These Mediterranean Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Subs have smoky and savory flavors. We prepare these subs with ground beef, bacon, breadcrumbs, cheddar cheese, garlic, parsley, oregano, smoked paprika, BBQ sauce, bourbon, honey, Worcestershire sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh vegetables served in toasted sub rolls. These subs contain approximately 720 calories and 36 g of net carbs. We make these subs in about 50 minutes. These Mediterranean Bourbon BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Subs are perfect for family dinners, game-day spreads, weekend lunches, backyard gatherings, potlucks, casual parties, and comfort-food cravings. We can refrigerate the cooked meatballs for as long as four days and freeze them for at least three months, so you can prepare them earlier. You can serve these subs with Mediterranean Potato Wedges, Greek Pasta Salad, Garlic Parmesan Fries, Coleslaw, or a fresh Greek Salad.
STATISTICAL OVERVIEW:
- Cuisine: American
- Prep Duration: 20 minutes
- Caloric Content: 720 kcal
- Diet: Mediterranean
- Course: Main Course
- Cook Duration: 30 minutes
- Portion Size: 1 Sub
- Cooking Mode: Baking & Stovetop
- Servings: 6
- Difficulty Level: Intermediate
- Total Time: 50 minutes
TOOLS:
- Bowl
- Tray
- Baking paper
- Skillet
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Saucepan
- Tongs
- Cheese grater
- Oven
INGREDIENTS:
MEATBALLS:
- 1 lb ground beef
- Bacon, six slices
- One cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
BOURBON BBQ SAUCE:
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup bourbon
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- For the Subs
- 6 sub rolls
- Mozzarella cheese, 1 1/2 cup
- One red onion
- 1 cup lettuce
- 1 tomato
- 1 tbsp olive oil
INGREDIENT NOTES AND THEIR SUBSTITUTIONS:
GROUND BEEF:
- We use ground beef to provide the meatballs with a rich flavor and a juicy texture. You could also utilize ground turkey or vegan meat.
BACON:
- Bacon is added to give these meatballs a smoky and savory taste. As a substitute, you might use pancetta or smoked mushrooms.
CHEDDAR CHEESE:
- The regular cheeseburger flavor and velvety texture are created by including cheddar cheese. Alternatively, you can use Gouda, Monterey Jack, Colby, or mozzarella cheese.
BOURBON:
- Bourbon helps create a deep, slightly sweet, and caramel-like flavor in the BBQ sauce. You may replace it with apple juice or beef broth.
BREADCRUMBS:
- Breadcrumbs are used to bind the meatball mixture and help maintain its shape. As an alternative, you can use panko, crushed crackers, almond flour, or oat flour.
BBQ SAUCE:
- We use BBQ sauce to create a sweet, smoky, and flavorful glaze for the meatballs. You can substitute it with homemade BBQ sauce or smoky tomato sauce.
SUB ROLLS:
- Sub rolls hold the meatballs and toppings while providing a soft and sturdy base. Instead, you can use hoagie rolls, ciabatta, baguette, pita bread, or sandwich buns.
MOZZARELLA CHEESE:
- Because mozzarella cheese melts properly and produces a gooey topping, it is utilized. You may also use provolone, Swiss, Havarti, or Monterey Jack cheese.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Warm the oven to 400°Fahrenheit.
- Stir the cheddar cheese, ground beef, pepper, bacon, salt, breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, egg, oregano, garlic, and parsley in a dish.
- Carefully whisk and prepare eighteen meatballs from the mixture.
- Put the meatballs on a tray.
- Bake them till they are properly prepared, for almost eighteen minutes.
- Whisk the olive oil, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, bourbon, and honey in a saucepan.
- Slowly cook for almost seven minutes.
- Include the cooked meatballs in the sauce and coat them perfectly.
- Coat the sub rolls using olive oil and toast them for almost three minutes.
- Put three meatballs in all the rolls.
- Garnish with mozzarella cheese and bake them again for almost three minutes, or till melted.
- Include lettuce, sliced onion, and tomato.
- Serve these meatball subs quickly.
TIPS:
- Do not whisk the mixture of meatballs too much.
- Refrigerate the meatballs for almost fifteen minutes and then bake to make a perfect shape.
- We utilize freshly grated cheese, so it will melt perfectly.
- You can toast the rolls to avoid sogginess.
- Include chipotle powder for additional smoky heat.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
FRESH SALADS:
- Greek Salad
- Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
- Chickpea Tomato Salad
- Arugula Parmesan Salad
- Caesar Salad
POTATO SIDES:
- Garlic Parmesan Fries
- Mediterranean Potato Wedges
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Herb-Roasted Potatoes
- Crispy Potato Chips
VEGETABLE SIDES:
- Grilled Zucchini
- Roasted Bell Peppers
- Garlic Green Beans
- Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
- Sautéed Asparagus
DIPS & SAUCES:
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Garlic Aioli
- Chipotle Mayo
- Ranch Dressing
- Extra Bourbon BBQ Sauce
REFRESHING DRINKS:
- Lemon Iced Tea
- Peach Iced Tea
- Sparkling Lemon Water
- Berry Mocktail
- Fresh Lime Soda
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Store these subs in a tightly closed vessel for a minimum of four days.
FREEZER:
- Store the sauce and meatballs for as long as three months.
FAQs:
Will we utilize turkey as a replacement for beef?
- Yes, you can use ground turkey, which works perfectly.
Which cheese is perfect for utilizing?
- You can use mozzarella on the surface & include cheddar cheese in the meatballs.
May we prepare the meatballs earlier?
- Yes, you can make these meatballs twenty-four hours earlier.
How could we prepare these subs spicier?
- Yes, you can use jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or chipotle powder.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS:
Calories: 720 kcal
Sodium: 1,180 mg
Total Carbs: 39 g
Net Carbs: 36 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 12 g
Fats: 41 g
Proteins: 47 g
Serving Size: 1 Meatball Sub