Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package of bacon, strips cut into thirds
- 2 cups (or more) BBQ sauce – you can use any variety you prefer. I like to use a sauce with a bold hickory or smoky flavour.
- 1.5 lbs frozen prepared meatballs (partially thawed so toothpick will go through)
OR homemade meatballs using the Meatball Mix below. 🙂 - toothpicks
Meatball Mix
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped finely
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 2 tbsps Italian style bread crumbs (plain breadcrumbs are also fine if that’s what you have)
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
If using homemade meatballs:
- Combine all meatball ingredients and form into balls about 1/2″-1″ wide, or small enough for bacon strips to wrap around. You can make the meatballs whatever size you prefer, but I find forming them small enough to be bite-sized is best, especially if you’re going to use them as an appetizer. If you’re making them as a main course, you can make them larger if you like.
To prepare the BBQ Bacon Wrapped Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- If using homemade meatballs, combine all meatball ingredients as described above. If using frozen meatballs, allow to thaw slightly so it’ll be easy to push a toothpick through.
- Wrap meatballs in bacon and secure with a toothpick. Do this with each meatball and place on top of a wire baking rack over a baking sheet (for easy clean up, line the baking sheet with foil). It’s important that the meatballs cook on top of the wire rack to prevent them from sitting in the grease as they cook.
- Once meatballs are placed on the baking rack, brush them with BBQ sauce. Flip them over and brush the other sides as well.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and brush with more BBQ sauce.
- Bake for another 15 minutes and brush with BBQ sauce.
- Place the meatballs back into the oven for 5-10 more minutes to crisp up the bacon.
- Once the bacon on the meatballs are crisp, you can remove them from the oven.
- Before serving, while they’re still warm, brush them one more time with BBQ sauce.
Notes
Note: You can make these meatballs any size you like, not just 1/2″-1″ diameter. Keep in mind that the larger your meatballs, the more bacon you may need to wrap around them. Also larger meatballs tend to work well for a main dish for dinner along with some sides, smaller meatballs work nicely for appetizers or party food.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Canadian
