Bacon Wrapped Meatballs
Feb 04, 2026
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My bacon wrapped meatballs are the perfect party appetizer. Delicious meatballs wrapped in crispy bacon and coated in a sweet and savory glaze. So easy to make, full of flavor, and a recipe I make whenever I need an appetizer that I know everyone will love.
One of my favorite appetizers, and Food Lovin’ Family readers, has to be my bacon wrapped water chestnuts. The sweet and savory glaze is the star of the recipe and after making it so many times, I knew it would be perfect to use for this bacon wrapped meatball recipe.
I’ve made these meatballs for everything from a game day spread to holiday parties, and they never disappoint. They are always the star of the appetizer table and never last long.
My husband even has requested that I make these for dinner. I serve them with a side salad or potatoes for a delicious meal that the whole family loves.
Looking for more bacon wrapped recipes be sure to try, bacon wrapped little smokies, bacon wrapped pineapple, and bacon wrapped asparagus.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Simple – You can put these together with only six ingredients in about 30 minutes.
- Great for a crowd – This makes 50 bacon wrapped meatballs making it perfect for a party.
- Big flavor – So much flavor in one little bite.
Ingredients
Just six ingredients are needed to make these flavorful bacon wrapped meatballs.
- Frozen meatballs: I recommend using the smaller 1/2-inch frozen meatballs. Sometimes they are call cocktail meatballs.
- Bacon: I prefer using the center cut bacon but you can substitute with bacon of your choice.
- Brown sugar: Light brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness to the glaze.
- Ketchup: Use your favorite ketchup to make the glaze.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a bit of savory flavor to the glaze.
How to make bacon wrapped meatballs
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the full ingredients and recipe instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place an oven safe rack on top of the foil. Spray with non stick cooking spray.
- Place the meatballs in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute to slightly thaw the meatballs. This helps make it easier to push the toothpick through.
- Cut the bacon into 3 pieces.
- Take a meatball and a piece of bacon. Wrap the bacon around the meatball. Stick a toothpick through the bacon and meatball to help secure the bacon.
- Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes. While they are baking. Mix together the brown sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Keep heating until the brown sugar dissolves.
- Brush the ketchup mixture over the bacon meatballs. Bake for another 10 minutes.
- Serve these meatballs warm.
Heather’s recipe tips
- Use a wire baking rack if possible. This will help the grease drip off the bacon to keep it crisp. If you don’t have a rack, you can put them directly on the foil.
- I recommend using center cut bacon because it has less fat and cooks evenly.
- You can use any size meatball but I think the smaller 1/2 inch meatballs work the best for parties.
- I recommend slightly thawing the meatballs to help make it easier to push the toothpick through the meatball.
Variations
Make these bacon wrapped meatballs your own with a few changes. Here are some suggestions:
- Glaze – You can substitute this brown sugar glaze with BBQ sauce, grape jelly, or teriyaki sauce.
- Meatballs – Use homemade meatballs, turkey meatballs, or cheese stuffed meatballs.
Storage instructions
Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the air fryer until warmed through.
I don’t recommend freezing these.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can make these in the air fryer. Cook them at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Add the sauce and then cook another 5-10 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
Yes, you can use homemade meatballs. I recommend you fully cook the homemade meatballs before you wrap them in bacon.
More easy appetizers
Did you try these bacon wrapped meatballs? Let me know in the comments below.
Bacon Wrapped Meatballs
Ingredients
- 50 frozen meatballs I recommend 1/2 inch
- 1 package center cut bacon
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place an oven safe rack on top of the foil. Spray with non stick cooking spray. If you don't have a rack, you can place the meatballs directly on the foil.
- Place the meatballs in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute to slightly thaw the meatballs. This helps make it easier to push the toothpick through.
- Cut the bacon into 3 pieces.
- Take a meatball and a piece of bacon. Wrap the bacon around the meatball. Stick a toothpick through the bacon and meatball to help secure the bacon.
- Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes. While they are baking. Mix together the brown sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Keep heating until the brown sugar dissolves.
- Brush the ketchup mixture over the bacon meatballs. Bake for another 10 minutes.
- Serve the meatballs warm.
Notes
- Use a wire baking rack if possible. This will help the grease drip off the bacon to keep it crisp. If you don’t have a rack, you can put them directly on the foil.
- I recommend using center cut bacon because it has less fat and cooks evenly.
- You can use any size meatball but I think the smaller 1/2 inch meatballs work the best for parties.
- I recommend slightly thawing the meatballs to help make it easier to push the toothpick through the meatball.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
