Schweddy Balls Recipe: Unforgettable Delights Await - Blend of Bites (2024)

American TV is the best. Why? Well, where else could you learn how to make the best meatballs? This Schweddy balls recipe, thanks to the famous SNL sketch, is as good as it gets.

The Schweddy balls recipe might seem like an average one at first, but as you skim your way through the ingredients list, you will realize something extraordinary. The meatballs are coated overnight in a mixture of lemon juice, chili sauce, and cranberry sauce. These three come together to make something special out of your ordinary meatballs. Let’s take a look.

Ingredients

• Ground beef — 1 ½ pounds
• Egg — 1 pc.
• Breadcrumbs — ½ cup
• Onion — 1 pc., minced
• Lemon juice — 1 ½ tsp.
• Chili sauce — ½ cup
• Cranberry sauce — 1 cup

Instructions

1. Set your oven to 350°F degrees and line a baking sheet.

2. Combine the beef, breadcrumbs, onion, and egg in a bowl.

3. Mix until combined. We recommend using your hands.

4. Work the meat into bite-sized balls.

5. Place the meatballs on your baking sheet.

6. Bake for 30 minutes.

7. In the meantime, combine the lemon juice, chili sauce, and cranberry sauce in a slow cooker.

8. Transfer the meatballs, and toss to coat.

9. Set the heat to low until heated through, then steam throughout the night.

Substitutions

• Lemon juice — Lemon juice provides some much-needed acidity and moisture to our Schweddy balls recipe, but it can be easily replaced. We tried making this recipe with lime juice instead, and it was the same, if not better. You can also use any kind of citrus juice, though keep in mind that the flavor will be different depending on the juice.

• Chili sauce — This one combines spice and flavor, so it’s no surprise that most recipes are only improved with chili sauce, and our Schweddy balls recipe is no exception. Still, you can also use ketchup, which will provide a similar flavor, though you will probably notice the lack of spice. Sriracha sauce, on the other hand, not only packs some heat but also provides a unique flavor to your meatballs.

• Breadcrumbs — This one shouldn’t be a problem at all. Ideally, you’d want to go with Panko breadcrumbs, but crushed oats will provide your meatballs with a smooth texture as well. You could also try out crushed crackers, which we did, and the results were just fine.

Variations

• Cheesy — While our Schweddy balls recipe is not like your average meatballs, some might find it too simple. If that’s the case with you, adding some shredded cheese to the mix might be what you are looking for! Parmesan and mozzarella are both fine for cheesy meatballs.

• Poultry — While meatballs are made with ground beef, our Schweddy balls recipe is as flexible as recipes go, so you can easily swap ground beef for ground chicken. And if that’s not your cup of tea, try out ground turkey.

• Savory — If you’d like to have your meatballs with a different flavor profile, you can always add some Worcestershire sauce to the mix. We found that BBQ sauce is another option that would work well.

Equipment

• Measuring cups

• Measuring spoon

• Mixing bowl

• Baking sheet

• Oven

• Slow cooker

Storage and Reheating

• Refrigerate — To refrigerate the leftovers, you can either transfer them to an airtight container or wrap them tightly. Once stored in your fridge, the leftovers will last for up to four days.

• Freeze — You can transfer the leftovers to a freezer bag or an airtight container. Once in your freezer, the leftovers will last for up to three months.

• Reheating — If frozen, thaw the meatballs overnight in the fridge, before reheating in the microwave or oven.

Pro Tips

• The meat — While our Schweddy balls recipe makes the best of your ground beef, it’s important not to overwork the meat. Work it gently, using your hands, and don’t overdo it. Otherwise, the meatballs will be prone to falling apart.

• The ground beef — For the best version of our Schweddy balls recipe, you’d want to get your ground beef lean. Keep in mind that the 80/20 ratio is the ideal.

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