Recipe: Spicy Buffalo-Style Meatballs (appetizers)

SPICY BUFFALO-STYLE MEATBALLS

FOR THE MEATBALLS:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
FOR THE SAUCE:
2 to 3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon honey
FOR SERVING:
Blue cheese dressing
Celery sticks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.

Shape beef mixture into 32 (1-inch) meatballs; place on rack in broiler pan.

Bake in 350 degrees F oven 18 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine hot pepper sauce, butter and honey in large bowl; mix well. Add the cooked meatballs; stir to coat.

Serve with dressing and celery sticks, as desired.

Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

VARIATION:
1 package (about 18 ounces) frozen fully-cooked beef meatballs can be substituted for ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook meatballs according to package directions. Add to the sauce and serve as directed in the above recipe.

Makes 32 appetizer servings
Source: National Cattlemen's Beef Association