Description
These Barbecue Meatball Bowls with creamy Avocado Goddess Sauce offer a deliciously balanced meal, combining tender, saucy meatballs with fresh vegetables and rice. The rich avocado-based sauce adds a refreshing twist, making this dish perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
Bowl Components
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 cup black beans
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
Avocado Goddess Sauce
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp water
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, chopped onion, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 16 meatballs, approximately 1½ inches in diameter, ensuring uniform size for even cooking.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 6–8 minutes.
- Simmer in Barbecue Sauce: Pour barbecue sauce into the skillet with the browned meatballs. Reduce heat to low and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 5 minutes, turning occasionally to coat them evenly and develop flavor.
- Make Avocado Goddess Sauce: While the meatballs cook, blend together avocado, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, lime juice, minced garlic, water, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional water if necessary.
- Assemble Bowls: Divide cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Top each bowl with corn kernels, black beans, sliced red onion, diced avocado, and barbecue meatballs.
- Serve with Sauce: Drizzle the avocado goddess sauce generously over each bowl and garnish with extra cilantro if desired. Serve immediately for a delicious and balanced meal.
Notes
- For added flavor, you can toast the breadcrumbs before mixing with the meat.
- Feel free to use ground turkey or chicken as a leaner alternative.
- The avocado goddess sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to two days; add water before serving to adjust consistency.
- Leftover meatballs and sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- To make this dish vegetarian, substitute meatballs with plant-based meat alternatives.
