Grilled BBQ Bacon Turkey Bombs

Need a quick and easy appetizer idea? Have some ground turkey legs and thighs in your freezer? These meatballs are the answer.

Ground turkey legs and thighs make the perfect appetizer in the form of these stuffed BBQ meatballs. Images by author

The meatballs feature tasty ground turkey, smokey bacon, sweet BBQ sauce and a pop of melted cheese and spicy pepper inside.

The cheese melts around the pepper slices as the meatballs cook.

You will need some bacon, bbq sauce, a bbq rub of your choice, some sliced jalapeño peppers and some cheese. That’s it. Chances are you have most of that on hand in the pantry and fridge.

A handful of common ingredients are all you need for this one.

Start by pre-heating your grill to 350 degrees. Separate your ground turkey into roughly 2 ounce portions, and make each portion into a small burger-shaped patty. Place a cube of cheese on the center of each patty, and then top the cheese with a slice of jalapeño.

Place some cheese and jalapeño inside each meatball.

Fold the edges of the turkey over the cheese and pepper slice to form a stuffed meatball. Repeat with remaining turkey.

Once you have all of the turkey meatballs formed, season them up with your bbq rub of choice. I prefer something on the sweeter side for this one to balance the heat from the pepper, but use your favorite.

Next, brush the meatballs with a thin layer of bbq sauce. A peach habanero or jalapeño works well, but use whatever you and your guests prefer.

Season the meatballs and brush with BBQ sauce.

Now comes the bacon part. Ground turkey legs and thighs are lean and can dry out quickly if overcooked. The bacon adds a nice smoky flavor and moisture to the finished meatball. And, let's face it, grilled bacon is really tasty.

Wrap each meatball in bacon, pinning it in place with a toothpick or two.

Grill the meatballs for 30 minutes or until the bacon is almost cooked through.

Turn the meatballs from time to time for even cooking.

Brush the exterior of the meatball with additional bbq sauce. Repeat every few minutes.

Grill until the bacon is mostly cooked through, then start brushing on additional bbq sauce.

Once the bacon is fully cooked and the BBQ sauce has set, the meatballs are just about ready.

Cook until the meatball reaches 150 degrees internal temperature.

When the bacon is crisp and the interior of the meatball reaches about 150 degrees, pull the meatballs and allow them to rest for a few minutes before serving. Any leftovers reheat well in an air fryer.

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