Description
Succulent Smoked Stuffed Meatballs deliver a flavor explosion that’ll make dinner guests swoon with delight. Juicy meat pockets packed with melted cheese create an irresistible experience that brings comfort and excitement to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs (680 g) ground beef (80/20)
- ½ lb (227 g) ground pork
- 12–16 small cubes of mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Barbecue sauce or marinara sauce (optional for basting or serving)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly blend ground beef, pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, eggs, garlic, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and onion powder in a large mixing bowl, ensuring ingredients are just combined without overmixing.
- Cheese Stuffing: Gently scoop meat mixture, flatten slightly, and insert cheese cube in the center. Carefully wrap meat around cheese, forming uniform spherical meatballs, maintaining consistent size and shape.
- Smoking Process: Position meatballs on smoker grates preheated to 250F, allowing even heat distribution and smoke penetration. Cook for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, monitoring internal temperature until reaching 160F.
- Flavor Enhancement: During final 15 minutes of smoking, optionally brush meatballs with BBQ sauce or marinara to create a glossy, caramelized exterior that intensifies overall taste profile.
- Presentation: Remove meatballs from smoker, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately. Accompany with additional sauce for dipping or serve atop pasta for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Avoid overworking the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender and prevent tough, dense texture.
- Ensure cheese cube is fully sealed inside meat to prevent leaking during smoking process.
- Use meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches exactly 160F for safe, perfectly cooked meatballs.
- Apply glaze during final 15 minutes of smoking to maximize caramelization without burning sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg