These Mini-Meatballs Will Put the Perfect Spin on Your Football Party

These sweet-and-sour meatballs are kind of a metaphor for football. Sometimes the game's going super sweet for your team; they're getting all the bounces and the breaks. But then, say, with just minutes to go in regulation (looking at you, Falcons), things can suddenly take a sour turn, and all is lost. (Or won. It goes both ways.) Taken together, though, the sweet and the sour, it's a beautiful experience. That's football. That's life. And also these meatballs.

Beef ain't the only ballgame in town. And there's no deception intended here. If you love Buffalo wings, but don't want to mess with the mess, here you go. Also, the ground chicken won't deflate the flavor one bit.

After the game, both winners and losers will have the off-season to heal their battered bodies on the beautiful white sands of Waikiki. You can share the experience, vicariously, with these simple beef meatballs. Pineapple chunks and a little vinegar give them a distinctively Hawaiian flavor. Aloha!

Cape Cod is part of Pats Nation, of course. San Francisco and Kansas City fans can enjoy these tangy treats secure in the knowledge that the Pats are safely back home in New England. Pats fans, meanwhile, can take slight solace in the comforting tastes of home. Anyway, New England is more than just Patriots football. It's also cranberry country. And in this recipe, a little canned jellied cranberry sauce is the key to victory.

Folks, you always gotta be looking for the surprise play! And this is it. These meatballs are breaded and fried...and have a secret surprise inside. Coach John explains their appeal: "The textural contrast between the crispy outside and moist, savory inside is a wonder to behold. Intensely flavorful and satisfying." #Winning.

The Super Bowl is a major international TV event. They'll be watching even in Bavaria, the home state of FC Bayern Munich, perennially among Europe's best football teams. Will Thomas Müller, Philippe Coutinho, and Robert Lewandowski be riveted to the tube, cheering and chomping these Bavarian balls? Ja, natürlich.

"All the deliciousness of pork fried rice in a portable, bite-sized format," says Buckwheat Queen. "Serve these meatballs with homemade sweet and sour sauce for a fun treat at your next game day party."