Dr Pepper Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
• 1/3 Cup Milk (- 2% or Whole)
• 1 large Egg
• 1 Medium Yellow Onion (– grated or finely minced (about 1/2 cup) (SEE NOTES))
• 1 small Jalapeno (- minced (SEE NOTES))
• 1 TBS Parsley Leaves (- packed & finely chopped)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 Pound Ground Beef (- Ground Pork or Mixture of Both (SEE NOTES))
• to taste Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper
• 1 (12 oz) Can Dr Pepper ((SEE NOTES))
• 1 Cup Ketchup
• 3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1 1/2 TBS Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce
• 1 1/2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 1/2 TBS Sriracha
• 1 1/2 TBS Cornstarch

Instructions

1. 1

   Soak Bead Crumbs in Milk: Make Panade: Place the bread crumbs into a small bowl and then pour the milk over breadcrumbs. Use a whisk or spoon and stir the ingredients to fully combine. Then set the bowl aside and let the breadcrumbs soak in the milk while you continue on preparing the recipe.

2. 2

   Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Adjust the oven rack to the center position. Then preheat the oven to 400-degrees F.Place a wire rack on top of a large rimmed baking sheet. Then, spray the wire rack generously with non-stick cooking oil and set the pan aside.

3. 3

   Start Jalapeno Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Then, add the onions, jalapeños, parsley, Worcestershire, and season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a scant ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir the ingredients well to combine.

4. 4

   Add Ground Beef and Breadcrumbs: Add the soaked breadcrumbs (panade you made in step 1) and ground meat to the egg mixture. Next, use your hands to gently mix everything together until the ingredients are just blended, but NOT over-mixed. (Note: Avoid over-mixing or overly holding the ground beef mixture. The meatball mixture should be moist.)

5. 5

   Form Mixture into Meatballs: Form the Meatballs: With wet hands (to keep meatballs from sticking) or a small ice cream scooper, portion out a 1 ½ tablespoon-sized meatball. Then use your hands to gently roll the mixture into a small ball. Once you've rolled the meatball, transfer it onto the prepared wire rack.Continue shaping and forming meatballs until all the meat is used - transferring the meatballs onto the prepared rack and arranging them so they are about a 1/2-inch apart.

6. 6

   Bake the Meatballs: Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the meatball registers 165 degrees F. Remove the baking sheet from oven and IMMEDIATELY transfer the meatballs to a large bowl.

7. 7

   Meanwhile, Make the Dr Pepper Glaze: While the Meatballs are Baking, Make the Dr Pepper Glaze: To a large saucepan, add alll the ingredients for the dr pepper soda glaze. Then, season to taste with salt and pepper. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, immediately lower the heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until coca cola glaze has thickened to a syrup consistency and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 10-12 minutes. Taste the glaze and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. If needed, keep the sauce warm on the stove while the meatballs finish baking - stirring occasionally

8. 8

   Toss Meatballs in Dr Pepper: Glaze the Meatballs: Pour enough sauce over the meatballs to generously coat them and then gently toss to coat.

9. 9

   Serve Glazed Meatballs: Garnish and Serve: Transfer the dr pepper glazed jalapeno meatballs to a serving platter and garnish with thinly sliced jalapenos, chopped fresh parsley, and/or snipped chives. Enjoy immediately with any remaining dr pepper sauce on the side.