#TripleSBites ~ Smoky Date Meatballs

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Welcome to day two of Triple S Bites (Spicy, Saucy, Sexy) - recipes for Valentine's Day and beyond! Today I am sharing these very SAUCY and SEXY, and just a little bit SPICY Smoky Date Meatballs! I was so excited when I learned Not Ketchup would be sponsoring #TripleSBites. I had the chance to work with Erika's product last September during #10DaysofTailgate and absolutely adored the Cherry Chipotle Not Ketchup sauce. Quality, delicious, and so versatile. I wanted to try something different this time, so got the Smoked Date (described as a tangy, all-natural dipping sauce made with sweet California dates and aromatic smoked paprika). I was debating on what to make with it, but kept coming back to yummy, tender, saucy meatballs. My husband and son love, love, love meatballs and I don't make them often enough for them - so this was the perfect way for me to use and enjoy this delicious bottle of sauce!

The flavor was absolutely wonderful. Sweet and spicy, and a perfect blanket to cover these tender meatballs. I made smallish (cocktail sized) meatballs, and crammed them into a 2-quart baking dish and poured the whole bottle of sauce over the top then baked for a half hour, until the meatballs were cooked through, lightly browned on top, and the sauce was super bubbly. This would be perfect served over some rice with more sauce drizzled over the top! We served these alongside the creamy herbed pasta I shared yesterday.

Dip differently - dip DELICIOUSLY with Not Ketchup's artisan dipping sauces. You won't be disappointed. Shop online here or find Not Ketchup in stores here.

Smoky Date Meatballs adapted from AZTHESPIAN on AllRecipes

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Tastefully Simple's Onion Onion (or chopped onion)
1/4 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 eggs
1 (14-oz) bottle Not Ketchup Smoky Date Dipping Sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, bread, onion, milk, salt and eggs. Shape into little meatballs, about 1 inch in size. Place the meatballs into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Bake for 25 minutes. Pour Not Ketchup sauce over the meatballs and bake for 20 - 30 more minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through and sauce is bubbly.

*Full Disclosure: I received complimentary product from Not Ketchup for the purpose of recipe creation and review. I received no compensation for this post. All comments are 100% accurate and 100% my own.

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