Honey Bourbon Meatballs Recipe

Honey Bourbon Meatballs are the perfect bite-sized hero, which can be endlessly customised. It is glazed, smoky, and ready to steal the spotlight on any table.

Trust me, I know this because I’ve served it on countless occasions, and it takes every guest’s breath away. Usually, meatballs are reserved for spaghetti; however, I decided to serve them at a picnic with other side dishes. I love going to picnics and serving new, creative dishes. But there was this one time when I had no idea what to do.

I thought my reputation for being the most creative with picnic food items was going to be tarnished until I found this recipe. Made with bourbon, this is the ultimate way of enjoying a cocktail as a dish.

Also, it has meat and bourbon, which are the two most loved ingredients. So, if you’ve been facing difficulties coming up with a new dish or want to treat yourself, then give this recipe a try for a good time.

What's In The Post

Equipment Required

Slow cooker: I am using a slow cooker to make this recipe, but you can make it in an Instant Pot or a skillet.
Spatula: To toss everything together, I am using a spatula.

Honey Bourbon Meatballs Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to 5 people. You can increase or decrease the ingredients for more or fewer portions.

40 Frozen Meatballs (About two 20-ounce Packages): I am using frozen meatballs for this recipe, but you can also make them from scratch.
½ Cup Ketchup
½ Cup Honey: Don’t like honey? Go for a syrup of your choice.
½ Cup Bourbon: Use less if you prefer it to be less alcoholic.
½ Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce: You can also use dark soy sauce if you don’t have this ingredient.
2 Teaspoons Lemon Juice
½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
¼ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
10 Minutes	10 Minutes	20 Minutes

How To Make Honey Bourbon Meatballs At Home

Step 1

Start by preparing the sauce. For this, add bourbon, Worcestershire sauce, honey, ketchup, ground black pepper, and lime juice to a bowl.

Step 2

Mix it well and add brown sugar and salt to the same bowl.

Step 3

Now add frozen meatballs to the pan. Follow it up with the bowl of sauce.

Step 4

Mix all the ingredients and cook them properly.

Step 5

Once done, add toothpicks on top to enjoy it as finger appetizers.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

Since I am using frozen meatballs, I always like to thaw them at room temperature first. Extremely cold meatballs will require more cooking time, which will alter the total timings.
When making this recipe, I always ensure that the dish is simmering, not boiling. If it is cooking, the alcohol content will evaporate too rapidly, leaving no flavors behind.
Don’t stick to the Honey Bourbon Meatballs recipe only. You can also turn this recipe into a sweet sauce, a curry sauce, or even a red sauce.
This recipe is easily customizable, allowing you to adjust the quantity of bourbon as needed. Additionally, you can adjust the amounts of other ingredients as needed.

FAQs About Honey Bourbon Meatballs

How to make Honey Bourbon Meatballs without alcohol?

Yes, you can make Honey Bourbon Meatballs without the alcohol. To make it alcohol-free, you can skip using alcohol and add apple juice, beef broth, or a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Why are your meatballs falling apart?

There are two vital reasons why your meatballs may be falling apart. Firstly, store-bought meatballs are pre-cooked; hence, the cooking time may need some alterations. Secondly, you have overcooked the dish, which makes it incredibly tender; as a result, it falls apart.

How can you fix overly sweet Honey Bourbon Meatballs?

If your Honey Bourbon Meatballs have turned out to be too sweet, you can balance the sweetness by adding lime or orange juice. If you don’t mind a little heat, then add chili flakes to it.

Why are your Honey Bourbon Meatballs so watery, and what can you do to fix it?

Your Honey Bourbon Meatballs are watery because you have not allowed the alcohol to simmer down. Another reason can be using too much liquid in the beginning. You can cook it further to simmer the sauce down, or you can add a cornstarch slurry to thicken it.

Can you make Honey Bourbon Meatballs in a skillet?

Yes, you can make Honey Bourbon Meatballs in a skillet. Start by heating your frozen meatballs in a skillet first. Then transfer them to a plate and start preparing the sauce. Once the sauce has thickened, add the meatballs, heat them through, and toss everything together. Once everything is nicely cooked, you can serve it right away and enjoy.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

It’s rare to find a delicious recipe like Honey Bourbon Meatballs, which is yummy and also healthy. These Honey Bourbon Meatballs are low in calories, making them a healthy option to enjoy. To know more about this recipe in detail, have a look at the chart below:

Calories	51 kcal
Carbohydrates	3 g
Protein	2 g
Fat	3 g
Saturated Fat	1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat	1 g
Cholestrol	10 mg
Sodium	21 mg
Potassium	49 mg
Fiber	0.01 mg
Sugar	3 g
Vitamin A	7 IU
Vitamin C	0.2 mg
Calcium	3 mg
Iron	0.1 mg

Some other benefits of this recipe include that it is soy-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and keto-friendly. Hence, people following those diets can have it without any restrictions. On the other hand, people following a vegan and vegetarian diet need to make modifications to the ingredients list first.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Gluten-Free: If you are following a gluten-free diet, it is best if you check the label of the frozen meatballs first. There are numerous gluten-free meatball options available, so always check the ingredient list carefully.

Storing & Reheating This Recipe

Storing

Counter Top: I believe the beauty of Honey Bourbon Meatballs is best enjoyed when eaten hot. I prefer to keep it on the countertop for only one hour. After this, there’s a high risk of it spoiling since it contains meat, so I transfer it to the fridge.
Refrigeration: To store my leftover Honey Bourbon Meatballs, I refrigerate them for 5 days. But before putting it in the refrigerator, I always let it cool down first. After this, I pack it in airtight containers and store it in the fridge.
Freezing: When I want to store Honey Bourbon Meatballs for more than five days, I like to freeze them. After allowing the Honey Bourbon Meatballs to cool, I pack them in freezer-friendly bags and freeze them for about 2 months.

Reheating

Skillet: I prefer reheating Honey Bourbon Meatballs in a skillet because it’s more convenient. I start by transferring the leftovers onto a skillet and giving it a nice toss for 10-15 minutes. Once done, you can enjoy it with your favourite servings.
Oven: When I want to reheat larger portions of Honey Bourbon Meatballs, I use an oven. I preheat my oven to 350 degrees F, after which I transfer the leftovers to a baking dish. Then I cover it with aluminium foil and heat it for 10 minutes or until they are warm enough.
Microwave: For quick reheating, I use my microwave. However, I always take the precaution of placing the leftovers in a microwave-friendly dish. Then, cover it with a foil and heat it at medium heat for 1-2 minutes.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Honey Bourbon Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes is one of my comfort foods. The textures of the mashed potatoes really compliment this dish. Another way to enjoy this is with Mac and Cheese.

For my rice lovers, you can enjoy it with Cilantro Rice or cauliflower rice to keep carbs in check. Enjoying it with Noodles also sounds like a great Chinese option. If you are missing veggies, then have it with roasted veggies of your choice. A simple Salad of your choice also works well with this recipe.

Printable Version

More Recipes That You Can Try

Rachael Ray Meatballs Recipeee — Rachael Ray Meatballs Recipe

Chef Style Butter Chicken Recipe — Rachael Ray Meatballs Recipe

Conclusion

Honey Bourbon Meatballs are the best way to enjoy the deep and rich flavors of bourbon, paired with tender meat. The recipe is simple; you don’t have to do anything for most of the time, which I have no complaints about.

If you also enjoy recipes like this, which taste incredible without much fuss, you have to give this a try. Before trying it, if you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below. I’ll be happy to assist you on your journey to making Honey Bourbon Meatballs.