Description
Juicy meatballs stuffed with cheddar cheese, wrapped in bacon, and glazed with BBQ sauce for a smoky, cheesy, crowd-pleasing appetizer or entree.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork (optional, for extra tenderness)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 8–10 cheddar cheese cubes
- 8–10 slices bacon
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C) or preheat grill to medium heat.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Take a portion of the meat mixture, flatten slightly, and place a cheddar cube in the center.
- Wrap the meat around the cheese to form a sealed ball.
- Wrap each meatball with a slice of bacon, securing ends under the bottom or with toothpicks if needed.
- Place bacon bombs on a lined baking sheet or grill.
- Bake or grill for 20–25 minutes, until bacon is crisp and internal temp reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Brush generously with BBQ sauce and cook an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve hot with extra BBQ sauce if desired.
Notes
- Use thick-cut bacon for sturdier wrapping, or thin-cut for faster crisping.
- Freeze cheese cubes for 10 minutes to prevent leaking during cooking.
- Great as appetizers or served over mashed potatoes or buns.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking or Grilling
- Cuisine: American