Saucy Cola Meatballs
- MAKES
- About 30 meatballs
- COOK TIME
- 50 Min
Who would guess that one of our favorite soft drinks would be the secret ingredient to these tangy and delicious Saucy Cola Meatballs? They make for crowd-pleasing appetizers!
What You'll Need
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 small onion, finely chopped, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 cup cola (one 12-ounce can)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
What to Do
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, water, half the onion, salt, and black pepper; mix well. Form into 1-inch meatballs and place in a 9- x 13-inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients, including remaining onion; mix well. Pour mixture over meatballs. Cover with foil.
- Bake 25 minutes, remove foil, and continue cooking 25 to 30 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is thickened.
Notes
The delicious sauce from these cocktail-size meatballs shouldn't go to waste, so be sure to have some Cheese Bread or rolls on hand for sopping!
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Edmund K
Nov 30, 2017
I've come across a number of meatball recipes that incorporated coke into the recipe and this one looks a bit off. Most of the recipes I've seen call for half the bread or cracker crumbs in relationship to the beef. So for this recipe, it would be one-half cup of crumbs to the one pound of beef. I also usually add some minced green pepper to the minced onion when I make meatballs. I've tried using Coke with the sauce before and it adds a nice sweetness to the taste, though it's a bit too sweet for my tastes.
Cwhit
May 22, 2014
Too much bread! I'm gonna suggest a half cup of bread crumbs. Not enough cook time at 325 degrees. should be another 30 mins or 350 or 375 degrees. They tasted like bread balls to me. I will provide a fabulous meat ball recipe if anyone would like to reply. I will have to write out. Its only in my brain but its great!
avett
Jun 07, 2014
Years ago, I saw a meatball recipe being made on t.v. The chef used regular crushed saltine crackers instead of bread crumbs. I tried it and was astonished how light and tender the meatballs turned out. I've never made a meatball any other way since then.
eveleenbrown 66399 66
Jun 24, 2015
I would love your meat ball recipe, I have yet to find a good one, I am 77 Yrs old and have cooked forever and been a caterer and still can't find one I like. Thanks so much, I too in reading this over thought they would taste like bread balls. I have been trying to get my friend to give me theirs but they were Italians who came here from Italy and she doesn't want to give out the family secret! I wasn't to impressed but they were the best I had found. Thanks again for sharing, if you want I have an excellent sugar cookie I made up and it is delightful you can do anything with the recipe. It is great. many compliments on them over the years. I do share my cooking with others.
shannondab 7860537
Jan 03, 2013
These were super-easy. I tried them the first time with store-bought meatballs and it turned out so greasy and the meatballs were mushy. I did it again with homemade meatballs and it was 100 x's better. Next time, I'll leave the lid off for the last hour of cooking to let the sauce thicken.
jeanne31 4216289
Dec 18, 2012
Does is matter what kind of cola.. pepsi..coke cola.. of brand???
judyannglass 66126 58
Dec 17, 2012
We have always fixed coca cola chicken, so I know this will be just as good.
pwesleyrp 5805366
Dec 15, 2012
Tasted fantastic, but meatballs sort of fell apart (think I'll ad an egg to hamburger mix next time) and sauce did not thicken much (perhaps I'll take foil off sooner or add some cornstarch to sauce mix.) Regardless of what Ii thought to be problems, my husband loved it, so with a little "tweaking" I must make it again.
jed2125 2999887
Dec 15, 2012
Remember, if you use a crockpot, remove the lid the last hour or so to allow the sauce to thicken.
pamjgabriel 237829 8
Dec 14, 2012
How much onion powder would I use instead of a small onion? Pam
Chef Boy R Me
Dec 14, 2012
And if anyone is thinking of using diet cola instead of regular cola just remember that anything with Nutrasweet (aspartame) in it may turn bitter when heated/cooked. Whereas a cola with Splenda (sucralose) will not. And if you want to go one step further to reduce the sugar in this recipe, Heinz makes a ketchup that is made with Splenda that tastes great! Just a couple of ideas for diabetics like me out there who would love this recipe minus the extra sugar!
Karole77707
Dec 14, 2012
Thank you, thank you, please post all your diabetic knowledge on the diabetic sites.
03marjorie 5077195
Dec 13, 2012
Thank you for this recipe. I think it also could make a good meatloaf maybe. 03marjorie5077195
dandendulk
Dec 13, 2012
I was looking for something to bring to a party. You saved the day! Thanks. Love the video.
S48tal 8171427
Dec 13, 2012
Thank you "Mr. Food's Team" for continuing this site; soooooo appreciated ........ still miss "Mr. Food," and will think of him fondly. This recipe is awesome, as it is so 'delicious and easy' to make. As a suggestion: Can use the frozen meatballs and add the sauce ingredients over them. Just an option, and will also be good done in your (slow-cooker). Once again, thank you all for the tasty, easy, and inexpensive recipes!!! Sincerely, 'little ole' Ohio cook,' Sherry
dfroom 1126942
Dec 13, 2012
Question?! :) could I make the meatballs and then put it all (raw meat balls and sauce) in slow cooker...that way I could bring them to family gathering and they stay warm!?
jlsochor 6544076
Dec 13, 2012
Google Crockpot Conversion ifo and they will give you a chart coverting oven cooking times to crockpot(slow cooker) times . With this recipe it calls to cook for 50 min total so that would convert to either 4-5 hours on high or 8-18 hrs on low.
fredhomer 9960735
Nov 20, 2018
Why would anyone need a Conversion info??? Everything you put in a crockpot take between 8 and 18 to cook on low!!!
CaseyHolly
Dec 13, 2012
These are awesome. Easy, moist and tasty. They are also very simple to make and take no time at all to whip up a batch.
sparklez 2635937
Dec 13, 2012
This sounds really good but i wonder if they would have a sweet taste to it? I'm going to try it so i guess i'll find out.
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