Brown Sugar Bacon Garlic Meatballs are the perfect sweet and savory party appetizer! Easy to make and bursting with flavor. Try them today!
This dish takes a classic Bacon Meatball recipe but with the addition of sweet and savory brown sugar and garlic sauce. For more delicious sweet & savory meatball recipes, try our Cocktail Meatballs, Cranberry Meatballs, and Pineapple Meatballs.
Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Bacon Garlic Meatballs Recipe
This simple meatball recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors. The meat mixture is made with ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, and pieces of crispy bacon. These simple recipe ingredients are delicious are amazing enough on their own, but for even more flavor, they’re coated in a sticky brown sugar and garlic sauce. They’re an easy and delicious Party Appetizer that your guests are sure to love.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Meatball Recipe:
- 3 slices bread
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1/2 yellow onion , minced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter , divided
- 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
- 1/2 cup bacon , cooked and crumbled
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
Brown Sugar Garlic Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 12 cloves garlic , minced
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2/3 cup brown sugar , packed
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with vegetable oil spray.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer add the milk to the slices of bread.
- Melt the butter in a pan and add the minced yellow onions.
- Cook them on medium-low until translucent but not browned.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- In your bowl with the milk-soaked bread add the rest of the meatball ingredients including the cooked onions.
- Mix it on low until the bread is broken apart and the meat is combined with the ingredients (using the stand mixer and not your hands helps keep the mixture cold and tender).
- Using a meatballer/ice cream scoop or your hands scoop them into balls about the size of a ping pong ball.
- Cook, uncovered, for 20-22 minutes.
- While meatballs are cooking add vegetable oil and garlic to a large skillet on medium heat.
- Cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
- Whisk in ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Add cooked meatballs to skillet, stir to combine.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes until well glazed.
Notes
- Click on the “yield” amount to slide and change the number of servings and the recipe will automatically update!
- Click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.
- To convert measurements to grams, click on the “Metric” option next to “Ingredients” in the recipe card.
Nutrition
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Table of Contents
About this Recipe
The sauce ingredients make these Brown Sugar Bacon Garlic Meatballs absolutely irresistible. Made with brown sugar, garlic, ketchup, and soy sauce, the sauce comes together quickly. Then you just add the meatballs and cook until they’re glazed in it. They’re great for a party, and thanks to the delicious sauce, you don’t have to worry about putting out dipping sauces.
Ingredients
Meatball Recipe:
- 3 slices of Bread: The bread serves as a binding agent and helps to keep the meatballs moist. It also adds texture. You can substitute with pre-made breadcrumbs.
- ⅓ cup Whole Milk: The milk is used to soak the bread, making it soft and adding moisture to the meat mixture.
- ½ Yellow Onion: Minced onion adds flavor and moisture to the meatballs. It provides a sweet and savory taste. You can use red onion as a substitute.
- 3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, divided: Butter is used to sauté the minced onions.
- 2 pounds Ground Beef: Ground beef is the primary protein source for meatballs, providing a rich and hearty flavor. The 80/20 ratio means 80% lean meat and 20% fat, which ensures juicier meatballs.
- ½ cup Bacon: Cooked bacon adds a smoky and savory flavor to the meatballs, along with a crispy texture.
- 2 large Eggs: Eggs act as a binder, helping to hold the meatballs together and prevent them from falling apart during cooking.
- 3 cloves of Garlic, minced: Minced garlic adds a strong, aromatic flavor to the meatballs.
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt: Kosher salt enhances the flavor of the meatballs.
- ½ teaspoon Coars Ground Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a mildly spicy kick.
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce provides a savory, umami flavor to the meatballs.
Brown Sugar Garlic Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil: Vegetable oil is used to sauté the minced garlic, allowing its flavors to infuse into the sauce.
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds a nutty and aromatic flavor to the sauce, contributing to its overall depth.
- 12 cloves of Garlic, minced: Minced garlic plays a central role in the sauce, imparting a strong garlic flavor that complements the sweetness of the brown sugar.
- ¾ cup Ketchup: Ketchup forms the base of the sauce, providing a sweet and tangy flavor.
- 2/3 cup Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is the primary sweetener, adding a caramel-like sweetness that balances the savory and garlic flavors.
- ⅓ cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce: Soy sauce adds a salty and savory element to the sauce while helping give a stronger umami taste.
