Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers (Print)

Juicy meatballs, bacon, and cheddar fill toasted sub rolls with smoky bourbon BBQ flavors.

# Ingredients:

→ Meatball ingredients

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
02 - 1 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 egg
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Cooking and assembly ingredients

09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 cup bourbon BBQ sauce
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
12 - 4 sub rolls
13 - 8 slices crispy bacon

# Directions:

01 - 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.
02 - Shape 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 them at this stage.
03 - 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.
04 - 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.
05 - Fill each toasted sub roll with meatballs. Top with crispy bacon slices and shredded cheddar cheese. Serve warm.