evaporated milk, 1 teaspoon of the salt, the pepper, and the nutmeg and mix gently but thoroughly.
Step 3 –Form the beef mixture into small meatballs.
Step 4 –Place the meatballs on a cookie sheet and bake them for 20 minutes.
Step 5 –In a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil.
Step 6 –Add the remaining finely chopped onion, the green pepper, and the remaining salt and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 7 –Drain the oil from the skillet and place the skillet on over medium heat.
Step 8 –In a small bowl, add the ketchup and the vinegar and mix to combine.
Step 9 –Add the ketchup-vinegar mixture to the skillet and stir to combine.
Step 10 –In a small bowl, add the reserved pineapple syrup and the cornstarch and stir until well-combined.
Step 11 –Add the slurry mixture to the skillet and cook until it thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 12 –Add the pineapple and simmer until the flavors meld together, about 3 minutes.
Step 13 –Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook until the meatballs are heated through and reach a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 14 –Serve garnished with the green onions.
