Description
Juicy, cheesy, and smoky meatball subs loaded with bacon and American cheese, perfect for easy game day entertaining or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 8–10 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 200g)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or regular dried breadcrumbs)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 6–8 sub rolls (hoagie or Italian rolls, approx. 12 inches long)
- 6–8 slices American cheese
- Burger sauce (mayo, ketchup, pickle relish, vinegar) or ketchup/mustard mix
- Sliced dill pickles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cook bacon in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Crumble into small pieces.
- In a skillet, sauté the diced onion in bacon grease (or oil) over medium heat for 5 minutes until soft. Add garlic in the last minute and cook for 1 minute. Let cool slightly.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine ground beef, cooled onion-garlic mixture, crumbled bacon, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands just until combined; do not overmix.
- Divide the meat mixture into 12-16 equal portions and roll into 1.5-inch balls.
- Slice sub rolls in half lengthwise (hinged or fully separated). Place cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet.
- Spread burger sauce on the bottom half of each roll. Place 2-3 meatballs in each roll.
- Top each meatball with a slice of American cheese and add pickles if using.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve immediately while hot and cheesy.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs. Ensure bacon is cooled before mixing to prevent premature cooking of the beef. For best results, use sturdy sub rolls like hoagie or Italian rolls to prevent sogginess. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen unbaked for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sub
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: game day food, party recipe, bacon cheeseburger, meatball subs, easy appetizer, football snacks, comfort food