Game day food should be easy to grab, packed with flavor, and made in bulk without a hassle. Meatballs check every box. They’re hearty, saucy, and way more satisfying than a pile of chips. Some bring the heat, others lean on sweet or cheesy, but all of them disappear fast. Slow-cooked, baked, or air-fried, they fit right in with the chaos of a good watch party.
Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
No time to waste on game day? These air-fried chicken meatballs are ready in 20 minutes and pack serious flavor. Dip them, stack them, or eat them straight off the tray—either way, they won’t last long.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
Cranberry Cheddar Sausage Balls
The combo of cheddar and cranberry makes these sausage bites stand out. Serve with extra cranberry sauce for dipping, and they’ll be gone in no time.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Cheddar Sausage Balls
Cheddar Stuffed Turkey Meatballs
These turkey meatballs come packed with gooey cheddar and simmer in marinara sauce for a hearty, cheesy bite. Perfect with pasta or as a grab-and-go snack.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Stuffed Turkey Meatballs
Venison Meatballs
Baked venison meatballs bring big flavor without the gamey taste. Serve them up with your favorite sauce, and you’ve got a meaty crowd-pleaser that won’t disappoint.
Get the Recipe: Venison Meatballs
Tender Curry Bison Meatballs
Bison meatballs slow-cooked in a rich curry coconut sauce? That’s a game-changer. A little spicy, a lot flavorful, and just what you need for a game day spread that stands out.
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Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
A mix of honey BBQ and sriracha turns these beef meatballs into a next-level appetizer. Juicy, saucy, and ready in 30 minutes—because no one has time to babysit the oven when the clock is ticking.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
Crock Pot Apple Jelly Meatballs
Dump, stir, and let the slow cooker do the work. These four-ingredient apple jelly meatballs are the MVP of any football party—no stove time, barely any prep, just straight-up crowd-pleasing.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Apple Jelly Meatballs
Cheddar Cheese Sausage Balls
Think cheesy sausage biscuits, but in bite-sized form. No Bisquick, just a great mix of cheddar and sausage that comes out crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and totally addictive.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Sausage Balls
Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot
Let the slow cooker handle these sweet and tangy meatballs while you focus on the game. A mix of garlic, soy sauce, pineapple, and BBQ sauce creates a sticky glaze that’ll have people reaching for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Meatballs Crockpot
Greek Meatballs
Packed with herbs, garlic, and red onion, these beef meatballs bring a bold Mediterranean flavor. Serve with pita, tzatziki, or straight from the plate—they’ll disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: Greek Meatballs
Gyro-Inspired Air Fryer Meatballs
Fast, flavorful, and made for dipping, these gyro-inspired meatballs are a great way to add variety to your spread. Toss them in the air fryer and pair with your favorite sides.
Get the Recipe: Gyro-Inspired Air Fryer Meatballs
Spicy Raspberry Party Meatballs
These meatballs cook low and slow in a spicy raspberry glaze while you handle everything else. A little sweet, a little heat, and zero stress.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Raspberry Party Meatballs
Sweet & Spicy Turkey Meatballs
A fresher take on the classic meatballs-in-grape-jelly combo. Ground turkey meets an Asian-inspired sauce that brings both heat and sweetness. A game day upgrade that won’t be forgotten.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Turkey Meatballs
Honey Sriracha Meatballs
Baked, juicy, and ready in 30 minutes, these chicken meatballs hit the sweet-spicy balance just right. Expect them to vanish before halftime.
Get the Recipe: Honey Sriracha Meatballs
Firecracker Meatballs
Spicy, saucy, and topped with sesame seeds, these meatballs bring the heat. Serve them up and watch them go fast.
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Skillet Italian Meatballs
Classic Italian meatballs cooked in a cast iron skillet for extra flavor. No need to stress about prep—just sear, simmer, and serve.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Italian Meatballs
Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy
All the best Thanksgiving flavors packed into one bite. Quick to prep and topped with rich gravy, they’re the kind of comfort food that fits right in at a football party.
Get the Recipe: Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy
Cranberry Meatballs
These three-ingredient cranberry meatballs slow-cook their way to tender, saucy perfection. Just dump everything in the crockpot and walk away.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Meatballs
Skillet Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Juicy meatballs tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce with bell peppers and pineapple. Cooks in under 30 minutes, so you can get back to the action.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
All the flavors of chicken parm, no extra work. These baked meatballs are cheesy, saucy, and great for piling onto pasta or hoagie rolls.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Chicken Meatballs with Honey Garlic Sauce
Quick to make and easy to love, these honey garlic chicken meatballs work as both an appetizer and a main dish. Make a batch and watch them disappear.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Meatballs with Honey Garlic Sauce
Sausage and Cheddar Cheese Balls
A tried-and-true classic. Just a few ingredients and a quick bake time, and you’ve got yourself a crowd-pleasing snack.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Cheddar Cheese Balls
Swedish Meatballs
A plant-based take on the classic, but just as hearty. Smothered in a rich, creamy gravy, these meatballs are perfect for dipping or loading onto plates.
Get the Recipe: Swedish Meatballs
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
