Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
Beef plus two kinds of sausage, one of them maple, rolled by small hands and baked, not fried. A sticky maple glaze with a kick of red pepper makes them sweet and spicy. Serve them on their own, or with spaghetti and the Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce.
Difficulty
Easy
Prep
20 min
Cook
25 min
Total
45 min
Ages
4+
Batch size
Servings
6
1 Serving
5 meatballs
Total meatballs
30
Estimated cost (Walmart.com, Aug 2026)
~$40.92
total recipe
~$6.82
per serving
Prices checked at Walmart.com on Aug 2026. Based on full package costs — you may already have some of these ingredients on hand.
Ingredients
Check off what you already have
1 lb Ground beef (80/20)
~$5.97
Great Value, 1 lb roll
Prep
None
Store the rest
Refrigerate and use within 2 days of purchase, or freeze in original packaging for up to 4 months.
1/2 lb Mild Italian sausage
~$3.97
16 oz pack (est.)
Prep
Remove casings (~1 min)
Store the rest
Refrigerate and use within 2 days of purchase, or freeze in original packaging for up to 2 months.
1/2 lb Maple breakfast sausage
~$4.47
16 oz roll (est.)
Prep
Remove casings if needed (~1 min)
Store the rest
Refrigerate and use within 2 days of purchase, or freeze in original packaging for up to 2 months.
1/2 cup Breadcrumbs (Italian or plain)
~$1.98
Great Value, 15 oz canister
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep sealed in a cool, dry pantry. Stays fresh for about 6 months after opening.
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
~$3.47
Great Value, 8 oz canister
Prep
None
Store the rest
Refrigerate after opening. Use within 6 weeks.
2 large Eggs
~$1.67
Great Value Large White, 12 count
Prep
Lightly beat (~1 min)
Store the rest
Keep refrigerated in the original carton. Use by the date on the package.
1/4 cup Yellow onion
~$0.98
Fresh, sold individually (est.)
Prep
Finely chop or grate (~3 min)
Store the rest
Store whole onions in a cool, dry, dark spot for up to a month. Wrap a cut onion and refrigerate for up to 7 days.
3 cloves Garlic
~$0.50
Fresh, 1 head
Prep
Peel and mince (~3 min)
Store the rest
Store the whole head in a cool, dry spot. Individual cloves last about 10 days once separated.
1 teaspoon Dried oregano
~$1.27
Great Value, 0.75 oz
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep the lid tightly sealed. Store in a cool, dark place. Stays potent for about a year.
1/2 teaspoon Salt
~$0.97
Great Value Iodized, 26 oz
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep in the original container. Salt does not expire.
1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
~$2.98
Great Value, 3 oz container
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep the lid sealed. Store in a cool, dry spot. Stays potent for 2-3 years.
1 tablespoon Olive oil
~$3.97
Great Value, 17 oz bottle
Prep
For the pan
Store the rest
Keep the cap sealed. Store in a cool, dark spot. Good for about a year.
1/2 cup Maple syrup
~$4.98
Bottle (est.)
Prep
For the glaze
Store the rest
Refrigerate after opening. Keeps for about a year.
2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
~$2.47
Bottle (est.)
Prep
For the glaze
Store the rest
Keep the cap sealed. Store in a cool, dark pantry. Good for about 3 years.
1/2 teaspoon (less for little kids) Red pepper flakes
~$1.27
Jar (est.)
Prep
For the glaze
Store the rest
Keep the lid tightly sealed. Store in a cool, dark place. Stays potent for about a year.