Imagine all your favorite burger elements—smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and tangy BBQ sauce—rolled into one perfect, juicy Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball.
My journey to creating this Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball started, as many good recipes do, with a game day dilemma. Mark and his friends were coming over, and I wanted to serve something substantial and fun, but without the hassle of grilling individual burgers. I thought, “What if I could capture all those amazing burger flavors in a handheld, party-friendly form?” I knew I needed juiciness, a burst of smoky flavor, and that undeniable cheesy goodness. The idea of a meatball, loaded with all the fixings, sparked in my mind. Inspired by clever twists on classic dishes often found on sites like Food52, I started experimenting. The result is a total crowd-pleaser that combines the best of a burger with the ease of a meatball.
🟫 Why This Is So Good
- All-in-One Flavor Bomb – Every bite is loaded with savory beef, smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and tangy bourbon BBQ sauce. It’s a complete burger experience in miniature.
- Perfect for Parties – Forget messy burger buns and grills. These meatballs are easy to serve, easy to eat, and always a huge hit at gatherings.
- Juicy & Tender – Thanks to the combination of breadcrumbs and egg, these meatballs stay incredibly moist and tender, even when baked.
- Customizable & Fun – You can serve them on sliders, as appetizers with toothpicks, or even over mashed potatoes. They’re versatile and always bring a smile.
The first time I served these, Mark’s friend, Dave, picked one up, took a bite, and just stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened. “Clare,” he said, “these are… genius. It’s like a tiny, perfect burger, but better.” High praise from Dave! It was clear right then that this Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball recipe was a runaway success. It’s become the default request for any casual get-together at our house, a dish that always sparks conversation and happy eating. The secret to keeping meatballs juicy, even when packed with flavor, often comes down to the right binders and not overmixing, a technique emphasized in guides on perfect meatballs. For more advanced recipes, visit Bake Warely.
🟫 Getting Your Ingredients Right
- Ground Beef: An 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio is ideal here. The fat content helps keep the meatballs juicy and flavorful. Don’t go too lean, or they might dry out.
- Bourbon BBQ Sauce: Choose a good quality bourbon BBQ sauce that you genuinely enjoy the flavor of. It’s a key component, so make sure it’s one you love. If you don’t have a specific bourbon variety, a good smoky BBQ sauce will work.
- Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds a wonderful tang and depth. Shred your own from a block for the best flavor and melt. Pre-shredded cheese can have anti-caking agents that affect texture.
- Crispy Bacon: The bacon should be cooked until perfectly crisp, not chewy. This adds a crucial textural element and a burst of smoky flavor to your Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball.
- Sub Rolls: Smaller sub rolls or slider buns are perfect for serving these. They hold up well to the saucy meatballs without falling apart.
🟫 Making It Step by Step
Prepare the Meatball Mixture
First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Get your hands in there and gently mix everything until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough meatballs. Once mixed, roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs. You should get about 20-24 meatballs.
Sear the Meatballs
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, carefully add the meatballs in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Sear them for about 2-3 minutes per side, just until they are nicely browned all over. This step adds incredible flavor and helps the meatballs hold their shape while baking. Transfer the seared meatballs to your prepared baking sheet. This initial searing is key to developing a rich flavor for your Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball.
Bake, Sauce, and Assemble
Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. While they bake, in a small bowl, combine your bourbon BBQ sauce with the shredded cheddar cheese and the crumbled crispy bacon. After 10 minutes, remove the meatballs from the oven. Spoon the cheesy bacon-BBQ mixture generously over each meatball, ensuring they are well-coated. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for another 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the meatballs are cooked through. Serve these glorious meatballs warm on toasted sub rolls.
🟫 Making Sure It Turns Out
- Don’t Overmix: Mixing the meatball ingredients too much can result in dense, tough meatballs. Mix just until everything is incorporated.
- Even Sizing: Try to make your meatballs roughly the same size so they cook evenly. A small cookie scoop can help with this.
- Don’t Skip the Sear: Searing the meatballs before baking adds a layer of rich, caramelized flavor and helps them hold their shape.
My biggest early mistake with meatballs was always overmixing. I thought I needed to really knead everything together, but I ended up with hockey pucks instead of tender, juicy meatballs. It was a tough lesson, literally! Now, I mix gently and minimally, which ensures every Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball comes out perfectly succulent.
