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    Home » Mains » Beef » Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce

    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce

    Published: Dec 27, 2014 · Modified: Jan 22, 2022 by HWC Magazine · 27 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are the perfect addition for a Tapas Party. Tasty hot appetizer in under 30 minutes. #appetizer #spanish #started #meatballs #wine #party #gathering #party ideas / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are fabulous appetizer or main. Delicious tapas is made with black olives and fresh herbs are nestled in a rich red pepper and tomato red wine sauce.

    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce in a black pan.
    Jump to:
    • Super Moist and Tender
    • Appetizer or Main
    • Ingredient Options
    • Try Cracker Crumbs
    • Meatballs are LOOKING at you!
    • Rocking Tomato Wine Sauce
    • Tapas Party
    • Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce

    Super Moist and Tender

    These little meatballs are going to knock your socks off. These Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are so tender and succulent and baked to perfect and finish the basting process in a rich and delicious red pepper and tomato red wine sauce.

    Wish you could smell the lovely aroma from the sauce slowly cooking over the burner. It's going to make you so hungry to be sure to make lots of extra meatballs. Save a little wine for the cook.

    Spanish Olive Meatball served on white plates with red wine.

    Appetizer or Main

    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are the perfect little hot tapas idea. They can be made ahead and just re-heated before your guests arrive. These meatballs can also be eaten as a lunch or dinner with a nice tossed salad for a lower carb dinner.

    If you are not watching your carbs, you will want some good crusty bread to lap up all of those delicious red pepper and tomato wine sauces. So good!

    5 meatballs nestled in a bowl of tomato wine sauce.

    Ingredient Options

    Did you know that Spanish meatballs can be made with ground turkey or even a mixture of ground pork, veal, beef, bison or even venison? However, these items are difficult and expensive to obtain in Hong Kong. We opted for the easy lean ground beef option.

    Spanish Olive Meatball ready for the oven on a baking sheet.

    Try Cracker Crumbs

    We were completely out of bread crumbs and bread.  However, we did  have a box of these delightful black olive crackers from Mark and Spencer's . We were saving these crackers for a special occasion. This occasion is as special as any other. 

    If you add the cracker crumbs to these Spanish Meatballs, it takes this tapas dish to a whole new level! You can most certainly use gluten-free bread crumbs as well or tofu like we did with our Asian style venison meatballs.

    Spanish Olive Meatballs- Healthy World Cuisine

    Meatballs are LOOKING at you!

    Do you plan out your recipes for every meal? Are you from the camp of looking to see what you have in the house and get creative? We do both.  Black seedless olives just happened to be in our pantry. However, Kalamata or Spanish green olives would be lovely too.  

    Don't you just love how these meatballs with black olives look like they have eyeballs? Maybe, these Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are perfect to serve for Halloween. If you are looking for more delicious tender meatballs be sure to try our Thai Curry Turkey Tofu Meatballs and our Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs just to name a couple.

    Spanish Olive Meatballs- Healthy World Cuisine

    Rocking Tomato Wine Sauce

    We were drinking a lovely Babich Winemakers Reserve Marlborough pinot nior from New Zealand. We decided to throw in a little in the sauce and the "cook" and it was delightful. Feel free to splash in a little of whatever your drinking at the time. However, a red full-bodied wine works best.

    At first glance the recipe list may seem large. If you closely, some of the same ingredients are repeated such as the olive oil, paprika, basil and oregano. some are used in both the meatballs and in the sauce. We listed them twice as it is easier to read the directions.

    ISpanish Olive Meatballs- Healthy World Cuisine

    Tapas Party

    We made a double batch of Spanish Meatball Tapas for the holidays. One we consumed for dinner and one is in the freezer. We will be hosting over the holidays and undoubtedly we will have unexpected guests.  Spanish Olive Meatball Tapas is something that can be reheated and served in just a few minutes flat.

    A fun idea for gatherings is a Spanish Tapas theme with our Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce, Beef Empanadas topped with Chimichurri sauce, fruity sangrias, a Spanish cheese, cured meats and olives board and a sweet ending of the Best Orange Almond Flourless Cake.

