Ingredients
→ Meatball 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
→ Cooking and assembly ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup bourbon BBQ sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 sub rolls
8 slices crispy bacon
Steps
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix gently without overworking the meat.
Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, yielding around 16-20 pieces. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides in batches. Do not fully cook at this stage.
Return all browned meatballs to the skillet and pour bourbon BBQ sauce over them. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring gently.
Slice each sub roll lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Place on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes until golden and slightly crunchy.
Fill each toasted roll with 4-5 meatballs, top with bourbon BBQ sauce, and sprinkle with ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese. Add two slices of crispy bacon on each sub. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese.
Serve immediately with additional bourbon BBQ sauce for dipping. Enjoy fresh and hot for the best flavor.
Tips
- For a vegetarian option, substitute meatballs with plant-based alternatives and use vegetarian BBQ sauce.
Required Tools
- Large bowl
- Skillet
- Baking sheet
- Oven