These are memorable meatballs. Smoked Fireball Whisky Meatballs are made with beef, pork and bacon and smothered in Fireball Whisky BBQ Sauce.
3.95 from 34 votes
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By Christie Vanover | Published September 20, 2015 | Last Updated August 16, 2022

tray of meatballs sprinkled with parsley

The trio of meat is blended with milk, whisky and breadcrumbs to keep them tender while they cook. Cheese, parsley and garlic is added for extra flavor.

tray of 3 ground meats with fireball whisky bottle near big green egg

It’s important to cook these over indirect heat, so they don’t cook too fast. If you have a ceramic cooker or pellet grill, you can use your diffuser. If you have a traditional charcoal grill, push the coals to one side and cook over the empty side. If you’re using a gas grill, turn half of the burners on, and cook on the side where the burners are turned off.

raw meatballs with cheese and parsley

These are finished in my homemade Fireball Whisky BBQ Sauce, which is sweet with a kick of cinnamon whisky and mustard.

tray of meatballs sprinkled with parsley

Smoked Fireball Whisky Meatballs

These are memorable meatballs. Smoked Fireball Whisky Meatballs are made with beef, pork and bacon and smothered in Fireball Whisky BBQ Sauce.
Recipe by Christie Vanover
3.95 from 34 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 20 meatballs
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Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp Fireball Whiskey or Jack Fire
  • 1/2 cup grated pecorino romano cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 12 ozs applewood smoked bacon finely chopped
  • 2 tsps kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup Fireball Whiskey BBQ Sauce

Instructions
 

  • Heat your grill to 300F degrees with an indirect heat zone. For added smoke add whisky barrel wood chips.
  • In a large bowl, soak the breadcrumbs in the milk and whiskey for 5 minutes. Blend in the cheese, parsley, garlic, beef, pork, bacon, salt and pepper. Gently pack into balls the size of golf balls. You should end up with around 20.
  • Place the meatballs on the grill over indirect heat. Smoke for 30 minutes.
  • Brush with Fireball Whisky BBQ sauce. Close lid and smoke for another 15 minutes. Brush one more time with BBQ sauce. Close lid and smoke for another 15 minutes. Serve with extra sauce on grilled Texas toast.

Notes

You can follow this recipe with any type of BBQ sauce.
If you want to omit the bacon, use an additional 3/4 pounds of beef instead.
To make these on a gas grill, cook over indirect heat, using a smoke box, maintaining a temperature of around 300F degrees.

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 11gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 491mgPotassium: 198mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 134IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg

This estimate was created using an online nutrition calculator

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