Cocktail Meatballs

A friend of mine at work gave me this recipe last weekend.  I generally don't like meatballs because they taste like a "round" version of meatloaf.  However, this recipe's sauce is sweeter than most and is followed by a nice kick from the chili powder. 

Cocktail Meatballs
Source:  Michelle P.
Serves: 60-70 meatballs depending on size

Meatballs:
3 lbs ground beef
1 1/2 cups Quaker old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup onion (finely chopped)
3 eggs

Sauce:
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp white distilled vinegar
1 tbsp worchester sauce

Mix meatball ingredients together in a mixing bowl.  Roll meatballs into small balls using your hands.  Heat a skillet on the stove and warm 1 tsp of olive oil.  Brown meatballs.  Mix the sauce and pour over meatballs.  Simmer until meatballs are fully cooked. 

Notes:   If I am in a crunch, I sometimes cheat and use frozen party or mini meatballs.  I mixed the sauce the night before and then put the frozen meatballs and sauce in a crock pot.  I let them heat up for several hours until hot and bubbly.   I then keep it on warm or low until I'm ready to serve. My friend told me to double the sauce as it is always better to have extra sauce when you are ready to serve.  I had a bit of extra sauce at the end, but I just threw it in the freezer for backup in the future.   

- Miss J