🟫 Perfect Serving Ideas
These Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball heroes are fantastic on toasted slider buns, acting as mini-sub sandwiches. You could also serve them as an appetizer with toothpicks, perhaps alongside a simple green salad or some crispy potato wedges. For a heartier meal, they’re surprisingly delicious over creamy mashed potatoes or even a bed of fluffy rice, allowing you to soak up all that amazing BBQ sauce.
🟫 Making It Different
Feel free to play with the flavors! Try different types of cheese like smoked gouda or pepper jack for a kick. Add some finely diced pickled jalapeños to the meatball mixture for an extra layer of spice. If you prefer a different sauce, a smoky chipotle aioli or even a classic tangy burger sauce would be excellent alternatives.
🟫 Storage and Leftovers
Leftover meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. They reheat beautifully in the microwave or a toaster oven until warmed through. The flavors tend to meld even more overnight, making them almost better the next day! They’re perfect for packing into lunchboxes or for a quick weeknight meal.
🟫 Tips That Actually Help
- Use Cold Hands: When forming meatballs, use cold hands to prevent the meat from sticking and becoming too warm, which can make them tougher.
- Line Baking Sheet: Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, especially with the cheesy BBQ sauce.
- Toast Buns: Lightly toasting your sub rolls or slider buns before assembling adds extra texture and prevents them from getting soggy from the sauce.
A simple trick that changed my meatball game forever was using cold hands. I used to struggle with the mixture sticking to my hands and getting messy. Then, I read a tip about running your hands under cold water before forming the meatballs, and it made all the difference. The meat doesn’t stick, and the meatballs stay perfectly shaped, making the whole process much more enjoyable.
This Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball recipe has become a true family favorite, a testament to how combining familiar flavors in a new way can create something truly special. It’s always a hit, always devoured, and always requested for the next gathering. I can’t wait for you to try it and experience the joy it brings!
🟫 Frequently Asked Questions
→ Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef? Yes, you can. Ground turkey will make the meatballs a bit leaner, but you might want to add a bit of extra olive oil or a little more bacon fat to ensure they stay juicy.
→ What if I don’t have bourbon BBQ sauce? Any good quality smoky or sweet BBQ sauce will work well. The bourbon adds a subtle depth, but it’s not essential for a delicious result.
→ Can I freeze these meatballs? Yes! You can freeze the cooked and sauced meatballs in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently. You can also freeze them raw before cooking.
→ How can I make these spicier? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some finely diced jalapeños to the meatball mixture. You can also use a spicy BBQ sauce.
→ Can I make them smaller or larger? Certainly. Adjust the cooking times accordingly: smaller meatballs will cook faster, larger ones will take longer. Ensure they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
→ What’s the best way to serve the Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball for a party? Serve them warm from a slow cooker set to “warm,” with small slider buns and toothpicks on the side.
Print
Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball
- Total Time: 0-45 minutes
- Yield: 20-24 meatballs (4 servings) 1x
Description
All your favorite burger flavors—bacon, cheddar, and bourbon BBQ—packed into one juicy, irresistible meatball.
Ingredients
→ For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing)
→ For the Sauce & Assembly:
- 1 cup bourbon BBQ sauce
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 slices crispy bacon, crumbled
- 4 sub rolls, split and lightly toasted
Instructions
- Prep Meatballs: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, gently mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Sear: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear meatballs in batches until browned on all sides (2-3 minutes per side). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
- Initial Bake: Bake meatballs for 10 minutes.
- Sauce & Finish: While baking, combine bourbon BBQ sauce, shredded cheddar, and crumbled bacon in a bowl. Remove meatballs from oven, spoon mixture over each. Return to oven; bake 5-7 minutes more, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Serve your Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball hot on toasted sub rolls.
Notes
- Don’t Overmix: Gently combine meatball ingredients to ensure tender, not tough, meatballs.
- Quality BBQ Sauce: Use a bourbon BBQ sauce you love, as it’s a key flavor component.
- Toast the Rolls: Lightly toasting the sub rolls adds texture and prevents them from getting soggy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Party Food
- Method: Searing, Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5-6 meatballs (per sub roll)
- Calories: 720 kcal
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 1600mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball
