These keto bacon cheeseburger meatballs are everything you like about a bacon cheeseburger — savory beef, melted cheese, and lots of bacon — just in a form that feels a little more fun and a little less “I’m eating around a bun.”
Could you make this as a burger instead? Absolutely. But meatballs somehow feel easier to eat, easier to portion, and oddly more satisfying. There’s something about a meatball that doesn’t constantly remind you of what’s missing – it just works.
Now let’s talk about the bacon, because there’s no getting around it. These meatballs don’t just have bacon – they’re built around bacon.
Chopped bacon is mixed directly into the meat, so it renders as the meatballs cook and keeps everything juicy from the inside. They’re cooked in bacon fat, and then finished with even more bacon on top.
It’s NOT subtle – and that’s the point.
You could stop there and serve these with a little sugar-free ketchup and call it a day — but the quick sauce is what really pushes them over the edge. It’s a simple, four-ingredient, low-carb version of classic burger “special sauce,” and it takes about a minute to stir together.
And trust me when I tell you – it’s totally worth it.
To lean into the cheeseburger theme, these meatballs are great served over shredded iceberg lettuce with the sauce drizzled on top. It turns the whole thing into a very satisfying cheeseburger-style salad situation.
Like any good burger, these are easy to customize. Add pickles, onions, mushrooms, or tomatoes if that’s your thing. Swap cheeses if you want. Sharp cheddar works especially well, but this recipe is forgiving.
If you’re craving cheeseburger flavors without the bun — and with a lot of bacon — this is THE ONE.
Bacon Cheeseburger Meatball Tips & FAQ
Can I make these as burgers instead of meatballs?
Yes. The mixture works just as well formed into patties. Meatballs just make them easier to portion and serve — especially for meal prep.
What kind of bacon works best?
Standard sliced bacon works great. Chop it finely so it distributes evenly through the meatballs and renders properly while cooking.
Do I have to use the sauce?
You don’t have to, but it’s strongly recommended. It takes about a minute to make and adds that familiar cheeseburger flavor that ketchup alone doesn’t quite deliver.
What cheese works best?
Sharp cheddar is a great choice, but you can use American, Colby-Jack, or even Swiss if you want a different twist. Or blue cheese if you’re into bold flavors. Changing up the cheese is a great way to customize these to your personal preference.
How should I serve these?
They’re great on their own, over shredded iceberg lettuce with sauce, or alongside simple low carb sides. They also work well for meal prep. And if you aren’t on keto you can put them on a slider bun for a great appetizer.
Do they reheat well?
Yes. These meatballs reheat well and stay juicy – again thanks to our MVP bacon mixed into the meat.
This recipe is featured in Week 4 of the Keto Low Carb 7 Day Menu Plan.
More Keto Meatball Recipes
If you’re a fan of delicious, low carb meatball recipes, here are a few more to try:
Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 meatballs (4 servings) 1x
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
These keto bacon cheeseburger meatballs are made with ground beef, sharp cheddar, and bacon mixed right into the meat. Cooked in bacon fat and served with a quick low carb “special sauce,” they deliver classic cheeseburger flavor without the bun and work well for weeknight dinners or meal prep. Low carb and gluten free too!
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef (I like 80/20 for these)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup chopped raw bacon (from the fatty ends)
- bacon fat to cook the meatballs in
For the Sauce:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar free (or low sugar) ketchup
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice (or dill pickle relish if you prefer chunks)
To Serve:
- 3 oz cheddar (or other) cheese
- 4 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 3 slices of bacon, cooked and broken into 12 pieces
Instructions
- Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a medium bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Form into 12 meatballs.
- Fry in a non-stick pan in the reserved bacon fat (or use the oil of your choice) for about 4 minutes for the first side.
- Turn them over and top each with a slice of cheese.
- Cook for another 4 minutes, or until done to your liking.
- Remove from the heat, and top each meatball with a piece of bacon.
For the Sauce:
- Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until smooth.
To Serve:
- Place 1 cup of shredded iceburg lettuce on a plate.
- Top with 3 meatballs and drizzle with about 2 Tablespoons of sauce.
Notes
Approximate nutrition information per serving:
1 meatball: 160 calories, 11g fat, .25g net carbs, 14g protein
3 meatballs w/sauce & lettuce: 591 calories, 45g fat, 1.5g net carbs, 42g protein
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: keto dinner recipes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs + 2 T sauce
- Calories: 591
- Fat: 45g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Protein: 42g
Michelle Marrujo says
On the menu plan it says, 1 serving, (4). On the recipe it says 1 serving, (3). Am I correct to assume it’s supposed to be 3 meatballs in one serving? Thanks!
Susan says
These were a HUGE hit at our house! My husband has been refusing hamburgers for a while because he’s “tired of the meatiness” of them (no, I don’t know what planet he’s from either). But he LOVED these and said to put them into the meal rotation :-)
On an unrelated note I’m doing your keto diet, which is where I found these. But I have to cut out your awesome desserts on that because they are TOO awesome – I end up eating half the batch of everything instead of 1 piece! I’m still drooling over the raspberry cheesecake slices…
Mellissa Sevigny says
So glad everyone liked them Susan! I feel your pain in the desserts thing – I really need to make some less tasty recipes so we can all stop at one lol!
Alicia says
I thought I had left a comment in 2013 when I first tried these. I made them again to celebrate a co-workers birthday today and they were such a big hit. Plan to make them again next week for a girls weekend camping trip I am going on. I love all your meatball recipes!
kirsten says
Another request to make these meatballs! Better triple so I can freeze some for later!
Civita says
These were delicious! !!!!!
Ruthinthedesert says
We used these ingredients to make bacon cheeseburgers. Yum. No hamburger bun needed.
ElZee says
Do I have to fry the bacon first? The recipe reads use bacon fat?
Nicole says
I liked these but the raw bacon didn’t cool through so I was a little unsure about them lol I modified the recipe and made a cheddar stuffed bacon wrapped meatloaf instead… It’s in the oven now. I used 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese instead of the almond flour to cut down some carbs and also added a little worschestire too. I scooped out the middle and put cheddar cheese inside! It’s going to be a tiny loaf but it’ll last me a week!
Thanks for the ideas!!! I love your recipes!!!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Nicole! I like your cheddar stuffed meatloaf idea – will have to try that myself one of these days! :)
Pamela says
Made these tonight for dinner. The family loved them!! I doubled the batch so hubby could have them for lunch tomorrow. Another great recipe:) Thank you!
Arielle says
This sounds amazing! I keep trying to add your recipes to my “Recipes to Try” board on Pinterest but only some of them are working, and this one doesn’t :( I know I’ll find it again, but I actually use that board when I’m planning my weekly meals and shopping! Is it fixable? Maybe it’s my Mac…
Mellissa Sevigny says
Sometimes they pin and sometimes they don’t and nobody seems to be able to figure it out for me! If you go to my I Breathe I’m Hungry board on Pinterest, I have all of my recipes pinned there and you can pin them from there until I get this issue addressed! Thanks!