This is such an easy way to make meatballs. You probably have most of the ingredients on hand. Serve right from the crock-pot for an appetizer or pot luck. Always a party favorite because they taste so good! Or, make it into a yummy dinner by serving 3 or 4 meatballs with sauce over skinny mashed potatoes or rice. Include a vegetable and you’re set! Each meatball, with sauce, has 74 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 Blue Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints, and 3 Green.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours on low heat or 3 hours on high heat
Ingredients for Meatballs:
1 pound package extra lean ground beef or turkey, see shopping tips
¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
1 large egg or 2 egg whites
½ cup onions, finely minced
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Ingredients for Sauce:
1½ cups onions, diced
1 (18 ounces) bottle barbecue sauce, I used Sweet Baby Rays, or use your favorite
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (add ⅛ teaspoon more if you like a bit of kick)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, onions, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Using clean hands, mix all the ingredients and form 24 small meatballs, about ⅛ cup each (2 tablespoons)
2. To cook 1½ cups onions for sauce: cook in microwave for 2-3 minutes to soften.
3. Pour barbecue sauce into crock-pot. Add softened onions and mix well. Drop meatballs into sauce. Mix around to cover completely with sauce. Set crock-pot to low, 6 hours or on high heat 3 hours.
Makes 24 meatballs
Shopping Tips
Most supermarkets sell extra lean ground beef. I used the 96% lean ground beef from Trader Joe’s.
If you’re looking for a wonderful crock-pot, check out the one I’ve got. Makes a terrific gift too! But they have other terrific ones at Amazon.com. Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S 6-Quart Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker, Digital Timer, Stainless Steel
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 2-Blue
WW POINTS PLUS 2
| SKINNY FACTS: for 1 meatball and sauce 74 calories, 1g fat, 0.4g sat. fat, 7mg chol, 5g prot, 0g fiber, 233mg sod, 7g sugar |
| FACTS: for Freestyle SmartPoints 65 calories, 0g sat. fat, 4g protein, 7g sugar |
