Barbecue Beer Meatball Sliders {with freekeh!}

These Barbecue Beer Meatball Sliders are a nice change to regular old burgers with a hidden nutritional punch!

During the summer months, I LOVE the smell of grilling. However, sometimes I’m just not in the mood to grill. Or we’ve been gone all day and I want a quick meal to feed my family.

I know, who doesn’t want quick, healthy meals all the time!?

If you’re looking for more variety of quick, healthy meals, follow this excellent Easy Weeknight Dinners Pinterest board. This board is filled with delicious meals that won’t keep you in the kitchen for hours.

Anyway,s since my family loves burgers, I thought why not create meatball sliders, but add a bit more fiber and protein using an ancient grain.

I must be on an ancient grains kick, because in the past few months I have made Freekeh Spinach Salad, Quinoa Salad with Dried Cranberries and Almonds and Italian Farro Zucchini Boats.

Each of them contains a different ancient grain. This time the “hidden” nutritional punch is freekeh.  

Nutritional Tidbits

Freekeh is a whole grain that provides 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein for every 1/4 cup.  

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find whole grain slider buns, but I’m happy that I added my whole grains to this meal using freekeh.  

Benefits of Protein

Protein, found in the lean ground beef and freekeh in these meatballs, also provides excellent nutritional benefits.

Research shows that eating adequate amounts of protein can:

• Help keep you satisfied longer
• Manage weight and
• Maintain muscle mass as you age

 I would say those are pretty good reasons to focus a bit on protein, don’t you think? 

And although these meatballs take a little longer than 30 minutes to make, they can easily be reheated and enjoyed over the next few days with just a few minutes of prep time.  

And the small slider size was perfect for my kids to enjoy (even my 18-month-old)!

Barbecue Beer Meatball Sliders

These sliders are an excellent dinner for warm summer nights packed with an extra nutritional punch!

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Prep Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

Meatballs

• 1 pound extra lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup freekeh cooked
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Sauce

• 1 cup beer (I used New Holland Brewery The Poet Oatmeal Stout)
• 1 cup sweet onion barbecue sauce + extra for topping on sliders
• 8 slider buns
• 1/2 large onion sliced

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl, combine the beef, freekeh, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and salt and pepper.
• Stir until combined.
• Place bowl in refrigerator for at least 1 hour (this helps meatballs stay together).
• Combine barbecue sauce and beer in a small bowl and stir until combined.
• Form balls into slightly smaller than golf ball size and place in the baking dish.
• Pour sauce over meatballs.
• Cook for about 40-45 minutes or until meatballs reach 165 (check) degrees Fahrenheit.
• While meatballs are cooking, sauce onions in one tablespoon of olive oil.
• Add 2 meatballs to each slider, topped with sauteed onions and additional barbecue sauce if desired.

Notes

Makes about 20 meatballs.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

These sliders are excellent paired with one of my favorite nutritious side dishes:

Kale and Feta Salad

Roasted Green Beans with Almonds

Roasted Asparagus with Feta Cheese

Roasted California Blend Vegetables

Greek Chopped Salad via Rachel Cooks

Balsamic and Honey Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower via Mom to Mom Nutrition

This BBQ Beer Meatball Sliders recipe first appeared on Chocolate Slopes.

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