Smoked Meatballs

My kids love when meatballs make the menu for the week! These Smoked Meatballs are a twist to our Easy Meatball Recipe as they are packed with smoky flavors while staying moist and tender on the inside. We have served them many ways but our favorite is over pasta with a side of breadsticks.

If you are looking for a delicious smoker recipes to make in your new smoker, these meatballs are a great Beginner Smoker Recipe to start with. Make sure to check out Blackstone Meatballs or Grilled Meatballs Recipe for other ways to make a family favorite recipe.

Why You’ll Love Smoked Meatballs

• Packed with Flavor – With the combination of the ground beef and ground pork these meatballs are loaded with flavor!
• Simple Ingredients – This smoked meatball recipe can be made with a variety of spices and sauce toppings.
• Meal Prep Friendly – Prepare these meatballs and stock your freezer or enjoy them for an easy meatball sandwiches.
• Flexible Heat Source— Make these meatballs in a pellet grill, offset smoker, or in the oven.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef – We like using lean ground beef. You can also use a mixture of ground turkey and ground beef
• Ground Pork – Love adding pork for additional flavor
• Breadcrumbs – Binds the ingredients together
• Grated Parmesan Cheese – Adds a hint of savory flavor
• Eggs – Lightly beaten
• Simple Seasoning – Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Italian Seasoning, Salt and Black Pepper is all you need
• Marinara Sauce – Use jar sauce for optional topping but you can also make Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

How to Make Smoked Meatballs

Step 1 – Add beef, pork bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian Seasoning, and salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Mix the meat mixture with your hands until combined.

Step 2 – Form into 1 or 2 inch meatballs.  The recipe should make approximately 24 meatballs.  Refrigerate the meatballs for at least one hour before smoking them.  

Step 3 – Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees F and spray the grill grates with a non-stick cooking spray. Place the meatballs directly on the grill grates and smoke for approximately 60-70 minutes until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees F.  

Step 4 – Carefully transfer the meatballs to a large cast iron skillet. Pour the marinara sauce on top and carefully toss to coat the meatballs with the sauce. 

• Step 5 – Place the pan back into the smoker and smoke for 5-10 more minutes until the sauce is heated through and the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.  
• Step 6 – Remove the smoker.  Allow the meatballs to sit for 5-10 minutes.  Then they are ready to serve as is or over your favorite type of pasta.  

Recipe Tips

• Fully Cooked Meatballs – Use an instant-read meat thermometer to make sure that the meatballs are cooked to a safe temperature before removing them from the grill.  
• Cooking Dish – If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, you can transfer the meatballs to an aluminum pan and add the sauce for the remaining cooking time.  
• Combining Ingredients – We think the best way to combine the ingredients is with your hands. This ensures each bite is full of flavor.

Flavor Variations

• Spicy – For a gooey center and spicy kick add in a minced jalapenos to the mix and then a cheddar cheese cube to the center of the meatball before cooking.
• Creamy Topping – Substitute the marinara topping and top with creamy gravy for a delicious variations.
• Sweet and Savory – Add 2 tbsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of ginger to the meatball mixture. Top with a teriyaki glaze for a Asian Teriyaki taste.
• BBQ Meatballs – Substitute the marinara sauce with your favorite BBQ sauce and make meatball subs. You can even wrap the meatballs in bacon for even more flavor.
• Italian Meatballs – Substitute the ground sausage with Italian Sausage for a delicious variation. We even have add in chopped fresh basil to enhance the flavor.

What Goes Well with Smoked Meatballs?

Serve these smoked meatballs with your favorite side dishes. They are delicious served over pasta with a side salad and Grilled Garlic Bread. You can even make Smoked Baked Beans, Smoked Mac and Cheese or Smoked Mashed Potatoes for classic BBQ side dishes. Another idea is to make Meatball Subs!

We have even served them as an Game Day Appetizers with toothpicks and everyone loved them!

Storage and Reheating Tips

• Fridge – Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Freezer – You can prepare the meatballs ahead of time and store in the freezer uncooked or cooked in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
• Reheating – Reheat the leftovers in a preheated oven at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes in a baking dish. You can also heat in the microwave.