Big Cheesy Meatballs

Big Cheesy Meatballs

Servings: 4 Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Family Friendly Family Friendly Party Pleaser Party Pleaser Smoke & Sear Fav. Smoke & Sear Fav.
Cheesy, Smoky, and Packed with Flavour

Meatballs are a staple in many households, but let’s kick it up a notch. These meatballs are gigantic, stuffed with cheese, and smoked to bring out an amazing flavour. Whether you’re feeding the kids or having a BBQ with friends, these meatballs are guaranteed to impress. Let’s get cooking!

Big Cheesy Meatballs

Prep Time 1 hr Cook Time 2 hrs Rest Time 10 mins Total Time 3 hrs 10 mins
Difficulty: Intermediate Cooking Temp: 120  C Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: £ 20 Calories: Approximately 400 per serving Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Meatballs

Cheese Filling

Coating

Sauce

Instructions

  1. Setting up the ProQ

    • Get Started: Dust off the ProQ and set it up using the Minion method with Coconut Charcoal Briquettes.
    • Ignite: Place a small pile of Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lumpwood Charcoal in the centre to ignite.
    • Add Smoke: Add Bourbon Infused Oak from The Oak Bloke for smoking. Fill the water pan with lava rocks.
  1. Preparing the Meatballs

    • Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine beef mince, coconut flour, chopped onion, Mediterranean seasoning, garlic paste, egg yolks, whisked egg whites, bacon lardons, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
    • Shape Meatballs: Divide the mixture into 100g portions. Place a mozzarella pearl in the center of each portion and shape the meat around it, ensuring it's sealed well.
    • Coat: Roll each meatball in grated parmesan cheese and place on a baking tray for easy transfer.
  2. Smoking the Meatballs

    • Stabilize Temperature: Once the ProQ is stable at around 120°C (250°F), place the meatballs inside.
    • Smoke: Smoke the meatballs for about 1.5 hours until they reach an internal temperature of 60°C (140°F).
  3. Adding the Sauce

    • Prepare Sauce: In a large disposable foil tray, add a layer of bolognese sauce.
    • Add Meatballs: Place the smoked meatballs on top of the sauce, then pour additional bolognese sauce over them.
    • Top with Cheese: Place a slice of mozzarella on each meatball and sprinkle with fresh chopped basil.
  4. Final Cooking

    Return to Smoker: Place the tray back in the ProQ and continue cooking until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).

  5. Serving

    • Rest: Let the meatballs rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
    • Serve and Enjoy: Enjoy your smoky, cheesy meatballs with a delicious gooey centre!

Equipment

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Note

  • Extra Smoky: For an extra smoky flavour, you can add more wood chips during the smoking process.
  • Make Ahead: These meatballs can be prepped and stored in the fridge a day before cooking.
Keywords: meatballs, cheesy meatballs, smoked meatballs, BBQ meatballs, ProQ, Kamado Joe, family-friendly BBQ, smoked cheese meatballs
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🔥 THE LAZY BUZZARDS BBQ 2026 🔥

Some weekends you enjoy . . .

Some weekends you remember.

This was definitely one of those.

Fifteen teams. Two days. Incredible food. New friendships. A bit of healthy competition . . .and an evening BBQ Olympics that had teams and judges laughing together long after the turn-ins were done.

A huge thank you to Alan & Jo for creating something that’s so much more than a BBQ competition. It’s a weekend built around great food, great people and a genuine BBQ community.

Massive respect to every team that competed too. Thanks for letting me wander around with a camera all weekend and capture what UK BBQ is really about.

This is the second BBQ competition I’ve attended now—back-to-back—and I’ve genuinely caught the bug. I’d love to shine a bigger spotlight on this side of the UK BBQ scene next year.

Could you see yourself competing one day? Let me know in the comments . . .👇🔥

#TheLazyBuzzardsBBQ #UKBBQ #BBQCompetition #LiveFireCooking #BBQCommunity
Six years ago I stepped into the UK BBQ scene.

I had no idea that buying a smoker during lockdown would completely change my life.

Since then I’ve shared 100+ free recipes, created over 1,000 pieces of content, surpassed ONE MILLION website views, welcomed 600,000+ active users to Smoke & Sear, and built social profiles, groups and communities with 70,000+ members and followers.

But the numbers aren’t what I’m most proud of.

It’s the friendships, the community, and seeing more and more people across the UK discovering outdoor cooking.

A massive thank you to every brand that’s believed in me over the last six years. Whether you’ve trusted me with your products, invited me to events, or somehow flown me to Nashville . . . (still can’t quite believe that one! ❤️)

Then there’s @fourge.bbq . . . 

Starting a business with three great lads I met through the BBQ community is genuinely a dream come true.

It’s still early days, but seeing so many FOUNDERS backing us, our rubs selling so well, and people proudly wearing FOURGE merch honestly means more than I can put into words. Pellets, fuel and plenty more are just around the corner, and I can’t wait to cook for so many of you at @meatupfestival in just a few weeks.

Thank you to everyone who’s followed my journey over the last six years.

I’m just one bloke trying to do his small part to help push UK BBQ forward.

Here’s to the next chapter. 🔥🇬🇧

#UKBBQ #OutdoorCooking #PassTheFlame
First time guest judging at Whole Hog 2026 with @comp_bbq_uk . . . and what a weekend🔥

Six rounds. Two days. Nine teams. A LOT of pork.

Honestly, it opened my eyes to a whole other side of UK BBQ. So much skill, creativity, graft and proper passion for cooking over fire.

Massive respect to Comp BBQ UK for building something special, and huge respect to @weberuk and cranswickplc for everything they do to support this event and help the competition BBQ scene grow.

UK BBQ is gathering serious momentum… and this definitely won’t be the last BBQ comp I attend.

Who’s ever thought about getting a few mates together and entering a BBQ team? 👀🔥

#CompBBQUK #WholeHog2026 #UKBBQ #BBQCommunity #CompetitionBBQ
This started as a daft little comp I set up in the UK BBQ WhatsApp Community to get the regional groups talking, cooking, meeting up and generally giving each other grief.

Most regions went suspiciously quiet.

But two actually stepped up.

SOUTH vs NORTH

The South came in swinging with a proper land, sea and fire feast — venison haunch wrapped in nori, reverse-seared smoked lamb, lobster, scallops, shell-on prawns, Sussex mackerel, monkfish, black sea bream, focaccia, fresh green sauce and a Sussex Smokie finished with a breadcrumb crust.

Then the North answered with an absolute monster board — rack of lamb, black pudding burnt ends with Newcastle Brown Ale sauce, sticky pork ribs, Cumberland sausage, smoked chuck scouse, fish and chips, roast beef, ribeye steaks, venison burgers, grilled potato skewers, sweet Yorkshire pudding with bone marrow crème pâtissière and smoked sticky toffee pudding with bourbon ice cream.

And honestly, this is exactly what it was meant to be about.

People getting together. Cooking outdoors. Making new mates. Sharing ideas. Having a laugh. Creating something that represents where they’re from.

But… there can only be one winner.

To vote, comment:

SOUTH

or

NORTH

I’ll somehow collate the votes from Instagram and Facebook on Monday 6th July, and we’ll find out who takes the regional glory for 2026.

More details on both cooks are on the website, and you can also join the UK BBQ WhatsApp Community there if you fancy getting involved. It really is a cracking bunch.

Now then…

Who gets the glory?

SOUTH or NORTH?
Second walk out with the Lads Project today and honestly… what a proper day.

Hot as anything, big Peak District views, Thor’s Cave, River Dove, miles in the legs, plenty of laughs and just a really good bunch of lads getting outside and doing something positive.

No pressure, no awkwardness, no forced deep chats — just fresh air, good people, proper conversation when it comes, and a reminder that getting out of your usual routine does a lot.

Any lads want to join the next monthly social walk? Drop me a DM and I’ll send you the link to the WhatsApp group where it’s all planned.

#LadsProject #PeakDistrict #MensMentalHealth #MensCommunity #HikingUK
DRAGON01 over Coningsby 🔥

It’s been a few weeks since I last watched Flt Lt Tom Nation put the Typhoon through its paces over RAF Coningsby — but the second I heard today’s slot announced on the NOTAM, there was absolutely no chance I was missing it.

And what a display.

I may have lost half of it to the sun, and the other half to Tom flying so low he disappeared behind the trees . . . but wow. 😂

The speed, power and agility of the Typhoon is ridiculous — but the way Tom handles it is something else entirely.

Huge respect to Tom and the whole Typhoon Display Team behind the scenes.

Absolutely epic.

#DRAGON01 #TyphoonDisplayTeam #RAFConingsby #EurofighterTyphoon #TyphoonFGR4 RoyalAirForce Aviation