The Best Old Fashioned BBQ Meatballs with Oats

These Cowboy Meatballs stole my heart some 11 years ago! From a holiday party to an obsession I couldn’t shake, I had to recreate these!

Now, having meatballs in anything other than Italian Gravy is, well, not right. Meatballs are supposed to be covered in thick, rich tomato sauce and loaded up with melted cheesy goodness. 

See, we were at a friend’s house for the holidays, and she had a spread that could feed an army. She kept saying, “Oh, Lori, you have to try my meatballs.”  Now I love a great meatball, and there have been very, VERY few meatballs I like that I didn’t make.  But I was more than happy to try them. 

As I came up to the plate, I gave a perplexed face as they weren’t “normal” meatballs.  These were big and fat but covered in a deep, deep, almost burgundy colored thick sauce.  However, I’m always anxious to try new stuff so I put one on my plate. 

I asked what was in it (I mean, I didn’t want to eat funky meat – like venison *shudder*), but she assured me it was all beef.  I cut it down and took a forkful of meatball and sauce.  Seriously, people, this flavor was incredible!  Thick, rich, smoky, and all kinds of BBQ-y.  It was really, REALLY good! 

So good I ate 3. Being who I am, I asked what was in it, and she said it was her secret recipe.  Knowing how recipes are coveted, I respected that and didn’t ask anymore.  However, what most people don’t know about me is that I have a very sensitive palate and can easily pick apart a dish, figuring out what’s in it. I had to recreate these. 

A few days later, I couldn’t shake my craving for those meatballs.  So I sat down and started working on my version of her recipe.  I started with a list of the ingredients I picked out, but one thing that stumped me was how unbelievably tender they were. 

This one made me sit and think for a while.  It wasn’t a seasoning but instead it had to be a liquid.  It wasn’t oil or a fat, so it had to be milk, perhaps?  THEN IT HIT ME!  My Mom used to use evaporated milk to tenderize particularly tough cuts of beef.  She’d even put it in her meatloaf as well. 

Now, what I love about this recipe is that it’s pretty much 2 recipes in one.  One of the meatballs that you can use in other dishes (you can even make it as a meatloaf!), and the cowboy BBQ sauce, which I have tons of plans for!

*I* knew they were amazing, but I had to see Mr. Fantabulous’ reaction. So I put one on a plate for him and now, unlike me, where I would sit and look at the food, examine it, and yes, most likely smell it.  Not him —he either inhales whole OR he cuts it in half and then inhales.  So I made that almost fatal mistake of sticking my hand in front of his fork-to-mouth route and wouldn’t let him take the 2nd bite.  I wanted a comment.  He looked at me, grunted, and huffed.  LOL,

I said, “Honey, really taste these, please.”  So he then decided to cut the remaining half into TEENY pieces and eat them one by one, dragging it on forever! Needless to say, he was pushing my buttons.  Big brat! 

He finally said, “Wow, baby, these are really good!  These almost taste like those at the party, but these are so much more flavorful.  The sauce is awesome, and they are super tender! Did she give you her recipe?”  I grinned and sai,d “Nope, you know I can recreate dishes. I studied the flavors while I was eating them and then went from sensory memory.”  Apparently, he tuned me out over my big explanation, as all he said was, “Can I have more?”

Men!  LOL  But these are one of the best meatballs I’ve had in a long, long time!  And that sauce!  Dear Sweet Home on The Range Cowboy Lovin’ Yumminess!

With all of the big games going on right now, these would be PERFECT to serve!

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