I love making mini versions of big things. For example, rather than making a big pasta casserole, I usually prefer to make individual dishes. They are really cute. Don’t you think?
These Mini Meat Balls are perfect for a cocktail or tapas party . You can make them ahead and bake them when your guests arrive. Easy,simple and delicious!
Buen provecho!
Ingredients
(Makes about 65 mini meatballs)
Meatballs:
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
Garlic-Basil Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup basil
2 garlic cloves
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper
Directions
To make the meatballs:
1. In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients . Knead with your hands until well mixed.
2. Shape the mixture into mini meatballs, set them on a baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
3. Preheat the oven to 400F. Place the meatballs in the oven and bake, turning once with tongs until brown and crispy on both sides, about 15 minutes total. Remove the baking sheet from the broiler and transfer the meatballs to a platter.
To make the sauce:
4. Place all the sauce ingredients in the food processor and process until smooth.
Serve the meatballs with the sauce on the side.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
yumm love meatballs have a great weekend
Oh, yes! Bite sized is a great way to try out different food at once. The garlic-basil sauce sounds so good!
What a great party appetizer! Could see these being very popular indeed!
Those look fabulous! I can easily eat a dozen in one sitting … and the sauce is a must!
These look soooooooooooooo good. I’m so hungry!
Yummy, the sauce sound really good with it. I like making smaller meatballs too, and using individual dishes, for enchiladas, au gratin potatoes, etc….
Mini are definitely better! I can’t really say way, but I think the cuteness-factor has something to do with it. These sound incredibly spiced! Love them.
Unas albondigas estupendas!! Y me agrada para tomar esa variedad de salsa.
Un beso.
miniature pieces of food are always more appealing to me too. there’s something about the fact that you can eat lots and lots of little ones that makes them more appealing than just one big serving…and you’d better believe i’d be eating lots of these!
This Are so cute and they look so tasty!
Nice change from the usual tomato sauce.
that looks great Erica!! perfect for entertaining.
I love cute small meatballs too, especially for parties. I love the garlic and basil sauce. Must be delicious…mmm. Have a lovely weekend.
YOU, had me at meatballs
a weakness along with pasta, south american foods, and pizza 
Erica you should publish a cookbook
Great for Tapas. I like the sauce…it is a change
Erica these look so delicious and I think I could eat that sauce by itself!
Hi Erica, loved the garlic basil Idea, must very yummy. It would be nice with some Coronitas.
Thank you everyone for visiting my site!
These mini meat balls are perfect for cocktail parties and the sauce sounds delicious as well.
Great idea for parties!
All the spices in these meatballs are delicious! The sauce for dipping sounds perfect with them.
basil is my friend I have some in my garden here in Paris so I have a little bit of Italy !! Pierre in Paris
I like the sauce! So different from your standard marinara!
Those mini meatballs do look very cute. I think I’m going to have to try this recipe with ground turkey.
I used to make similar tiny meatballs (with minced chicken) for my kids lunch. They were very well loved. I love the sauce here, so aromatic. and yes on a toothpick it is great for guests too.
these mini-meatballs are adorable! I could eat the whole batch!
I can’t resist a good meatball! Especially with the delicious sound of the garlic basil sauce! That really makes them special.
Thank you all for the wonderful comments!
Oh, if I saw this at a party, I’d be standing by it all night – looks amazing, tasty and like it would get me into a lot of trouble
15 min total or 15 min on a side? 15 min total does not seem like enough time.