Mini-Bacon Meatballs

• 2 strips of bacon, diced
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 lb ground beef (sirloin)
• 1/4 cup dry plain bread crumbs
• 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 tsp U-Bake paprika
• 1/2 tsp U-Bake Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp U-Bake black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten

Preparation:

Preheat your oven to 400F and spray your broiling pan with non stick cooking spray.

Cook bacon over medium high heat until it begins to crisp.  Remove the bacon to paper towels to allow to drain.  Remove all but 1 Tbsp bacon fat from the pan.  Cook the onion in the bacon fat over medium heat until it is softened, about 3 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Combine the cooked bacon and onion-garlic mixture (I let it cool some first) with the beef, bread crumbs, chopped parsley, paprika, salt and pepper in a large bowl.  Mix together with a wooded spoon until well combined.  Add the beaten egg once the mixture seems evenly mixed.

Form the meat mixture into 1 inch balls (I found a 1 Tbsp measurement to be perfect) roll in your hands to make them round.  Place the meatballs on the prepared broiling pan.  Bake at 400F for 10 minutes.  Check meatballs and cook longer if needed.  I found 10 minutes was the right amount of time, but if your meatballs are larger they may take another few minutes.

Makes about 28 - 1 inch meatballs