Bacon Onion Wrapped Cheesy Meatballs

These bacon-onion-wrapped cheesy meatballs are the perfect party appetizer! They’re easy to make and everyone will love them. With just a few ingredients, these meatballs are packed with flavor and taste. But be careful, they’re so good that you might not want to share them with anyone else.

These delicious little morsels are perfect for a crowd, and they're always a hit with kids and adults alike. Plus, they're easy to make. Packed with flavor, these meatballs are sure to be a hit as an appetizer or as the main course

And, if your family likes the bite-sized meatball as a serving option, then you may also like our Swedish meatballs or even this unique chicken piccata meatball recipe. Both are excellent options for dinnertime.

three meatballs covered in bacon on white platter

What Should I Serve These With?

These cheesy meatballs are incredible as a snack or as party food. When you are serving the meatballs for a crowd, think barbecue or picnic sides. Things like our mustard potato salad with eggs or this creamy corn salad are delicious additions. I like to make this creamy broccoli salad with bacon or Italian pasta salad too.

If you want a healthier side dish to go with these bacon-wrapped meatballs, you can make cucumber salad or something like black bean salsa. These cheesy meatballs are so versatile, they will go with just about anything.

I've even served them on these copycat Hawaiian rolls as a type of slider-style sandwich!

black plate of meatballs with lettuce onion tomato and ketchup on wood table

Ingredients

½ pound ground beef (225 g)
3 medium sized onions
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces mozzarella
12 slices bacon

meatball cut in half on black plate with lettuce and tomato slices

Handy Kitchen Tools

cheesy meatballs with bacon on white table

How to Make Cheesy Meatballs

Prep your baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.

Combine the ground beef with the egg, salt, black pepper, and parsley and mix until well combined. You may also add additional seasonings to the meatball mixture if you wish. Garlic powder, onion powder, or a generic seasoning blend for hamburgers are all great options in ½ to 1 teaspoon additions.

Divide the meatball mixture into 6 balls, then flatten them lightly and put a piece of cheese in the middle of each. Fold and roll the meat over the cheese so it is in the middle of the meatball.

burger patties on cutting board with cheese in them

Cut the ends off of an onion, leaving it whole but with flat ends on both sides. Slice through one side of the onion and pull apart the layers.

Wrap a layer of onion around each meatball. This may require more than one onion to make sure the onion pieces are large enough.

Lay the meatballs on top of a slice of bacon. Wrap the bacon around the meatball, then use a second piece to wrap around the other side covering the entire meatball.

Secure with a toothpick or a wooden skewer to hold the bacon in place, then place onto the prepared baking sheet.

hand putting skewer into bacon covered meatball

Cook for 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches at least 160°F.

Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

bacon meatball skewers on parchment paper on baking sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

What Onions are Best for This?

You can use whatever onions you like or have on hand. I have made them with large white onions, yellow or even red onions. I have used different onions depending on the flavor I want in the cheesy meatballs. White onions tend to give flavor but have more of a bite, with yellow onions giving a little more subtle onion flavor that is sometimes considered a sweeter option. Red onions tend to give a very strong specific flavor, which is perfect if you like a strong flavor.

Can I Use Turkey Bacon Instead?

If you are avoiding pork bacon and need to use something else, you can use turkey bacon. You want to be careful, though, because turkey bacon cooks very fast and it burns easily. If you decide to use turkey bacon instead of pork, you will want to watch it carefully. You could also cook the meatballs for ½ the time, then remove and wrap in the turkey bacon to finish cooking the remaining 15 to 20 minutes.

Can These Meatballs Be Made with Different Ground Meats?

These cheesy meatballs use ground beef but you can use other ground meats when you are making them. You can also use several types to give the meatballs a different flavor. Ground beef and pork will work well together.

If you choose to use ground turkey, watch that you do not use the fat-free turkey as it would dry out a bit fast at that cooking time. The meatballs will not have enough fat and they tend to be dry. I like to use ground turkey instead of turkey breast so that there is enough fat in the meatballs to make them moist and tender.

Another option is to use ground sausage as well. This will add a lot of seasoning to the meatballs and give an entirely different flavor.

black slate plate of cheesy meatballs with bowl of ketchup on wood table

More Delicious Recipes

Ground beef is a popular protein for meals due to its affordability and availability. Whether you are making these or a hamburger, you know it is versatile. Below are some other tasty ideas using ground beef that can fill out your meal plan. Make sure you bookmark the recipes, print them out to save for later, or even just pin the recipe to a favorite Pinterest board.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 6

Bacon Onion Wrapped Cheesy Meatballs

This bacon onion-wrapped cheesy meatballs recipe is a great addition to your menu! full of flavor and a perfect entree or appetizer!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

½ pound ground beef (225 g)
3 medium sized onions
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces mozzarella, cubed
12 slices bacon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, egg, salt, black pepper, and parsley.
Divide the meat mixture into 6 portions, then flat out like a patty. Put a cube of mozzarella on top of each patty.
Fold the meat over the cheese and roll it into a ball.
Cut the ends off of the onions leaving the ball of onion with a flat end on both sides. Slice along the side and peel them apart so they are a ring of onion that.
Place the meatball inside the onion.
Lay a piece of bacon on a clean surface, then place the onion meatball onto the bacon and cover it.
Fold the second piece of bacon over the meatball at an opposite angle until it is completely covered.
Add a skewer through the meatball to secure the bacon.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature is 160°F.