Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer
This bourbon meatballs recipe fits the bill of a well-loved and delicious appetizer. The meatballs are succulent, the bourbon sauce is scrumptious and their flavors complement each other famously!
I usually serve these meatballs as an appetizer but you can also serve them as your main dish.
Christopher and I love appetizers and will periodically eat them instead of a typical dinner. So, when I told Christopher I was making these delicious meatballs, he advocated loudly that he wanted me to make them with a full pound of ground beef.
I crowed silently in my head because I knew I wanted to eat my fill of these bourbon meatballs without having to worry about how much I was eating and whether Christopher was getting his fair share.
Of course, we supplemented this appetizer with some bacon wrapped chicken livers, air fryer pickles, an assortment of olives, pub cheese on crackers and a salad.
Yum. We certainly know how to live!
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Helpful tips
- If you care how and where your meat and fish are sourced and you haven’t tried ButcherBox yet, you really should. It’s a meat subscriptions service that delivers high quality meat products directly to your door. It’s so convenient and will make you feel good knowing your consuming such delicious and excellent quality meats.
- If you can, buy grass-fed beef because you can taste the difference.
- Make the bourbon sauce at the same time as the meatballs as this will save you time.
- Hubby is sensitive to heat, so I only use a little chipotle powder, I encourage you to use as much as you like.
- These meatballs freeze very well. Just make sure they are in an airtight container.
- They can also be made ahead of time. You can keep them in the refrigerator, formed but uncooked up to 24 hours before cooking.
How to make bourbon meatballs
Pre-step
Get a sauté pan and a mixing bowl.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, herbs and spices and ground beef.
Step two
Place all the ingredients above into a mixing bowl.
Step three
With your hands, mix the ingredients together.
Take small amounts of the ground beef mixture with your fingers and roll them into medium-sized meatballs.
Step four
Heat a sauté pan (or two if you don’t want to cook the meatballs in batches) on medium. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons olive oil and once that heats up, place the meatballs in it and stand there while they brown, turning them every 30 seconds or so. Cook for approximately 8 minutes.
Step five
Remove meatballs from the pan and set aside.
Gather the ingredients for the bourbon sauce – ketchup, bourbon, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, apple cider vinegar, chipotle powder and salt.
Step six
Add the bourbon sauce ingredients to a saucepan and heat on medium. Once the sauce comes to a boil, let it cook for 10 minutes. Lower the heat and add the meatballs, stir and let them simmer for 5 minutes.
Place the meatballs on a serving plate, making sure to get all of the bourbon sauce out of the saucepan.
Time to sample one.
Now for the overhead view.
Perfect!!
I hope you enjoyed this bourbon meatballs appetizer recipe.
Other meatball recipes
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef grass fed
- .50 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- .25 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon basil dried
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Bourbon Sauce
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 dashes paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 dash chipotle powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Meatballs
- In a large mixing bowl, place all the meatball ingredients (except the olive oil) and mix them together with your hands
- Grab a small amount of meat and roll it into a meatball (you choose the size), place each ball on a plate until all the meat is used up
- Heat a sauté pan and add up to 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Add the meatballs and sauté them, turning them every 30 seconds to brown all the sides. Should take around 8 minutes total
- Remove meatballs from pan and set aside
Sauce
- Add all the ingredients for the sauce, bring it to a boil and cook it for 10 minutes
- Lower the heat and add meatballs. Stir until the sauce covers them
- Continue simmering for 5 minutes
- Plate
- Eat
- Smile
- Enjoy
Equipment
Notes
- If you can, buy grass-fed beef because you can taste the difference.
- Make the bourbon sauce at the same time as the meatballs as this will save you time.
- Hubby is sensitive to heat, so I only use a little chipotle powder, I encourage you to use as much as you like.
- These meatballs freeze very well. Just make sure they are in an airtight container.
- They can also be made ahead of time. You can keep them in the refrigerator, formed but uncooked up to 24 hours before cooking.
Nutrition
From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.
These would be perfect to bring to a Super Bowl party! My husband would love the bourbon flavor too… Can’t wait to try it!
Dominique! Indeed it is a perfect Super Bowl party appetizer! Enjoy!
Mmmm… that bourbon sauce has me drooling! I bet it would also be awesome on top of meatloaf! Delicious! These are so perfect for game day!
Thanks Megan! Mmm. On top of meatloaf. Great idea!
Anything with Brown Sugar and Bourbon immediately moves to the top of my “favorites” list! These meatballs are no exception, so delicious. If I were there, you’d have to make a full batch because I know I’d eat a large portion…
Lisa, hehe. Yes, indeed a full batch indeed when others are around. Just not when it’s just hubby and I 🙂
Oh my, these meatballs look so incredibly tasty, my family would love these:-)
Thank you Camilla! They are ever so tasty!
These sound amazing!!! Of course, I’m kinda crazy for any/everything bourbon so I know I’d love them! Definitely pinning them!
Thanks so much Lisa!
Those meatballs!! My mouth is watering just looking at your photos – so yummy! And I love the idea of a boozy bourbon sauce. Great recipe!
Thank you Holly! I appreciate it.
These look delicious. And the name is fantastic!
Thanks Eileen 🙂
Bourbon meatballs are the bomb. Whether I’m having it as an appetizer or main meal! Great recipe.
