Bacon Bourbon Keto Meatballs
Published December 15, 2020 • Updated March 1, 2026
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Juicy bacon bourbon meatballs with a tangy BBQ bourbon glaze, made in the air fryer in under 15 minutes. I bring these to every tailgate and Super Bowl party, and they never make it home.
I started making these bacon bourbon meatballs for game day a few years ago, and now they show up at every party I throw. The combination of smoky bacon, ground beef, and a bourbon BBQ glaze is the kind of appetizer that makes people crowd the kitchen counter.
The secret is crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs. They keep the meatballs tender and hold everything together without adding carbs. I mix the bacon right into the meat (not wrapped around it) so you get that smoky, salty hit in every single bite.
What makes these different from regular meatballs is the sauce. I simmer bourbon with a low-sugar BBQ sauce until it thickens into this sticky, tangy glaze. It coats the meatballs without drowning them. Think smoky, a little sweet, with that bourbon warmth at the finish.
I prefer the air fryer because it takes 6 minutes and the outside gets a nice sear while the inside stays juicy. But if you need a bigger batch for a party, the oven works too. I’ve done both dozens of times and honestly, the air fryer edges out the oven every time for texture.
These are my go-to keto appetizer because I can prep them the night before, pop them in the air fryer right before guests arrive, and have a platter ready in minutes. I set them out with toothpicks and a little extra sauce on the side. They pair well with my BBQ cheeseburger meatloaf if you want a full spread.
If you love meatball recipes, I have a whole lineup. My air fryer keto meatballs are the classic version, keto pizza meatballs are stuffed with mozzarella, and the keto taco meatballs have a Tex-Mex twist. All of them are on my keto beef recipes page.
I’ve been serving these at our Friday night hangouts and game day parties for years. They work as an appetizer with toothpicks, tossed over cauliflower rice for dinner, or honestly just eaten straight off the tray while I’m standing at the counter. No judgment.
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Meatballs Ingredients
1 pound ground beef -
6 slices bacon, diced
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1/4 cup minced or finely diced onion
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1 cup ground pork rinds
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1/3 cup sugar-free BBQ Sauce, homemade or store bought
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1/4 cup bourbon
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1/4 cup minced parsley
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 teaspoon pepper
Bourbon BBQ Sauce Ingredients
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1/2 cup sugar-free BBQ Sauce, homemade or store bought
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1/4 cup water
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2 tablespoons bourbon
Step by Step Instructions
Step by Step Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions
Place meatballs in an even single layer on the air fryer tray or basket. Air fry at 400 degrees for 6 minutes.
Now the sauce
To make the sauce, add bbq sauce, water and bourbon to a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until sauce is thickened (about 10 minutes). Drizzle sauce over meatballs.
Oven Instructions
Place meatballs in an even layer on a parchment or foil lined baking tray. Bake at 400 degrees for 9-12 minutes.
Nutrition disclaimer
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.
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Get My Macros + Recipes →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef for these meatballs?
I've made these with ground turkey and they turn out lighter in flavor but still good. I bump up the smoked paprika and add an extra slice of chopped bacon to compensate. The texture is a little softer, so I chill them in the fridge for 15 minutes before cooking to help them hold their shape.
Can I make these in a slow cooker or crockpot?
I've done the slow cooker method and it works well for parties where you want them staying warm for hours. I sear the meatballs in a skillet first (just 2 minutes per side), then add them to the crockpot with the bourbon BBQ sauce on low for 3-4 hours. They get super tender and soak up all that sauce. This is my preferred method when I'm hosting and don't want to babysit the air fryer in batches.
What's the best bourbon to use for this recipe?
I've tested everything from bottom-shelf to premium and my honest take is that a mid-range bourbon or rye works best. The sauce simmers down and the subtle notes get lost anyway. I usually reach for Denny Bar's Roosevelt Rye or whatever bourbon is already open in my cabinet. Save the expensive stuff for drinking.
How do I reheat leftover meatballs?
I warm them in a saucepan with a splash of extra sauce over low heat for 5-7 minutes. The microwave works in a pinch but they can dry out. If I'm reheating a big batch, I toss them in the oven at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes covered with foil. They bounce back well either way.
Can I double this recipe for a large party?
I double this all the time for game day. The sauce recipe scales perfectly. For the meatballs, I use the oven method when making a big batch since the air fryer only holds about 12-15 at a time. I line two baking sheets and rotate them halfway through. My last Super Bowl party I made a triple batch and had zero leftovers.
Is bourbon keto friendly?
Yes. I drink bourbon regularly and cook with it all the time. Whiskey has zero net carbs per serving. The carbs in this recipe come from the BBQ sauce, not the bourbon. I use my homemade low-sugar BBQ sauce to keep the total carb count down.
What can I use instead of pork rinds?
I've tested crushed almonds and almond flour as substitutes. Both work, but the texture is slightly different. Pork rinds give the meatballs a lighter, more tender bite. Almond flour makes them a bit denser. I use about 2 tablespoons of almond flour to replace 1/4 cup of crushed pork rinds.
Can I bake these meatballs instead of using an air fryer?
I bake these in the oven whenever I need a bigger batch. Preheat to 400 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment, and bake for 9-13 minutes. They won't get quite as crispy on the outside as the air fryer version, but the flavor is the same and you can cook 30+ at once.
Brought these to a get-together last Saturday and I'm pretty sure they were gone in under three minutes. My friend Sarah, who does not do keto at all, turned one over and actually started looking for some kind of label because she was convinced I bought them somewhere. I had to explain I literally made them in my air fryer that afternoon. Her face was genuinely funny. The bourbon glaze is where it's at, that sticky sweet tang with the BBQ is so good. My only thing is I'd make double the sauce next time because we ran out before the meatballs did.
Was skeptical about pork rinds as the binder but kept the recipe as written. They held up through the whole air fryer run, no fallout, even crisped a bit on the outside. The bourbon comes through in the glaze more than I expected. I'd push the garlic a little more next time, but I was back making these five days later so that says something.
Three cloves minimum next time. The 2 is just the baseline, I've gone up to 4 and it holds. The pork rind doubts always disappear after batch one.
Don't own an air fryer so I baked these at 400 for about 22 minutes instead. Brushed the glaze on in the last five minutes and it got sticky and almost caramelized around the edges, which I wasn't expecting from the oven. Really happy with how they came out, though I can tell I'm probably missing some crispiness from the air fryer version.
The oven caramelization surprised me too the first time. For more crispiness, hit them with the broiler the last 2 minutes. Gets you pretty close.
Honestly thought real party food was gone when I started keto. Made these for Super Bowl weekend and the bourbon glaze had people asking where I ordered them from. Still feels a little unreal that this is allowed.
Ha, 'where'd you order those' is my favorite reaction to get. The glaze caramelizes in the air fryer in a way that makes them look way more involved than they are. 15 minutes.