The following recipe and photography is courtesy of Graham R. and his dog, Carl. For more of their delicious food ventures, visit them on Instagram @cookingwithcarrrl.
With the Big Game right around the corner, I know you are stressing about what to make as an appetizer. No worries, rookie! Join my huddle and get ready for one cheesy ah meatball!
Today’s playbook is all about Cheeseburger Meatballs. That’s right. Cheeseburger Meatballs! These fluffy, meaty bites pack a punch and are full of cheese and pickles. I like to pair them with a zesty touchdown sauce that’s perfect for celebrating each point scored. It’s a truly unstoppable combo that will soothe the pain of your team’s lackluster performance. These meatballs feature Heinen’s delicious organic ground beef. I always feel good using Heinen’s meats because it’s guaranteed fresh and sourced from trusted partners.

Look, food usually comes first for me, but on the day of the Big Game, it comes second. Simplicity is the key when it comes to appetizers. You want something that’s addictingly delicious and also easy-to-prepare and keep warm.
This juicy treat checks all of those boxes and is guaranteed to earn a spot on your appetizer roster. Make these ahead of time and warm them up prior to serving so you can focus on cheering for your team, not the food!

The meatball is in your court today! Don’t fumble away this opportunity to make the best appetizer of 2021!

- Cook time:
- 25min
- Prep time:
- 10min
- Total time:
- 35min
- Servings:
- 14 Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb. Heinens organic ground beef
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup saltine crackers, crushed
- 3 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup pickles, chopped
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- ½ Tbsp. paprika
- Pickles, cherry tomatoes, onion & lettuce, for serving
For the Touchdown Sauce
- 5 Tbsp. mayo
- 2 1/2 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp. minced pickles or relish
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the touchdown sauce. Stir together, cover and place in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs. Gently mix, but do not overwork the mixture as it will become dense.
- Cover a large baking sheet with a piece of foil that is lightly greased. Form the meat mixture into golf ball-sized balls, about 2 1/2 Tbsp. Place them onto the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, remove the meatballs from the oven.
- Using toothpicks, spear a meatball, followed by a pickle slice, cherry tomato and a halved pearl onion. Repeat this process until all meatballs are used.
- Serve on a plate with sauce or serve individually with ½ Tbsp. of touchdown sauce in a shot glass or disposable plastic sauce container.
Enjoy and go sports!
Interested in making this recipe? Order the ingredients online for Curbside Grocery Pickup or Delivery.