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Mini Merry Meatballs

This is the perfect recipe for a holiday appetizer or a tailgating snack.

Cook Mode

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pound ground beef Brisket
  • 1/4 pound ground beef Ribeye Steak Boneless
  • 1/4 pound Ground Beef (80% lean)
  • 1 cup seasoned stuffing mix
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Cranberry Barbecue Sauce:
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2-1/2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

Cooking:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine Brisket, Ribeye, Ground Beef, stuffing mix, egg, water, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 24 1-inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400°F oven 18 to 20 minutes until 160°F.
    2. Cook's Tip:
    Brisket and Ribeye can be ground using food processor fitted with steel blade or grinder attachment of a stand mixer. Cut 8 ounces well-trimmed Brisket into 1-1/2 inch pieces (4 ounces well-trimmed Ribeye) and process until ground. Alternatively, ask your butcher to grind the beef. 
    You may use all ground in place of ground brisket and ribeye.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare Cranberry Barbecue Sauce. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until tender, but not brown. Add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until cranberries burst and mixture has reduced to thick consistency, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer mixture to blender container. Cover, allowing steam to escape. Process until smooth. Season with salt, as desired.
  3. Serve meatballs with barbecue sauce.

Nutrition Information

Safe Handling Tips

Beef Checkoff

Bourbon Blueberry & Brie Bacon Cheeseburger

Brian Capps of Louisville, KY, has been crowned the 2021 Derby Burger Champion in the 10th Annual Derby Burger Challenge. Capps’ burger, made with 100% Kentucky Cattlemen’s ground beef is packed with flavor. The patty is topped with brie, thick-cut bacon, a blueberry bourbon sauce and arugula - all on a brioche bun.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef
  • 4 Slices Bacon, thick sliced
  • 1/4 inch Sliced Brie Cheese, rind removed
  • 1 pint Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Lemon, halved
  • 1/8 cup White Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Bourbon
  • 2 Brioche Buns
  • 2 Tbsp. Salted Butter
  • Arugula 
  • ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Recipe

1. Form Two Patties and Set Aside.

2. Preheat your skillet over medium high heat. Add butter, and sliced buns. Cook until golden brown, set aside.

3. Salt and pepper both sides of the burger patty, cook over medium high heat. Cook until internal temperature of 160°F (USDA recommended), add cheese before taking off heat until melted.

4. Add blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a small pot. Cook on medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Slowly add your slurry mixture to thicken blueberry sauce. Remove mixture from heat and stir in your bourbon.

5. Build your burger. Place your burger patty with melted cheese, cooked bacon, blueberry sauce on the bottom bun. Top the burger with arugula and add the top bun.

6. Enjoy!

Find more delicious recipes and other ways to be involved in the Derby Burger Challenge HERE!