Craving a bite-sized version of your favorite burger? Get ready to revolutionize your appetizer game with these irresistibly delicious cheeseburger party meatballs.
This simple hack combines the classic flavors you love into a crowd-pleasing treat that will have everyone begging for more.
Assembling Your Meatballs
Now, let's assemble these mini cheeseburger delights! I'm telling ya, this's where the magic happens!
I bet you're already dreaming about that first bite. First, I cut my cheese slices into squares. These should be appropriately-sized, I think you can probably achieve this by cutting each slice into about 6-8 pieces —think proportional! Lay the cooked meatballs on a plate, ready for their cheesy crowns.
Next, I carefully place a cheese square on each meatball, ensuring it covers the top nicely. Can't skimp on that cheese! Then, I grab my baby gherkins, slicing the larger ones in half lengthwise.
Finally, I top each cheesy meatball with a sliver of gherkin and secure everything with a toothpick. I like to think of it as providing a little flag of flavor! This step's particularly important—nobody wants their perfect cheeseburger falling apart! To get the most out of this recipe, make sure to consider a homemade cheese sauce to elevate the flavor.
Step-by-Step Guidance
I'm going to walk you through everything, step by step, so we can guarantee your Cheeseburger Party Meatballs turn out perfect every time! First, mix all the meatball ingredients in a bowl using your hands – get in there! Next, it's chill time for 30 minutes; this helps them firm up, making it easier to roll.
Now, for rolling: scoop a tablespoon of the mixture, flick it, and roll it into a ball – like you're a meatball master! Try to follow these simple steps:
- Cut your cheese slices into small squares.
- Halve any large gherkins lengthwise.
- Heat oil in a skillet and cook in batches for about 5 minutes or until they're browned all over; just drain excess oil between batches, but don't go too crazy, you still need some for flavour!
Recipe Insights
Let's explore into some behind-the-scenes recipe magic! I'm going to share a few secrets to make these cheeseburger meatballs extra special.
First, don't skip the refrigeration step. Chilling the meatball mixture for 30 minutes really helps them hold their shape. If you're impatient—like me sometimes!—just add a bit more breadcrumbs.
Next, when browning the meatballs, work in batches. You don't want to overcrowd the pan, or they'll steam instead of brown. Nobody wants pale meatballs! A quality ground beef will deliver a superior meatball.
Also, the "plastic" processed cheese slices! I admit, I'm not too fancy but they're the key to that nostalgic cheeseburger vibe. Finally, remember those nutrition stats are *per* meatball. I can't control how many you eat – no blame coming from me!
Short Recipe Version
Cheeseburger Party Meatballs Recipe (Short Version)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 24 meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 4 oz cheddar cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup gherkin pickles, sliced
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix well and form into 24 meatballs.
- Place a cube of cheddar cheese in the center of each meatball.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Top with sliced gherkin pickles before serving.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimate):
- Calories: 80
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 2g