    Did You Like Our Recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. Your feedback is always appreciated! Follow us for more delicious recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for our email list for more free recipes.

    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce

    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce are fabulous appetizer or main made with black olives and fresh herbs are nestled in a rich red pepper and tomato red wine sauce.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Mains, Spanish Cuisine
    Cuisine: Spanish
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 383kcal
    Author: HWC Magazine

    Ingredients

    Spanish Meatballs

    • 1.5 pounds ground beef
      minced
    • 1.5 cups crackers crumbs
      (We used Mark and Spencers Black olive crackers but you can exchange with gluten free breadcrumbs- put cracker in a sealed plastic bag and pound with a rolling pin until small crumbs)
    • 1 cup olives roughly chopped black seedless
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon basil
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 1 egg
      beaten
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ⅓ cup parsley
      chopped
    • salt and pepper
      to taste

    Red pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 onion
      peeled and chopped
    • ¼ cup red bell pepper
    • 3 cloves garlic
      peeled and minced
    • 1 cup red wine
    • 24 oz basic tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon basil
    • 1 teaspoon oregano
    • salt and pepper to taste
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C (375 degrees F)
    • Make the Spanish Meatballs: Mix the ground beef, cracker crumbs, olives, paprika, basil, oregano, egg, olive oil parsley and salt and pepper. Mix well and form mixture into small 1.5 inch meatballs. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
    • In the meantime, make the sauce: In a large skillet, place olive oil, chopped onion, chopped red pepper, minced garlic and cook until translucent. Add red wine to the mixture and then add the red tomato sauce, paprika, basil, oregano and salt and pepper to taste.
    • Add baked meatballs to the sauce to finish off cooking and baste for about 5 minutes.
    • Enjoy as a delicious hot tapas or as a lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and maybe a slice of crusty bread to soak up that delicious sauce.

    Notes

    Spanish Meatballs with Pepper and Tomato Wine Sauce can be made in advance up to 3 days and just heat and eat to serve. After 3 days can be frozen up to 2 months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 781mg | Potassium: 624mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1067IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 3mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag us @HWCMagazine or hastag us #HWCMagazine!

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    About HWC Magazine

    Join our Healthy World Cuisine medical editors (trained in both Western and Eastern Medicine) and learn how to EAT your way around the WORLD from the comfort of your own kitchen. Grab free health tips, recipe ideas, meal plans and gain a better understand how eating choices can affect your health. Be the healthier and happier YOU!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Ali Crimmins says

      April 29, 2025 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious!

      Reply
      • HWC Magazine says

        April 29, 2025 at 7:19 pm

        Thanks so much Ali! These little Spanish meatballs are always a crowd pleaser. Take Care

        Reply
    2. Jim Orvis says

      December 21, 2021 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      These are terrific! I make them often and I have for years now. Thanks again for a great recipe BAM!

      Reply
      • HWC Magazine says

        December 21, 2021 at 7:24 pm

        Thank you Jim! so happy to hear that our Spanish Meatballs are a part of your menu. We love making these in advance and keeping them warm to serve in the slow cooker. Wishing you and your family and very safe and happy holiday season. Take Care

        Reply
    3. Ken says

      September 04, 2020 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      I need more meatballs in my life -- these go on the TO DO list.

      Reply
      • HWC Magazine says

        September 06, 2020 at 1:25 am

        Thanks so much. Our Spanish meatballs are always a huge crowd pleaser. Sometimes, we keep them warm in our slow cooker if having a gathering. Your to do list is getting long. (smiling)

        Reply
    4. Jim says

      March 04, 2015 at 5:31 am

      First time in my life that I made meatballs and I only have three words to say about this recipe. Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!!

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        March 05, 2015 at 6:39 pm

        Dear Jim, I am so delighted that you tried and liked the meatballs. It is a super easy recipe and perfect for so many gatherings. Wishing you a super weekend. Take Care, BAM

        Reply
    5. Raymund says

      January 05, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      Ohh those meatballs sound delicious, never thought of adding olives in meatballs, what a great idea.
      Anyways Happy New Year to you and your family

      Reply
    6. Sharon @ savormania says

      January 04, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      Yummy!!! Can't wait to try this one.

      Reply
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