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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!
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (1) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (1)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bourbon-Meatballs-6.jpg.webp)
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.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (2) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (2)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bourbon-meatballs-MSN.jpg.webp)
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.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (3) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (3)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bourbon-Meatballs-1.jpg.webp)
Step two
Place all the ingredients above into a mixing bowl.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (4) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (4)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bourbon-Meatballs-2.jpg.webp)
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.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (5) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (5)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bourbon-Meatballs-3.jpg.webp)
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.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (6) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (6)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bourbon-Meatballs-4.jpg.webp)
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.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (7) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (7)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Brazen-Bourbon-Meatball-Appetizer-4.jpg.webp)
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.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (8) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (8)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bourbon-Meatballs-7.jpg.webp)
Now for the overhead view.
![Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (9) Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer | Dishes Delish (9)](https://i0.wp.com/dishesdelish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Bourbon-Meatballs-8.jpg.webp)
Perfect!!
I hope you enjoyed this bourbon meatballs appetizer recipe.
Other meatball recipes
- Chicken meatballs
- Swedish meatballs
- Meatball subs
- Curry meatballs
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,INSTAGRAMandPINTERESTto see more of my delicious food and delightful co*cktails!
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.
5 from 46 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Appetizer
Keyword: bourbon appetizer, bourbon meatballs, meatball appetizer
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 27 meatballs
Calories: 125kcal
Author: Elaine Benoit
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
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!
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
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Elaine Benoit
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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 co*cktails. 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.