Thanks Christopher!
I tried these and they came out so delicious!! So easy too! I will make these for my husbands next football party! Thanks Elaine! 🙂
Thanks so much Aleka! I love to hear when peeps make my recipes!
It would be great if someone who had actually made the meatballs left a review . If we are reading the review s we obviously think it “looks” good.
I understand Lorna, but I can’t control how people comment on my website. It is a great recipe and my family makes it regularly! I hope you give it a try.
Bourbon meatballs are the bomb. Can’t wait to try
more of your recipes.
I’m so happy you liked them. Hubby and I love them and are actually going to have them today as an appetizer! Thanks for taking the time to tell me and rate the recipe, Carole! I appreciate it.
Hi is this something I could make the day before and then heat in a crockpot? I will be make quite a few!
Yes, Janice, you definitely could. I’ve done it before – you can turn the crockpot to low for 4 hours. Or even heat it on the stove but the crockpot will let you set it and forget it.
If you make it in a crockpot, do you sauté the meatballs first, and then put everything in the slo,cooker? Trudy
I would Trudy so the meatballs stay together and don’t fall apart, but only for a few minutes.
They are the best, I love them and are so easy. I was wondering if they can be mixed, and either refrigerate for 24 hours? Would be a lot easier on me the next day. Thanks, Dottie
Dottie, you can shape the meatballs a day before and bake up to 24 hours later. Hope that helped. I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
My whole family loved this recipe! It was way easier than I thought it would be and had so much flavor!
Thanks so much Kim. I’m glad your family enjoyed it!
The sauce is so good, that I double it just so I can bathe my meatballs in it, drizzle it over rice, and lap it up from the plate! YUM!
Lol! I double it too when I have a bunch of people as they want to drink the sauce. If it’s hubby and I, I keep as is or I’ll be drinking it too. 😉 Thanks Jenn!
These Meatball appetizers look incredible! I love how easy the Bourbon sauce is to make! I need this in my life!
Hehe. Thanks Shanika! The whole thing is super easy and delicious! 🙂
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
I’m so happy to hear that Katie! We love them here too!
I love having appetizers for dinner especially when they look this good. These brazen bourbon meatballs will be perfect for entertaining or a great family meal.
Thanks so much Kelly! I’m happy that someone else loves to eat apps at dinner! 🙂
I could eat meatballs as a meal also! This look so good cant’ wait to try them!
Thanks so much Tisha! I hope you enjoy them!
This bourbon meatballs recipe looks really appetizing! I wish I could have this on my plate right now! My wife will surely love this, too.
Thanks Dennis! These meatballs are truly a people pleaser!
What a wonderful appetizer idea. And you make it more appetizing. Thank you for sharing your yummy recipe
Thank you Citra! I appreciate it. We love this appetizer in our household.
Elaine, this looks amazing! I’m not a fan of meatballs but your photos and the recipe are making me so hungry right now! Love the idea of bourbon glaze!
Hehe. Thanks Anna! 🙂
Those tasty little bourbon meatballs will be a perfect addition to my Superbowl party! Thanks for sharing your delicious recipe!~
Thank you Dennis! 🙂 I hope your party went well and you enjoyed the meatballs!
These are THE BEST bourbon meatballs I have ever seen. Delicious, juicy and so inviting. And the combination of flavors is simply outstanding – can’t wait to enjoy it! 🙂
Thanks so much Danielle! I appreciate it!
These are just the perfect thing for game day! The idea of adding bourbon is amazing, I love it! Thanks for the tips and recipe.
Thanks Paula! It’s one of my favorite appetizers!
I wanted to make a different kind of meatball for our party and the minute I saw bourbon meatballs I knew I’d found the recipe I wanted. The meatball appetizer is even better than I imagined. Everyone gobbled them up and they all wanted the recipe. This is one of those recipes that will be a regular at our parties.
Yay! Thanks Marisa! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Bourbon and meatballs??? Count me in! These look positively scrumptious! And we LOVE Butcher Box for their ground meat too!
Hehe. Thanks so much Lori! I’m glad to hear you love ButcherBox too!
These are always a hit at our parties! That bourbon sauce really makes these meatballs special.
Thanks so much Amanda! The sauce makes the meatballs!
There’s nothing better than a juicy meatball as an appetizer! But then you add in all of these flavors together and you have a WINNING combination! YUM!
Thanks so much Jess! I appreciate it.
Can’t take my eyes off those mouthwatering meat balls. Oh my,.. the flavors are fantastic! Full points for that insanely delicious bourbon sauce.
Hehe. Thanks Jo! I appreciate it. I hope you enjoy them.
Have you tried making these with pork or something other than beef/red meat?
Becky, I have and it comes out delicious. I’ve used each of these meats by themselves: pork, lamb and chicken. Let me know how it comes out.
Would the sauce lose any of its flavor if I made it the day before or is it one of those recipes it is even better the next day?
I have found that it tastes pretty much the same the day after, Jamie. So it doesn’t lose any flavor at all.
These meatballs sound wonderful! If you freeze them, do you freeze them cooked with the sauce?
Hi Margarett! Yes you can freeze them in the sauce. There isn’t enough booze in it to not freeze, so you are good to go. It’s one of my most asked-for appetizers! Good luck and thanks for your question.