Feature - Grilled Bison Meatballs With Fennel & Mozzarella

Grilled Bison Meatballs With Fennel & Mozzarella Recipe

By: Andrea Alden

The holiday season may be winding down, but the winter months are in full swing, so it’s nice to have something savory and cozy for dinner. These Grilled Bison Meatballs With Fennel & Mozzarella are just the ticket, and perfect for celebrating National Spaghetti Day! The savory grilled meatballs are full bodied and pack a surprising little treat in the middle. When you cut into them, molten mozzarella oozes out to add even more flavor to your pasta. Serve topped with a little fresh parmesan cheese and enjoy another perfect barbecued meal.

Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
45 min
Yield
6
Difficulty
Medium

Grilled Bison Meatballs With Fennel & Mozzarella Recipe

Print

Ingredients

Method

Photos

Ingredients

2 lb.

ground bison (beef will do in a pinch)

1

egg

1 tsp.

fennel seeds, toasted and ground

½ cup

whipping cream

½ tsp.

kosher salt

¼ tsp.

red pepper flakes

½ cup

fine bread crumbs

3

large garlic cloves, finely minced

chunks of cubed mozzarella cheese

 

For the Sauce

2 tbsp.

butter

1

medium white onion, chopped

3 cloves

garlic, minced

4 cups

crushed tomatoes

1 can

tomato paste

1 tbsp.

Italian dried herb blend

salt and pepper to taste

a pinch of brown sugar

1 cup

finely grated parmesan (for serving)

Method
  1. In a small frying pan over low heat, toast the fennel seeds until fragrant. Grind the fennel with a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. While the fennel is toasting, line a baking sheet with waxed paper and prepare your other ingredients.
  2. Keep the meat as cold as possible without being frozen and place it into a large bowl. Add the fennel, egg, whipping cream, salt, red pepper flakes, breadcrumbs, and garlic. Mix thoroughly with your hands. Form the meat into balls just a little bigger than golf balls. Press a chunk of mozzarella cheese into the middle and seal the meat back up. Chill in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
  3. Preheat the grill lighting all burners. Two burners on medium high, and two on medium low. Place a cast iron frying pan over the two low burners.
  4. Add the butter to the frying pan to melt, then add the onion to sweat and fry a little. While the onion is frying, place the meatballs over direct, medium high heat.
  5. Add the garlic to the frying pan, cook for about a minute, then add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and dried herbs. Allow it to come to a simmer.
  6. While the sauce is simmering, ensure that all sides of the meatballs have been browned so that there are some really nice grill marks. Once the sauce has simmered for a few minutes, but before you add the meatballs, give it a taste and add salt, pepper, and sugar to your preference.
  7. Add the meatballs to the sauce. Turn off the side of the grill that the meatballs were cooking on, and leave the burners under the cast iron frying pan on medium low, allowing the sauce to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bison meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F – while you make the pasta.
  8. When ready to serve, you can toss the pasta with the sauce and meatballs, or you can serve the pasta and sauce and meatballs all separate so that everyone gets exactly how much of each they want. Just don’t forget to top with loads of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

To be perfectly honest, spaghetti and meatballs is one of my favorite meals ever. These Grilled Bison Meatballs With Fennel & Mozzarella is a great way to not only incorporate using your BBQ into a pasta meal, but putting a fantastic new twist on the traditional meatball. What is your favorite non-traditional BBQ recipe? Share yours with us on our social pages like Grills Facebook and Instagram using the hashtags #UniqueBBQ and #NapoleonGrills.

Happy Grilling!

Step - Form Bison Meatballs - Step - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Form the meat into balls just a little bigger than golf balls and press mozzarella into the middle

Step - Add Onions - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Add butter, onions, and garlic to the frying pan

Step - Add Sauce - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and dried herbs for the sauce

Step - Grill Bison Meatballs - Grilled Bison Meatballs

While sauce is simmering, grill bison meatballs until all sides have been browned and have nice grill marks

Step - Add Bison Meatballs - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Add the bison meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes, until the bison meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F

Serve 1 - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Serve your grilled bison meatballs over spaghetti, with parmesan of course!

Serve 2 - Grilled Bison Meatballs

As you cut into these savory grilled bison meatballs, you'll love the mozzarella cheese hiding inside as it adds more flavor to your pasta

AndreaAlden
Andrea Alden

I used to be the Sultana of Sizzle, but you can call me Andrea. I have always been passionate about food. Even though I was majoring in Art and Graphic Design, I would frequently be found cooking for my friends and family.

Read More
Step - Form Bison Meatballs - Step - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Form the meat into balls just a little bigger than golf balls and press mozzarella into the middle

Step - Add Onions - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Add butter, onions, and garlic to the frying pan

Step - Add Sauce - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and dried herbs for the sauce

Step - Grill Bison Meatballs - Grilled Bison Meatballs

While sauce is simmering, grill bison meatballs until all sides have been browned and have nice grill marks

Step - Add Bison Meatballs - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Add the bison meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes, until the bison meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F

Serve 1 - Grilled Bison Meatballs

Serve your grilled bison meatballs over spaghetti, with parmesan of course!

Serve 2 - Grilled Bison Meatballs

As you cut into these savory grilled bison meatballs, you'll love the mozzarella cheese hiding inside as it adds more flavor to your pasta