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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Meatballs In Beer Sauce

    Last Update: May 30, 2026 by Bianca Turci · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Up your meatball game with these delicious Meatballs In Beer Sauce: tender meatballs coated with a glossy, slightly bitter and tangy Lemon Beer Sauce.

    These babies are packed with flavor and are perfect as an appetizer, main or side dish!


    Drunken Meatballs Recipe

    Meatballs In Beer Sauce

    Being a food blogger I don’t get to cook the same dish twice and I usually love that but when it comes to these meatballs… I wish I could just make them every single day!

    Everything to love about these meatballs:

    • Sticky beer glaze. With lemon and beer for a perfectly balanced tangy, lemony, slightly bitter sauce. Truly out of this world!
    • Tender meatballs. Make these with pork, turkey, beef, or chicken, they will turn out delicious every time!
    • Ready in 3 steps. This is the perfect dinner for lazy days or quick appetizer for a party or the busy Holiday season!

    Meatballs In Beer Sauce Recipe

    Ingredients for Meatballs in Beer Sauce

    The ingredients and step-by-step recipe will be in the recipe card down below, but this is what to expect 🙂

    Butter, unsalted. For sauteing the onions and cooking the meatballs.

    Onion. You will mix the onion into the meatballs for extra flavor and deliciousness!

    Nutmeg, salt, and pepper. For seasoning.

    Cornflakes, crushed. I like using cornflakes instead of bread crumbs but you can also use bread crumbs, if you prefer.

    Pork, turkey, beef or chicken, ground. For the meatballs. These work with pretty much any meat of choice. You can also do a mix like half pork half beef or half pork half turkey, etc.

    Flour, for coating the meatballs.

    Beer. I recommend a beer that’s not too dark or bitter, like a lager.

    Lemon juice, freshly squeezed. This is one of the main flavors so make sure you’re using fresh lemons and not bottled lemon juice for best flavor!


    Meatballs In Beer Sauce Recipe

    Can kids eat Meatballs In Beer Sauce?

    Alcohol cooks off so it’s generally fine for kids to eat these (if they do like the flavor of beer sauce) but it’s a personal choice so feel free to do your research and use your best judgement.

    What pairs well with Meatballs?

    • Rice
    • Egg noodles (fettuccine, yum!!)
    • Mashed potatoes
    • Healthy Oven Roasted Vegetables
    • Corn on the cob
    • Roasted potatoes
    • Broccoli
    • Asparagus
    • Brussel sprouts
    • Green beans

    Meatballs in Beer Sauce Recipe

    HAPPY COOKING LOVES!! I hope you’ll love these beer braised meatballs as much as I do! 

    PS: Please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if you make it! Your comments make my day!! 🌈💘

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    • Coconut Chicken
    • Creamy Ham and Peas Pasta
    • Peanut Butter Chicken
    Drunken Meatballs Recipe

    Meatballs In Beer Sauce

    Bianca Turci
    Up your meatball game with these delicious Meatballs In Beer Sauce: tender meatballs coated with a glossy, slightly bitter and tangy lemon beer sauce. These meatballs are packed with flavor and are perfect as an appetizer, main or side dish!
    4.75 from 59 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine European
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 907 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For The Meatballs

    • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
    • 1 large onion (minced)
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • Salt and pepper
    • 4 cups (120 g) cornflakes (finely crushed)
    • 2 lb (900 g) ground pork or turkey
    • 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
    • 3 tbsp (42 g) unsalted butter

    For The Beer Sauce

    • 12 oz (355 ml) beer (not too dark or bitter, I recommend a lager)
    • 2 tbsp (30 ml) freshly-squeezed lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • Saute the onions. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, once sizzling add in the onions, season with nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Saute until soft and fragrant (about 4-5 minutes), then turn off the heat and transfer to a dish to cool down slightly.
    • Prepare the meatballs. In a large bowl, add the finely crushed cornflakes, meat, sauteed onions, and salt. Mix and form into small balls. Roll each meatball in flour then place on a clean plate or baking sheet.
    • Cook the meatballs. In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once sizzling, add in the meatballs and cook until slightly browned on all sides. Pour in the beer and lemon juice, bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the sauce is thick and glossy. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Make-Ahead Instructions: If you want to make these ahead of time, I recommend making just the meatballs and then cooking and making the glaze the day of for best flavor and texture. Follow the recipe through step 2, then cover the plate or baking sheet with plastic wrap or place the prepared meatballs in an air-tight container and refrigerate overnight or up to 1 day. You can also freeze them for up to a month and thaw overnight in the refrigerator or cook straight from the freezer (this will take more time than what the original recipe calls for). Personally I’m not a fan of frozen meat so I recommend simply refrigerating them but it’s up to you.
    Reheating Instructions: Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop over very low heat, you may need a splash of beer or water to loosen up the glaze. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 907kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 42gFat: 63gSaturated Fat: 27gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 338mgPotassium: 797mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 961IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 11mg
    Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment and star rating on this post and tag @DamnSpicyyy on Instagram & hashtag it #itsdamnspicy!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. MP says

      December 4, 2024 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      I’m not a beer drinker. What is your suggestion on the best beer to use? My husband loves IPA’s.
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Bianka says

        December 13, 2024 at 9:17 pm

        Hi MP, IPA’s are great for drinking but I wouldn’t truly recommend them for this dish or for beer sauces in general – they’re usually too bitter. Try any lager of your choice instead! Hope that helps.

        Reply
    4.75 from 59 votes (58 ratings without comment)

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    About the author


    Bianca is a professional recipe developer and food photographer with over 6 years of experience. She develops, tests and refines quality recipes for millions of readers. She’s known for creating reliable recipes from different cuisines with authentic ingredients, approachable step-by-step instructions and lots of flavor!

    More about me

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    As seen on Elle Magazine, mashed, All Womens Talk, feedfeed, foodgawker.

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