Description
These Barbecue Meatball Bowls with Avocado Goddess Sauce combine juicy, barbecue-glazed meatballs with a creamy, zesty avocado sauce. Served over a bed of rice with corn, black beans, red onion, and fresh avocado, this hearty dish offers a perfect balance of savory and fresh flavors in just 32 minutes.
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 (plus more if needed)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the 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 dense meatballs.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into 16 evenly sized meatballs, about 1½ inches each for consistent cooking.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides, approximately 6 to 8 minutes, ensuring a nice crust.
- Simmer in Barbecue Sauce: Pour the barbecue sauce into the skillet with the browned meatballs. Reduce heat to low and let them simmer for 5 minutes, turning occasionally to coat each meatball evenly.
- Prepare Avocado Goddess Sauce: In a blender, combine the avocado, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime juice, minced garlic, water, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth, adding more water if necessary to reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Assemble the Bowls: Distribute cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Top each with corn kernels, black beans, sliced red onion, diced avocado, and several barbecue meatballs.
- Add Sauce and Garnish: Drizzle the avocado goddess sauce over each bowl generously. Garnish with extra chopped cilantro if desired to brighten the dish and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use freshly cooked rice for best texture, or warm day-old rice.
- Adjust seasoning in the avocado goddess sauce for more tanginess or creaminess.
- Can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the meatball mixture or sauce.
- Leftover sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
