chipotle-barbecue meatballs

By pdav

Ingredients

• 1 (28-oz.) bottle barbecue sauce
• 1 (18-oz.) jar cherry preserves
• 3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, undrained
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from can
• 1 (32-oz.) package frozen meatballs

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

1. Whisk together first 4 ingredients and 1 1/2 cups water in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add meatballs; return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 40 to 45 minutes. (Sauce will thicken.) Keep warm in a slow cooker on WARM or LOW, if desired.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Rosina Italian Style Meatballs.

Chipotle-Barbecue Sausage Bites: Substitute 2 (16-oz.) packages cocktail-size smoked sausages for meatballs. Proceed with recipe as directed, decreasing water to 1/2 cup and simmering mixture 15 minutes. Makes 12 to 14 appetizer servings. Prep: 10 min., Cook: 20 min.

Southern Living, DECEMBER 2008