Cherry Jalapeño And Goat Cheese Meatballs
Cherry Jalapeño and Goat Cheese Meatballs combine tender meat, a spicy-sweet glaze, and goat cheese for a flavor-packed dish!
🔗 Cherry Jalapeño Goat Cheese Meatballs Links
👩🍳 My Version of Cherry Jalapeño Goat Cheese Meatballs
I love running errands with my husband. It has become our weekend ritual. We wander through Sam’s Club, debating how many rotisserie chickens we need, and usually end up checking out the new food displays. That is where I first spotted Cherry Jalapeño Goat Cheese Meatballs.
The name alone caught my attention. Sweet cherries, spicy jalapeños, and creamy goat cheese all wrapped up in a meatball sounded incredible. Then I looked at the label and saw dried cherries with sunflower oil and extra sugar. Not the fresh cherry jalapeño goat cheese meatballs I imagined. I never bought them, but I could not shake the idea of making my own version from scratch.
My first attempt at cherry jalapeño goat cheese meatballs was rough. I went too far and folded chopped cherries into the meatballs along with sugar to mellow out the tartness. The result was way too sweet, and the glaze already had more than enough flavor. The cherries inside just weighed the meatballs down instead of making them better.
The recipe I landed on is the one I am excited to share. These cherry jalapeño goat cheese meatballs are tender and juicy thanks to a mix of chicken and pork, baked until golden, then coated in a sticky jalapeño cherry glaze. Each meatball has creamy pockets of tangy goat cheese inside, giving you the perfect bite of sweet, spicy, and savory.
Whether you call them cherry meatballs, goat cheese meatballs, or just the best sweet and savory meatballs ever, this recipe is a keeper. They make an amazing party appetizer, a fun game day snack, or a unique dinner when served with rice or roasted veggies.
🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need for Cherry Jalapeño Goat Cheese Meatballs
🥣 How to Make Cherry Jalapeno And Goat Cheese Meatballs
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lining a baking sheet with aluminum foil. This step not only keeps cleanup easy but also helps the meatballs bake evenly without sticking. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, mild pork sausage, diced jalapeños, cilantro, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, orange zest, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix everything together with your hands or a sturdy spoon, but stop as soon as the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough instead of tender.
Next, scoop out about a tablespoon and a half of the mixture and flatten it slightly in your palm. Place a small chunk of goat cheese in the center, then roll the meat around it so the cheese is completely encased. This keeps the cheese from leaking out as the meatballs bake.Continue until you’ve used up all the mixture, placing each meatball on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between them so they brown nicely. Slide the tray into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and golden on the outside. A quick check with a meat thermometer should read 165°F at the center.
While the meatballs are baking, make the cherry jalapeño glaze. Add the pitted cherries, chopped jalapeños, apple cider vinegar, maple sugar, garlic, and water to a medium saucepan. Bring everything to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking. After 10 to 15 minutes, the cherries should start breaking down and the mixture will look thicker and syrupy. At this point, you can decide on the texture: leave it chunky for a rustic glaze or strain it through a fine mesh sieve for a smooth sauce. If the glaze feels too thick, stir in a splash of water. If it’s too thin, let it simmer longer until it coats the back of a spoon. Taste the sauce before you pull it off the stove, adjusting with a little honey if you want more sweetness or vinegar if you’d like more tang.
Once the meatballs are finished baking, transfer them to a serving dish and pour the warm cherry jalapeño glaze over the top. The glaze soaks into the meatballs and balances beautifully with the creamy goat cheese centers.
Serve them hot with toothpicks as a party appetizer, pile them over fluffy mashed potatoes for dinner, or tuck them into a crusty roll for a sandwich.
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Cherry Jalapeño and Goat Cheese Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken (or ground turkey)
- 1 lb mild pork sausage
- 4 diced jalapeños (remove membrane and seeds for less heat)
- ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- zest of 1 orange (or 1 tsp of dried orange zest seasoning)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional, for a hint of smokiness)
- 8 oz goat cheese (cut into small chunks)
For the Cherry Jalapeño Glaze:
- 2 cups fresh pitted cherries (stems removed)
- 2 finely chopped jalapeños (adjust for desired heat)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp maple sugar (brown sugar or honey)
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground chicken, 1 lb mild pork sausage, 4 diced jalapeños, ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 2 large eggs, 2 minced garlic cloves, zest of 1 orange, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp smoked paprika. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture.
- Flatten about 1.5 tablespoons of meat mixutre in your palm. Take a small piece of goat cheese and place it in the center of a portion. Roll the meat into a ball to encase the goat cheese completely. Repeat with the rest of the meat mixture.
- Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until cooked through and golden.
Make the Cherry Jalapeño Glaze
- In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups fresh pitted cherries, 2 finely chopped jalapeños, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp maple sugar, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 cup water.If you use frozen cherries, use about ⅔ of the water.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Stir occasionally and let it cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the cherries break down and the mixture thickens slightly..For a smoother glaze, strain the glaze through a fine mesh sieve. Return to the pan if you’d like to thicken it further. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more water and simmer until it reaches the desired texture. If it’s too thin, continue simmering to let it reduce further.Taste the glaze and adjust for sweetness or tanginess with a bit more honey or vinegar, as needed.
- Pour the warm glaze over your cherry jalapeño goat cheese meatballs and serve!
Notes
Substitutions
Nutrition
FAQs
How do I keep the goat cheese from leaking out?
To minimize cheese leakage, make sure the cheese is fully enclosed within the meat mixture. Pinch the meat mixture around the cheese, and avoid pressing down on the balls after shaping them.
How do I know when the meatballs are fully cooked?
The internal temperature of the meatballs should reach 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, look for the meatballs to be firm to the touch and golden brown on the outside.
How to Serve Cherry Jalapeno And Goat Cheese Meatballs
These cherry jalapeño goat cheese meatballs can be served in so many different ways depending on the occasion. If you are making them for a party appetizer, keep it simple by plating them with toothpicks and a little extra cherry jalapeño glaze for dipping. They disappear fast at game day gatherings or holiday parties. For a full dinner, serve the meatballs over creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy white rice, or buttered egg noodles so the glaze can soak into the starch. They also pair well with roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or green beans for a balanced meal.
If you are feeling creative, tuck the meatballs into a toasted sub roll with a drizzle of extra glaze for a sweet and spicy meatball sandwich. You could also serve them alongside crusty bread and a simple salad for an easy weeknight dinner. Another fun option is to skewer the meatballs with roasted peppers or pineapple chunks for a sweet-and-savory spin. However you serve them, these goat cheese meatballs with cherry jalapeño glaze bring bold flavor to the table.
It has been 3 days and my husband is still talking about this meal! Thank you, it really is so, so good!
That is so wonderful. You have no idea how much this comment means to me. I will carry it around like a little backpack all day. Thank you so so much.