Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup bourbon BBQ sauce
- 6-8 sandwich buns or hoagie rolls
- 6 slices crispy bacon, chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: pickles, chopped onions, fresh lettuce for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly, then form into 1.5-inch meatballs. Bake or pan-fry until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the meatballs, and cook until browned on all sides. Pour in the bourbon BBQ sauce and simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
- While the meatballs simmer, toast the sandwich buns lightly and prepare toppings like chopped crispy bacon and shredded cheese.
- Place cooked meatballs inside each bun, spoon generously with bourbon BBQ sauce, sprinkle with crispy bacon and shredded cheese. Add pickles, onions, or lettuce if desired.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place assembled subs on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes until cheese melts. Serve hot.
Notes
- For a leaner option, substitute ground turkey for beef.
- Make bourbon BBQ sauce from scratch if store-bought is unavailable by mixing ketchup, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and honey.
- Ensure meatballs are cooked thoroughly to avoid undercooking when using turkey.
- For extra flavor, add sliced pickles or chopped onions inside the subs before baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Bake, Pan-fry, Simmer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Comfort Food
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 620 kcal Kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 1020mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 125mg