Description
A quick and easy sandwich featuring smoky bourbon BBQ, crispy bacon, and juicy cheeseburger-style meatballs, perfect for weeknight dinners or game-day feasting.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup bourbon BBQ sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 sub rolls
- 8 slices crispy bacon
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Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- 2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- 3. Form the mixture into meatballs about 1.5 inches in diameter, yielding approximately 16-20 meatballs.
- 4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add meatballs in a single layer and brown on all sides for about 5-7 minutes.
- 5. Return browned meatballs to the skillet, pour in bourbon BBQ sauce, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- 6. While simmering, slice sub rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through and toast in the oven for 5 minutes until golden brown.
- 7. Assemble subs by placing 4-5 meatballs inside each toasted roll, spooning extra sauce over them, and topping with cheddar cheese and bacon.
- 8. For extra melty cheese, return assembled subs to the oven for 2-3 minutes before serving.