3.6 from 2,031 votes
Bourbon Meatballs
Bourbon Meatballs are tender juicy meatballs smothered in a sweet and spicy bourbon glaze...give your next cocktail hour an upgrade!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 60 meatballs
Calories: 68 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- ½ cup (1 sleeve,) finely crushed Ritz Cracker crumbs (you can use plain bread crumbs)
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ teaspoon salt
- lots of fresh cracked pepper
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp olive oil for browning the meatballs
Bourbon Sauce
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp hot chili sauce use mild chili sauce if you can't take the heat
- ½ cup bourbon
- ½ cup of your favorite barbecue sauce
- 1 Tbsp molasses
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- Put the meatball ingredients, except the olive oil, in a large mixing bowl, breaking up the meat as you put it in. Mix together, using the tips of your fingers to gently combine everything without compacting the meat. I like to do this in my stand mixer.
- Form into small 1" balls, I use a small scoop to make them nice and uniform.
- Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet and brown the meatballs, working in batches. Transfer the meatballs to a baking sheet, and bake for about 10 minutes, until cooked through. (Check with a thermometer, it should read 160 degrees)
- To make the sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients in a skillet and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for about 10 minutes until thick.
- Place cooked meatballs into the sauce, and let heat through until ready to serve. Serve on a plate with toothpicks, a drizzle of sauce, and lots of napkins. Serve a bowl of sauce on the side for extra dipping.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If you need to reheat these meatballs, do it gently. I put the meatballs in their sauce, cover with foil, and heat in a 350F oven until bubbling. If you do it on the stove, do it over medium heat, and just bring them to a simmer.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1meatball
Calories
68kcal
(3%)
Carbohydrates
5g
(2%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
13mg
(4%)
Sodium
82mg
(3%)
Potassium
61mg
(2%)
Fiber
0.1g
(0%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
16IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
7mg
(1%)
Iron
0.3mg
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 60meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 68
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1meatball | |
| Calories | 68kcal | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 13mg | 4% |
| Sodium | 82mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 61mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0.1g | 0% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 16IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 7mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.3mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.