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Flavorful Southern Bourbon Brown Sugar Meatballs Recipe with Easy Pecan Glaze

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These sweet, smoky, and nutty glazed meatballs combine tender ground beef with a bourbon-infused brown sugar glaze featuring pecan butter, perfect for cozy southern-inspired meals or entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for juiciness)
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped yellow onion
  • 2 tbsp bourbon
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed (for glaze)
  • 2 tbsp pecan butter (or finely ground pecans mixed with melted butter)
  • 3 tbsp bourbon (for glaze)
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter (for glaze)
  • Pinch of salt (for glaze)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, milk, egg, minced garlic, chopped onion, bourbon, brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently but thoroughly without overmixing.
  3. Form the mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs (about 20 meatballs). Place evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through and firm. Optionally, brown meatballs in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side before baking for extra texture.
  5. While baking, prepare the pecan glaze by combining brown sugar, pecan butter, bourbon, butter, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  6. Transfer cooked meatballs to a large bowl. Pour warm pecan glaze over them and gently toss to coat evenly.
  7. Arrange glazed meatballs on a serving platter and serve warm.

Notes

Do not overmix meat mixture to keep meatballs tender. Uniform size ensures even cooking. Browning before baking adds flavor but is optional. Warm glaze if thickened before tossing. Let glazed meatballs rest 5 minutes for better presentation. Substitute panko with gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour for gluten-free. Pecan butter can be replaced with almond or cashew butter but pecan butter is preferred for flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: southern meatballs, bourbon meatballs, brown sugar glaze, pecan glaze, easy meatballs, party appetizer, comfort food

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/flavorful-southern-bourbon-brown-sugar-meatballs-recipe-with-easy-pecan-glaze/