Bacon wrapped meatballs are a great appetizer or a game day snack. Serve them at parties for a savory, crispy outside with a juicy Italian meatball snack for guest. Top them with your favorite barbecue sauce or ketchup. These are also a low carb keto friendly option for those looking for healthy choices.
Hands down this was the easiest bacon wrapped recipe I’ve made! Meatballs are great but I’ve had to make modified versions since I started keto. Luckily with these I don’t need noodles or zoodles because they can be a great appetizer or a meal in itself. Cover with your favorite ketchup or barbecue sauce you get the perfect combination of savory and sweet. Oh did I mention how big the meatballs were? Each serving is a hefty 2 ounces each with each meatball covered with one strip of bacon.
How To Make Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs
As mentioned earlier I am on the keto diet. So, in making these delicious I also had to be mindful of the ingredients I used. No breadcrumbs whatsoever in this recipe because you don’t need them. A combination of egg and parmesan cheese keeps these bad boys together with no problem. And you heard it right no addition of gluten free flours either because they’re pointless to add without gluten.
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Meatballs
First, cut 9 strips of bacon in half. Each meatball will get its own strip of bacon. In a large bowl, season your ground beef.
You’ll want to get a hand in there or use a kitchen utensil to help you mix well. Add in Italian seasoning, salt, grated parmesan cheese and one egg. You’ll already notice the mix is already sticky.
Next, eyeball it or if you’re a perfectionist like myself weigh out meatballs at 2 ounces each. Take 2 pieces of the cut bacon and overlap them in your hand making a cross with the strips. Then, place already rolled meatball in the middle. Fold the sides into one another all overlapping on the back. Next, lay the meatball on the connected side down on baked sheet.
This way you don’t need toothpicks. The bacon will stay in place while baking. Bake for bout 30-40 minutes in preheated oven.
Top with your favorite sauce after they are finished. If keto I made a huge list of the best keto friendly ketchups.
Helpful Recipe Tips
- How to make meatballs in the oven? Baking at a high temperature allows proper coloring of the bacon wrapped meatballs. Too low heat and the bacon will be soft looking with a pale colored meatball.
- Grated parmesan is best due to the ability to spread out better than just plain shredded cheese.
- If using ketchup or barbecue with sugar added you can add the sauce the last 10-15 minutes of bake time. This gives a sticky flavor and texture to the meatballs. Adding this too early this will burn the sauce.
- Sub ground beef? You can sub the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken or pork. For ground turkey or chicken you may need more moisture due to the low fat content. To achieve this add in an extra egg.
What To Serve With Meatballs
- Serve them by themselves as a appetizer or snack
- Place on top a bed of noodles or zoodles
- Mashed potatoes or cauliflower mash
- Creamed spinach
Recipes You’ll Love
Bacon wrapped meatballs
Ingredients
- 9 strips bacon
- 1 pound 85/15 ground beef
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F
- Cut strips of bacon in half then set aside
- In a mixing bowl, mix the ground beef, parmesan, egg, salt and italian seasoning together
- Weigh out each meatball at 2oz or eyeball out 9 meatballs. When weighing you may get 9.5 meatballs in the end.
- Next, in your hand make a cross with the bacon. Place meatball in the center then fold over bacon around the meatball. You may have to stretch the bacon slightly.
- Place covered meatballs bacon fold side down on baking sheet. When this is done you wont need a toothpick because the bacon wont come from under the meatball while cooking
- Cook 30-40 minutes in preheated oven.
- Top with ketchup or barbecue sauce when removed from oven. If using sugar see notes below. Cool then serve.
Video
Notes
Helpful Recipe Tips
- How to make meatballs in the oven? Baking at a high temperature allows proper coloring of the bacon wrapped meatballs. Too low heat and the bacon will be soft looking with a pale colored meatball.
- Grated parmesan is best due to the ability to spread out better than just plain shredded cheese.
- If using ketchup or barbecue with sugar added you can add the sauce the last 10-15 minutes of bake time. This gives a sticky flavor and texture to the meatballs. Adding this too early this will burn the sauce.
- Sub ground beef? You can sub the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken or pork. For ground turkey or chicken you may need more moisture due to the low fat content. To achieve this add in an extra egg.