Cheeseburger Party Meatballs

Mini cheeseburger-inspired meatballs perfect for parties! Assemble ahead without melting the cheese, then microwave just before serving. Leftovers can be stuffed into rolls for Cheeseburger Meatball subs. Savory, cheesy, and fun to eat!

Instructions

1. 1

   Place all meatball ingredients in a bowl. Mix thoroughly by hand until well combined.

2. 2

   Refrigerate mixture for 30 minutes to firm it up. For quicker prep, add extra breadcrumbs until mixture is easy to roll.

3. 3

   Scoop heaped tablespoons of mixture and place on work surface. Roll each into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture.

4. 4

   Cut cheese slices into small squares for topping each meatball.

5. 5

   Cut larger gherkins in half lengthwise.

6. 6

   Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook meatballs in batches, shaking pan to brown evenly. Each batch should take about 5 minutes. Drain excess oil between batches, leaving a little for the next batch.

7. 7

   Arrange cooked meatballs on a microwave-safe plate. Top each with cheese square and half a gherkin, securing with a toothpick.

8. 8

   Microwave for 60–90 seconds until cheese melts. Serve warm with ketchup.

Recipe Notes

• Processed cheese slices – Use the “plastic” fast-food style cheese to mimic classic cheeseburger flavor. Regular cheese can be used but will alter the texture and meltiness.

• Gherkins – Cut lengthwise for easy skewering on top of meatballs. Small pickles work best.

• Leftovers – These can be transformed into sliders or meatball subs for next-day meals.

• Breadcrumbs – Panko gives a lighter, crunchier texture. Regular breadcrumbs are acceptable but meatballs may be slightly denser.

• Microwave – Just melt the cheese before serving; this keeps meatballs juicy without overcooking.

• Nutrition – Information is per meatball (approx. 25 g each).