Crock Pot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs Recipe {Video} - Tammilee Tips (2024)

Today's CrockPot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs Recipe is all about celebrating and not having to spend time in the kitchen. It's a great combination of bourbon barbecue sauce and bacon!

Crockpot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs

I know it won't surprise any of you that the slow cooker does the work for this appetizer recipe, and you don't have to.

I am such a fan of CrockPot recipes that we have topped 260+ of them on the blog!

Next year, I aim to share at least 50 more Crock Pot recipes. It is a big goal, but I think we can do it.

This super easy Crock Pot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs recipe is a great New Year's Eve or football party appetizer!

The slow cooker does all the work, and you get a killer recipe to serve at your party!

Your house will smell so good while these are in the slow cooker!

You just can't go wrong with CrockPot meatball recipes! They make life so easy and taste so great.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make epic Crock Pot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Frozen Meatballs
• Bacon
• BBQ Sauce
• Maple Syrup
• Bourbon
• Dried Chili Peppers

Equipment Needed

• Large Bowl
• Parchment Paper
• CrockPot
• Skewers
• Appetizer Trays: Serve your skewers and appetizers on these appetizer trays so guests can easily reach them.
• Bamboo Serving Trays: These would be perfect for serving the skewers.

How to Make Crock Pot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

1. Mix the BBQ sauce, maple syrup, bourbon, and chili peppers in a bowl.
2. Line the slow cooker bowl with parchment paper
3. Place the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker
4. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and cook
5. Let them cool to the touch.
6. On medium-long skewers, place one meatball, a piece of bacon folded over, and another meatball.
7. Place on an appetizer plate and enjoy!
8. Alternately, serve them as a main meal on rice.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead: The cooking time for these Bacon Bourbon Meatballs is two hours, giving you buffer time to work on other menu items or simply relax.

Storage: Refrigerate your leftovers in an airtight container, and enjoy them within three days.

You can use these for a meatball sandwich with provolone cheese.

Freezing/How to Freeze: Transfer freezer-bound meatballs to an airtight, freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag, and enjoy them within three months.

How to Reheat: Reheat leftover portions using your microwave, stovetop, or CrockPot, depending on how many you need to serve. Thaw frozen Bacon Bourbon Meatballs overnight to ensure they reheat evenly.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

You can make the bourbon BBQ sauce meatball recipe with whatever variety of meatballs you enjoy. I have not tried them with chicken or turkey meatballs, but they should work great if that is the flavor you want.

We used generic frozen meatballs we picked up at the grocery store. You can use homemade meatballs, but check on them in the CrockPot to ensure they don’t stick together with the low and slow cooking time.

You can find frozen meatballs at your local grocery store or large bags at Costco/Sam's Club if you want to make a large batch.

Similarly, any bourbon you enjoy would be delicious. We have used Jim Beam in many of our recipes and co*cktails if you need a suggestion.

I would stick with a classic barbecue sauce you know your family loves. Most of our recipes tend to use Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce. You can also replace the barbecue sauce with ketchup or Heinz chili sauce; just be sure you don’t use a spicy variety like sriracha or Thai chili unless you don’t mind the heat!

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: Use plant-based bacon and meatballs to make this meatball recipe vegetarian and vegan-friendly!

Gluten-Free: Check for a gluten-free label on each ingredient to ensure your CrockPot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs are safe for a gluten-free diet.

Alcohol-Free Option: Replace the bourbon with apple juice or an NA bourbon to make this recipe alcohol-free.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe makes 24 servings and scales quickly to your desired yield. Depending on your slow cooker’s capacity, you may need to work in batches if you scale up.

Make It Spicy: These meatballs have some heat from the pinch of dried chili peppers. Add more chili peppers, or use a spicy barbecue sauce for more spice.

Sugar-Free:

The written recipe contains 5 grams of sugar per serving. Use sugar-free barbecue sauce, maple syrup, and no-sugar-added bacon to make it sugar-free.

Please remember that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used.

Tips for the Best Crock Pot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs

• You do not need to thaw the meatballs. We just pour them right out of the bag into the crockpot after taking them out of the freezer. If you use thawed meatballs, you will want to reduce the cooking time so they do not fall apart.
• You should check that the frozen meatballs say that they are already fully cooked.
• Super easy CrockPot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs are the perfect Super Bowl or party appetizer recipe for the big football game! This slow-cooker appetizer would also be fantastic for New Year's Eve! The CrockPot does all the work, and you get to serve the perfect party food appetizer!

What to Serve with Crock Pot Bacon Bourbon Meatballs

These slow-cooker bacon meatballs with a touch of bourbon are flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for any occasion that needs a standout appetizer! Here are some menu pairing suggestions.

Sides: CrockPot Chipotle Honey Meatballs, CrockPot Swedish Meatballs, CrockPot Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs, CrockPot Spicy Mango Jerk Wings, CrockPot Mexican Chili over Fritos, CrockPot Honey Sriracha Barbecue Wings, CrockPot Beer-Braised Kielbasa

Main Dishes: CrockPot Chili Mac and Cheese, CrockPot Bacon Mac and Cheese, CrockPot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut, CrockPot Beer Chili, CrockPot Cuban Pork Sandwiches, Buffalo Chicken Wontons, CrockPot Bacon Ranch Chicken, CrockPot Buffalo Sloppy Joes

Desserts: Red Velvet Brownies, Chocolate Coconut 5 Layer Bars, CrockPot Mixed Berry Cobbler, Black Bean Brownies, Easy Homemade Banana Bread, , Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies, Molasses Cookies

Drinks: co*ke Slushie, Kool-Aid Slushie, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, Brazilian Lemonade, Sonic Ocean Water, Copycat McDonald's Sweet Tea, Watermelon Agua Fresca

When to Serve

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Potlucks
• Family and Friends Gatherings
• Game Day

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Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.

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Originally shared December 27, 2018, updated on January 29, 2020, December 2023.