Description
These Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Subs combine juicy, flavorful meatballs infused with bourbon and smothered in smoky BBQ sauce, layered with crispy bacon and melted cheddar cheese inside soft sub rolls. Perfect for a hearty, crowd-pleasing sandwich with all the fun flavors of a cheeseburger in a convenient meatball sub format.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
Assembly
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 sub rolls
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Optional toppings: sliced pickles, lettuce, tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat Baking Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs and melting the cheese later.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into about 18-20 meatballs, each approximately 1 inch in diameter for even cooking.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them evenly on all sides, about 5-7 minutes, to develop flavor and texture.
- Remove Meatballs: Take the browned meatballs out of the skillet and set them aside temporarily.
- Prepare Bourbon BBQ Sauce: In the same skillet, carefully add the bourbon. Let it reduce for about a minute to cook off the alcohol. Stir in the BBQ sauce and simmer for another minute until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Coat Meatballs in Sauce: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, stirring gently to coat each one thoroughly with the bourbon BBQ sauce.
- Bake Meatballs: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 10-12 minutes, or until they are cooked through and juicy inside.
- Prepare Sub Rolls: While the meatballs bake, slice the sub rolls lengthwise, ready to be filled.
- Assemble Subs: Fill each sub roll with a portion of the sauced meatballs, then sprinkle crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Melt Cheese: Place the assembled subs back in the oven for a few minutes until the cheddar cheese melts and becomes bubbly.
- Add Toppings and Serve: Remove the subs from the oven, add any optional toppings such as sliced pickles, lettuce, or tomatoes for extra crunch and freshness. Serve warm and enjoy a savory, comforting sandwich.
Notes
- Cooking the meatballs first by browning them locks in moisture and adds flavor.
- Cooking the bourbon reduces alcohol content while intensifying flavor in the BBQ sauce.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- For extra smoky flavor, use a smoky BBQ sauce variety.
- Adding optional fresh toppings balances the rich meat and cheese with crisp texture.
