When you are absolutely craving the deeply savory, highly comforting flavors of a massive backyard cookout but desperately want it packed into a single, breathtakingly gorgeous sandwich, these Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Subs are the absolute ultimate dinnertime lifesaver. This towering, incredibly messy masterpiece takes juicy, bacon and cheddar stuffed beef meatballs, simmers them in a highly addictive, sticky bourbon barbecue sauce, and nestles them into perfectly toasted, garlic buttered hoagie rolls before completely smothering them in even more melted cheese.
Finding a heavy hitting, foolproof meal that will completely blow away a massive crowd of hungry sports fans or teenagers can be a massive challenge. If your family typically complains about boring weeknight dinners or dry, plain sandwiches, the massive explosion of sweet, smoky, savory, and highly cheesy flavors in this viral sub recipe will get them sprinting to the table before you even finish toasting the buns.
Whether you need an incredibly satisfying, rich recipe for a massive Super Bowl party, or a brilliant, deeply comforting weekend dinner after a long week, these Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Subs deliver absolute perfection, massive flavor, and incredible texture in every single bite!
Why This Sub Recipe Works So Well
The true brilliance of this mouthwatering sandwich lies in its magnificent combination of two iconic comfort foods the classic meatball sub and the legendary bacon cheeseburger completely elevated by a brilliant homemade (or semi homemade) sticky bourbon glaze. By folding incredibly crispy crumbled bacon and freshly shredded sharp cheddar directly into the ground beef mixture, every single meatball acts as an absolute powerhouse of cheeseburger flavor!
Furthermore, simmering the baked meatballs in a robust bourbon BBQ sauce is highly essential. The alcohol in the bourbon cooks out completely, leaving behind a deeply complex, slightly sweet, and highly caramelized oaky flavor that perfectly cuts through the rich, heavy cheese and savory bacon. When stuffed into a hollowed out, toasted hoagie roll, the bread soaks up the incredible sauce without completely falling apart.
If you absolutely love brilliant, over the top comfort foods that yield restaurant quality, pub style results at home, this highly versatile, flavor packed recipe will completely upgrade your weekend meal rotation!
Essential Ingredients
You only need a few highly accessible ingredients to pull these magnificent, towering meatball subs together.
For the Cheeseburger Meatballs:
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Ground Beef: One pound of lean ground beef (80/20 works brilliantly for massive flavor, but 90/10 keeps them from shrinking too much!).
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Bacon: Half a cup of incredibly crispy, finely crumbled bacon. (Cook it ahead of time and drain the fat perfectly!)
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Cheddar Cheese: Half a cup of freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese to fold directly into the meat.
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Breadcrumbs: A third of a cup of plain or seasoned Panko breadcrumbs to keep the meatballs incredibly tender.
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Egg: One large egg to perfectly bind the massive meatballs together.
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Seasonings: One teaspoon of garlic powder, one teaspoon of onion powder, and a generous pinch of kosher salt and black pepper.
For the Bourbon BBQ Sauce & Assembly:
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BBQ Sauce: One and a half cups of your absolute favorite, high quality thick barbecue sauce.
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Bourbon: A quarter cup of your favorite bourbon whiskey. It adds a breathtakingly deep, oaky sweetness! (If you don’t use alcohol, substitute with a splash of apple cider and a teaspoon of vanilla extract).
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Hoagie Rolls: Four large, sturdy hoagie rolls or sub buns. Highly essential to use thick bread that can hold up to the massive sauce!
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Butter & Garlic: Two tablespoons of melted butter and a pinch of garlic powder to toast the buns.
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More Cheese: Four slices of provolone or pepper jack cheese to completely melt over the top of the assembled subs.
Step by Step Instructions
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Prep the Meatballs: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a massive mixing bowl, vigorously combine the ground beef, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until just mixed. (Do not overmix, or the meatballs will become tough!)