Kitchen Tools and Equipment
- Stand Mixer: A stand mixer is useful for mixing the meatball ingredients thoroughly without overworking the meat. It helps keep the mixture cold and tender. You can also use a hand mixer or mix by hand, but a stand mixer is efficient.
- Baking Pan: A 9×13-inch baking pan is the perfect size for baking the meatballs in the oven, so they aren’t crowded. Make sure to spray it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking. You can use a glass or metal pan.
- Large Skillet: A large skillet is needed to prepare the brown sugar garlic sauce and glaze the meatballs. Ensure it has high sides to accommodate the sauce and meatballs. A non-stick skillet works well.
- Meatballer/Ice Cream Scoop: A meatballer or ice cream scoop helps you portion the meat mixture evenly, creating uniform meatballs. It makes the process faster and ensures consistent sizes for even cooking.
- Garlic Press or Mincer: A garlic press or mincer is great for mincing the garlic finely, both for the meatballs and the sauce. Alternatively, you can finely chop garlic with a knife.
Can This Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make the meatballs and sauce ahead of time. Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Reheat the meatballs and sauce in a skillet or microwave before serving, and assemble them for a delicious meal or appetizer when needed.
What to Pair With
You could also serve this recipe as the main course for a fun, tasty family dinner. Scoop the meatballs and sauce over bowls of Steamed Rice or Mashed Potatoes for a quick and filling meal. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions to add a bit of flair to your dinner.
How to Store
- Store: Don’t leave Brown Sugar Bacon Garlic Meatballs at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Once they’ve cooled, you can transfer the meatballs to an airtight container or simply cover the dish in plastic wrap to store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: To reheat the meatballs, use a regular oven or microwave for best results. In the oven, place them in a baking dish at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes until heated-through. In the microwave, cover with a damp paper towel and heat in short intervals, stirring in between, until hot. Avoid using an air fryer or toaster oven, as they may overcook the meatballs or dry them out.
- Freeze: Flash-freeze the meatballs on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag and seal them. They’ll stay good frozen for up to 3 months.
How to Serve
The flavorful meatballs make an amazing, tender, and crispy appetizer. Transfer the meatballs from the saucepan to a serving dish with toothpicks through the center of each one. They don’t even need a dipping sauce!
Slow Cooker Method
- To make Brown Sugar Bacon Garlic Meatballs in the slow cooker, start by prepping the breadcrumbs, onions, and the rest of the meat mixture according to the original recipe.
- Form the meat mixture into balls.
- Add the meatballs to a baking sheet and broil for 8-10 minutes.
- Next, mix the sauce ingredients and pour the sauce into your crockpot.
- Put meatballs in the crockpot so that they’re coated by the sauce.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use ground turkey, chicken, or a mix of ground meats as a leaner alternative to ground beef.
Spraying the baking pan with vegetable oil spray before baking and using a non-stick skillet for the sauce will help prevent sticking.
Yes, reduce the amount of brown sugar to make the sauce less sweet.
Variations
- Cheese Stuffed Meatballs: If there’s one appetizer ingredient as popular as bacon, it might be cheese. So, why not add some cheese to this bacon meatball recipe and get the best of both worlds? Use cheddar, provolone, or Gouda cheese cubes for this recipe. Form the meat into separate circles, and place a cheese cube at the center of each, then form the meatball around the cheese. After baking, the meatballs will be filled with amazing, melty cheese.
- Spicy Sriracha Twist: Add 1-2 tablespoons of Sriracha sauce to the meatball mixture for a spicy kick. Adjust the amount based on your heat preference. This variation adds a bold and spicy flavor to the meatballs without changing the cooking process.
- Turkey and Mushroom: Replace the ground beef with ground turkey in equal parts. Additionally, mix ⅓ cup finely chopped sauteed mushrooms into the meatball mixture for added moisture and flavor. Make sure the turkey meatballs reach the same internal temperature of 165 degrees for safe cooking.
- Seasonings: There are plenty of spices that you could add to this recipe to experiment with the taste. Try adding some paprika, onion powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, or cumin.
- Other Meat: You can make the same recipe, but use different kinds of ground meat as the base. Instead of ground beef, you could use ground chicken, or ground turkey like in the above recipe. Any of these would also taste great with the brown sugar and bacon.
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These photos were in a previous version of this post
Can I use panko instead of bread crumbs?
Yes you can! Let us know how your meatballs turn out!
Sabrina
These meatballs look amazing I’m going to try them .
Thank u