Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs
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These reader-favorite bacon cheeseburger meatballs pack all the flavors of a perfect burger into one irresistible bite. Ready in under 30 minutes, they are topped with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh garnishes, these hearty, low-carb appetizers satisfy every craving. Whether it’s game day or holiday entertaining, they’re guaranteed to disappear fast!
These Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs have been on my website for a whole lot of years. Originally written as a “snack hack” sponsored post for a frozen food company for back-to-school. Back then, as a parent trying to juggle it all, this recipe became a popular appetizer and a quick main course that everyone loved. You should have seen my family’s faces when they walked in the first time I made them! My youngest, our resident cheeseburger connoisseur, couldn’t believe his eyes. You know that daily “What’s for dinner?” question? Well, when it’s cheeseburgers, his eyes light up like no other.
These days though, those young kids are graduating from college, and mealtime isn’t so busy anymore but these meatballs are still a huge hit in our family, especially for tailgate season and holiday gatherings. These bacon cheeseburger meatballs deliver all the flavor of a classic bacon cheeseburger in one perfect bite. The great addition of crispy bacon slices, sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh toppings transforms simple frozen meatballs into something extraordinary.
Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Appetizer
So simple to make! Simply place the frozen meatballs on a baking sheet and prepare the toppings while they cook. Slice the cheese into small squares, cut the cooked bacon into pieces, prep the lettuce, and halve the tomatoes. Stack the toppings onto skewers or toothpicks. Then you will be all set to poke them when they come out of the oven with the melty cheese on top.
If you are a fan of meatballs be sure to check out my Swedish Meatballs, my Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs, and these two family favorites: Salisbury Steak Meatballs and Porcupine Meatballs.
Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs
I used lots of shortcuts when I made these to cut down on time; frozen meatballs, pre-cooked bacon, sliced cheese, all of that speed up the process. I also love that you can make as many or as few as you need. Making this fun meatball idea perfect for a huge tailgate crowd or a movie night at home on the couch.
Ingredients in Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs
For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card.
- Frozen Beef Meatballs – Use your favorite brand. As many as you need for whomever you are feeding. Substitute ground turkey meatballs for a lighter option.
- American cheese slices – cut into small squares that will fit the top of the meatballs. For Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs, choose a cheese other than American that is Keto-friendly.
- Pre-cooked bacon slices – purchase precooked bacon or fry up your own. One piece of bacon will cover 4 meatballs
- Iceberg lettuce – cut into small squares, you’ll want a couple of pieces for each meatball.
- Grape or cherry tomatoes – cut in half
- Dill pickles– these are optional. But I love dill pickles so for me they are a must!
- Dipping Sauces (optional)
Be sure to keep reading to find tips and tricks, substitutions, and answers to questions you may have about these cheeseburger meatballs.
How to Make this Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs Recipe
Bake as many frozen meatballs as you desire, following the package instructions.
When the baking time is up, top each meatball with a small slice of cheese, and place back in the oven for a couple of minutes to let the cheese melt.
While your meatballs are cooking, prepare your toppings and then stack them on toothpicks so that they are ready to go when the meatballs are cooked and the cheese is melty.
Poke the toothpick into the meatball and serve hot with your favorite sauces for dipping.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Love it? Pin it!
If you love this meatball appetizer make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!
Dipping Sauces for Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs
These meatballs are super tasty all on their own, but they are fun to serve with a variety of dipping sauces too. Put out little bowls filled with ketchup, mayo, mustard, ranch, fry sauce, BBQ sauce, or try my Big Mac Sauce recipe!
FAQs
- Can I make my meatballs? Of course! If you prefer to make homemade meatballs, that’s amazing! I have a great recipe for Italian Meatballs here on my website or try these homemade frozen meatballs made with ground beef and bread crumbs.
- How do I store and reheat the leftovers? I would store any leftovers with the meatballs separate from the toppings. Reheat the meatballs in the oven or air fryer and then top them with the stack of cheeseburger toppings. Consume within 4 days.
More Recipes to Love
If you are a fan of burgers, I have lots of them to check out while you’re here. Have you ever made a Dunker Burger? It’s like a grilled cheese and a burger had the most perfect child, served up with homemade au jus. Of course, my Copy Cat Big Mac and my Swiss Cheese Mushroom Burgers are a winner every time, and so are my Italian Burger, my Jucy Lucy, and this epic Reuben Burger! Check out all of my Burger Recipes Here. And what is a burger without some Homemade French Fries?
Another popular recipe here is my Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf!
This recipe has been popular for over a decade! I can’t wait to hear what your family thinks! Please let me know if you try them.
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Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 (32 ounce) package of frozen meatballs (approximately 64 meatballs)
- 16 slices American cheese cut into quarters
- 16 slices pre-cooked bacon slices cut into quarters
- 1 cup Ice Berg lettuce cut into small pieces
- 32 grape or cherry tomatoes halved
Instructions
- Place frozen meatballs on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them according to the package instructions.
- While they are baking, prepare the toppings.
- “Stack” your desired toppings on toothpicks. I used a piece of bacon, 2-3 small piece of ice berg lettuce and a half grape tomato.
- When the baking time is up, top each meatball with the small slice of cheese, place back in the oven for a couple of minutes more to let the cheese melt.
- Poke the stacked skewer into the meatball, plate and serve.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauces if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on September 15, 2015, as a sponsored post for Farm Rich Foods. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on January 8, 2025.
Thisi is a fabulous idea! I like it because it’s low carb but regardless it looks delicious!
This is the best idea ever! Would be so amazing to serve to a large group as an appetizer!
What a fun idea! This is perfect for tailgate season!
I will add a dill pickle chip!
🙂
this is such a FUN idea for a party!!
Thank you!
Would these be good at room temp?
Sure thing!! I wouldn’t let them sit too long though.
These are brilliant!
Can you do the meatballs in a crockpot? Would they need a liquid so they don’t dry out?
I don’t see why not? I would think a bit of liquid would be a good idea.
Water? Beef stock?
I would use stock
I made and took these to an event tonight and they were a HUGE hit! Thank you so much for the idea!!
Outstanding!! I am so glad they loved them. Thank YOU for coming back to tell me what you thought. Means a lot to me!
Ok, I’m going to have to make a dozen of these bacon cheeseburger meatballs just for myself! These are perfect as an appetizer and also a great lunch idea for me to pack up!
They really are super
Tasty! Enjoy!
LOVEEEE!!! These are no doubt a huge hit at any get together! Great flavors, fun and easy!
Thanks, Angela!
Wow! What a clever great idea! And, love that you’re using the packaged meatballs…saving time is important when you’re doing apps for a crowd! xo ~ally
What a great idea and perfect for a summer kabob treat!
This is a MUST at my next gathering! How perfect for adults and kids! Love that it is an easy do-ahead appetizer.
They are a favorite here!
I made these for a baptism this weekend. Since I had to transport them, I wasn’t sure how it would work, but for those wanting to prepare them ahead of time, I baked the meatballs and melted the cheese on them in advance (shortened cooking time by a few minutes) and the put them in a crockpot with some of the bacon grease for “moisture” and kept the crockpot on warm. I also skewered the remaining ingredients and had that on a serving tray. When it was time for the reception, I quickly added the meatball to the skewers and it worked! Meatballs weren’t too dried out as I feared. I’m excited about this crowd pleasing appetizer and knowing I can do it in advance! I would recommend SMALL meatballs as with half a tomato, lettuce, and bacon, it was a big mouthful even with the smallish meatballs I used. Big hit with kids and adults. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your tips about getting these to travel! So happy that you loved them as did the guests at the baptism!
Serve these babies with a Big Mac type sauce and they will fly off the plate! Great recipe.
THAT is a FANTASTIC idea!
I made these for my husband’s birthday party 2 years ago, and friends still talk about them! I was just asked to bring them for a New Years Eve party.
I assembled everything but the meatballs on toothpicks on a tray and kept the meatballs warm in a mini slow cooker with some beef stock. So simple, but so good! (And as a Type 1 Diabetic, anything I can eat without dosing insulin for is a win.)
what a great idea!! I am totally going to try that next time to keep them warm! Thank you for the comment – I am so happy that you found a friendly recipe that you can enjoy!