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Form and Bake: Roll the meat mixture into 12 large, golf ball sized meatballs and place them perfectly evenly on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until they are deeply browned and completely cooked through.
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Simmer in Sauce: While the meatballs are baking, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Pour in the BBQ sauce and the bourbon. Let it simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes so the alcohol cooks off and the sauce becomes incredibly sticky and thick.
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Coat the Meatballs: Transfer the baked meatballs directly into the simmering bourbon BBQ sauce. Gently toss them until every single meatball is beautifully and completely smothered in the sticky glaze. Keep them warm on low heat.
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Toast the Buns: Slice the hoagie rolls open (without cutting completely through). Brush the insides heavily with melted garlic butter. Place them open faced on a baking sheet and broil for 1 to 2 minutes until perfectly golden brown and crispy.
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Assemble and Melt: Stuff 3 massive, sauce covered meatballs into each toasted hoagie roll. Drizzle with extra BBQ sauce from the pan. Lay a slice of provolone or pepper jack cheese completely over the top of each sub. Return them to the broiler for 1 more minute until the cheese is bubbling, completely melted, and beautifully draped over the meatballs. Serve immediately!
Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Subs
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pinch kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups high-quality BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey or apple cider
- 4 large hoagie rolls or sub buns
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 slices provolone or pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, Panko breadcrumbs, beaten egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Form the meat mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for 15 to 18 minutes until browned and fully cooked through.
- While the meatballs bake, combine the BBQ sauce and bourbon whiskey in a large skillet over medium heat. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until thickened and glossy.
- Transfer the baked meatballs into the skillet and gently toss until completely coated in the sticky BBQ sauce. Keep warm over low heat.
- Slice the hoagie rolls open and brush the insides with melted butter. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly toasted.
- Place 3 BBQ meatballs into each toasted hoagie roll and spoon extra sauce over the top.
- Top each sub with a slice of provolone or pepper jack cheese.
- Return the assembled subs to the broiler for about 1 minute until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
What to Serve With Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Subs
Because these massive meatball subs are incredibly rich, heavy, and deeply savory, they pair absolutely beautifully with highly vibrant, acidic side dishes that completely cut through the rich flavors! Serve these sticky sandwiches alongside a deeply refreshing, bright Tangy Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta to perfectly balance the heavy BBQ sauce on your dinner plate!
If you are hosting a fun, casual game day gathering and want to offer a massive spread of savory finger foods alongside your subs, surround your sandwich platter with incredibly addictive Cheesy Taco Pinwheels and a brilliant batch of highly crispy Smash Chicken Caesar Tacos. For a brilliant sweet and spicy contrast with your chips and dips, offer a massive bowl of Delicious Peach Cherry Salsa!
Looking to provide options for a massive weekend event? If you have guests staying over, wake them up the very next morning with a deeply comforting Tater Tot Breakfast Bowl with Sausage Gravy or a highly addictive batch of Easy Sweet Cinnamon Twists!
And of course, no spectacular, heavy weekend dinner is ever truly complete without a show stopping dessert! Finish the evening by completely blowing your guests away with a sweet, nostalgic Blueberry Pretzel Salad or incredibly elegant, smooth Rhubarb Cheesecake Creams!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these meatball subs ahead of time? You can definitely prep the components ahead of time! You can bake the bacon cheeseburger meatballs and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat, simply thaw them, simmer them directly in the bourbon BBQ sauce until piping hot, and assemble the subs!
Do I have to use bourbon? Absolutely not! While the bourbon cooks out and leaves a magnificent, deep flavor, you can easily omit it. Simply replace the quarter cup of bourbon with a quarter cup of apple cider, beef broth, or simply use your favorite BBQ sauce entirely on its own!
How do I keep the sub buns from getting incredibly soggy? Toasting the buns with garlic butter is highly essential! The melted butter creates a perfectly crispy barrier that completely prevents the sticky BBQ sauce from soaking into the bread and ruining the sandwich.