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A white plate with bourbon meatballs on it
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Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer

This slightly sweet boozy meatballs appetizer recipe is a true people pleaser. It's so delicious with just the right amount of zing from the bourbon sauce.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Appetizer
Keyword bourbon appetizer, bourbon meatballs, meatball appetizer
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 27 meatballs
Calories 125kcal
Author Elaine Benoit

Equipment

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

Notes

Helpful tips
  • 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

Serving: 5meatballs | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 150mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg