Deliciously tender bison {or beef} meatballs baked in the oven then simmered in a homemade bourbon BBQ sauce. The perfect appetizer for the holidays, football Sunday or anytime you're craving good meatballs!
This post is sponsored by The Honest Bison, who I am so excited to partner with! The recipe, photographs, thoughts, and opinions are all my own.
Bourbon BBQ Bison Meatballs are perfect for when you need a quick and easy but delicious appetizer! They are low-effort and bake in the oven, requiring minimal hands-on cooking.
Although they're a crowd pleaser, you don't need to wait for a party to serve these meatballs! They're delicious served as is, over mashed potatoes or inside a hoagie roll with tangy coleslaw.
The Honest Bison
Bison has a clean, slightly sweet taste that pairs perfectly with Bourbon BBQ Sauce! Bison is a lean red meat that is high in vitamins and minerals and often nutritionally superior to beef. I recommend bison for this recipe, but you can definitely substitute ground beef if preferred.
If you're looking to give bison a try, I can't say enough good things about The Honest Bison. They raise 100% grass-fed bison that you can order online and have shipped right to your front door. The Honest Bison also sells grass-fed beef, lamb, pork, and venison.
Why you'll love this recipe
Tender homemade meatballs. Homemade meatballs made with ground bison, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, and some simple seasoning. They're super tender, flavorful, and delicious.
Simple homemade bourbon BBQ sauce. BBQ sauce is actually really easy to make at home using ingredients you likely already have on hand. It's a little sweet and a little tangy with a bite from the bourbon.
Delicious appetizer. Everyone loves BBQ meatballs! This is a great appetizer for the holidays, football Sunday, or really any day of the week. The meatballs can be kept warm in the slow cooker.
Ingredients
Bison meatballs
- Ground bison (I like to use The Honest Bison Bison Heart & Liver Ground Blend, but you can also use regular ground bison or ground beef)
- Breadcrumbs
- Yellow onion, grated
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Egg
- Worcestershire
- Chili powder
- Allspice
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
Bourbon BBQ sauce
- Ketchup
- Bourbon
- Beef broth
- Brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Molasses
- Worcestershire
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Chili powder
- Paprika
How to make baked bison meatballs
Bison meatballs are incredibly easy to make and baked in the oven. All you need is about 15 minutes of prep time. Here is an overview.
- Prepare the meatballs. Mix ground bison with breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, and a few simple seasonings. Mix together until just combined (overmixing will result in tough meatballs), then shape into balls.
- Bake the meatballs. Place the meatballs in a greased skillet or baking sheet and bake until cooked through.
- Mix up bourbon BBQ sauce. While the meatballs bake, mix up the BBQ sauce. Once the meatballs finish baking, mix in the BBQ sauce and bake again to thicken the sauce and coat the meatballs.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full instructions.
Slow Cooker or Crockpot Bison Meatballs
Follow the instructions in the recipe to bake the meatballs and mix up the BBQ sauce, then transfer both to the slow cooker. Cook on low for at least 2-3 hours or until the sauce is warm.
Frequently asked questions
What seasoning is good on bison?
Bison has a very clean, slightly sweet taste and zero gamey flavor. You don't need to add a lot of seasoning to bison. I like adding onion, garlic, and a few simple seasonings to make bison meatballs.
Can you cook ground bison like ground beef?
Ground bison and ground beef can be used interchangeably in any red meat recipe. Keep in mind that bison is a little leaner than beef so it will cook up a little faster.
Can I use ground beef in this recipe?
Yes, you can substitute ground beef with a 1 to 1 ratio.
What is the secret to good meatballs?
The secret to good meatballs: do not overmix the meat. Once you add breadcrumbs, egg and seasoning to the meat, mix with your hands until just combined. Overmixing the meat results in tough meatballs.
Is it better to brown meatballs before putting in sauce?
You don't necessarily have to brown meatballs before mixing them with sauce, but it enhances the flavor and gives the meatballs a nice texture. I definitely recommend browning meatballs prior to mixing them with sauce.
Should you brown meatballs before baking?
The tops and sides of the meatballs will brown nicely in the oven. There is no need to brown meatballs on the stove prior to baking them.
Is milk or egg better for meatballs?
Mixing a raw egg with ground meat helps to bind the meatball together so it holds together while cooking.
How long does alcohol take to cook off?
It may come as a surprise (it did to me, as well), but alcohol actually takes a lot longer to cook off than you would typically think. Below is an alcohol burn-off time chart that comes from the USDA showing the amount of alcohol that remains after cooking.
- 15 minutes cooking time: 40%
- 30 minutes cooking time: 35%
- 1 hour cooking time: 25%
- 1.5 hours cooking time: 20%
- 2 hours cooking time: 10%
- 2.5 hours cooking time: 5%
For example, Bourbon BBQ Meatballs bake in the bourbon BBQ sauce for about 10 minutes, and after that time, about 40% of the alcohol remains. Something to keep in mind if you're avoiding alcohol.
If you are avoiding alcohol, you can simply leave it out.
Storage instructions
Transfer leftover meatballs to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat the meatballs on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave until warmed through. If the BBQ sauce thickens up too much, add a little beef broth or water.
Freezing instructions
Transfer the meatballs and sauce to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
More recipes you'll love
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Bourbon BBQ Bison Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
Bison Meatballs
- 1 pound ground bison
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ yellow onion, grated
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 egg
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- optional garnish: chopped chives
Bourbon BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup bourbon
- ¼ cup beef broth
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder
- ½ teaspoon each chili powder and paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Grease an oven-proof skillet with olive oil.
- In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients except for the olive oil and chives. Use your hands to mix until combined.
- Roll 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture into a ball and place into the skillet. Repeat with the remaining meat.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the tops of the meatballs are lightly browned.
- While the meatballs bake, mix together the Bourbon BBQ Sauce ingredients.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and pour the sauce over the top. Gently mix to combine. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken and caramelize.
- If desired, transfer to a slow cooker to keep warm and garnish with chopped chives.
Notes
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