Description

These smoky bourbon BBQ meatballs are the ultimate game day snack, combining tender beef with a sticky, sweet-savory glaze. Made in a slow cooker for hands-off convenience, they are foolproof, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for parties.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
½ cup (50g) plain dried breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1 small onion, finely diced (about 100g)
2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup (240ml) barbecue sauce
¼ cup (60ml) bourbon
2 tablespoons (25g) brown sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, diced onion, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix with hands until just combined; do not overmix.
Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls (yields about 20-24 meatballs) and place on a plate.
In a small bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, bourbon, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and hot sauce.
Place meatballs in a 4-quart slow cooker and pour the sauce over the top. Gently toss to coat evenly.
Cover and cook on High for 3-4 hours or Low for 6-8 hours, until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
If the sauce is too thin, remove the lid and cook on High for the last 30 minutes to reduce, or stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp cold water).
Stir gently before serving warm with toothpicks.

Notes

Do not overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs. Use 80/20 ground beef for juiciness. For a thicker sauce, cook uncovered on High for the last 30 minutes. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for 3 months.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3-4 hours (High) or 6-8 hours (Low)
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 meatball
Calories: 180
Sugar: 5
Sodium: 320
Fat: 10
Saturated Fat: 4
Carbohydrates: 8
Protein: 12

Keywords: game day snacks, slow cooker meatballs, bourbon BBQ meatballs, party appetizers, easy crockpot recipes, smoky meatballs