Bacon Cheeseburger Bites
Sandwiched between two layers of puff pastry, these tasty Bacon Cheeseburger Bites are the perfect party appetizer!
This Bacon Cheeseburger Bites post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, but the recipe and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Spiced!
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Whether it’s a big Super Bowl party or a smaller board game night at home, these Bacon Cheeseburger Bites are the perfect snack! When it comes to casual evenings with friends, finger foods are the way to go. There’s no need to get a bunch of plates out. No one wants to spend the end of the night doing dishes! Nope. Finger foods are the way to go.
For these Bacon Cheeseburger Bites, I decided to have a little fun. I initially thought about using slider buns and cutting them into quarters, but I didn’t love that idea. That’s when it hit me. Puff pastry. Sheets of puff pastry are perfect for rolling out and topping with your favorite ingredients. Then just cut those sheets into squares before baking. *boom* Perfect fun twist on party food!
Bacon Cheeseburger Bites
I’m planning on taking these Bites to the annual Super Bowl party that our friends host. However, I needed to do a practice run first. I wasn’t sure if the puff pastry concept would work. Oh, ok. Make an extra batch of cheeseburger bites at home? Twist my arm!
It turns out that puff pastry worked beautifully here. All you need to do is let the puff pastry thaw and then roll the sheets into larger rectangles. Top ’em with seasoned ground beef, crumbled bacon, chopped pickles and of course plenty of Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar cheese. Delicious bite-sized burgers coming right up!
I’m a huge sports fan. I love parties centered around playoff football games or March Madness tournament games. But here’s the thing. When my team isn’t in the playoffs? Well, the snack table becomes a whole lot more interesting! These Bacon Cheeseburger Bites are a great addition to any appetizer table.
For these Bites, I decided to season the ground beef a bit. You could certainly just use plain (cooked) ground beef, but a few dashes of seasonings will make that ground beef taste so much better! After that, just add your favorite burger toppings, and you’re good to go. I opted for crumbled bacon, chopped pickles and shredded sharp cheddar cheese. If you use other toppings, just make sure to pat them dry (I’m looking at you, tomatoes!). The excess liquid could make the Burger Bites soggy…and that’s definitely not what we want!
I’m a bit picky when it comes to the cheese for these Bacon Cheeseburger Bites. I wanted sharp cheddar cheese, so I chose Cabot’s Seriously Sharp cheddar. This cheddar has a nice intense bite without being too sharp. It slices well, and it shreds well. It’s one of my go-to cheeses for everything from snacking to cooking. (It’s also lactose-free, so that’s a bonus!)
If you haven’t had the chance to try Cabot’s cheeses, then pull out your grocery list right now. Add “Cabot Cheese” to the list. I promise you’ll be happy you did! We always keep a variety of Cabot’s cheeses in our fridge – usually a couple bars of Seriously Sharp, a couple more of Monterey Jack and 1-2 bars of Habanero (you know, for when we’re feeling extra spicy). Oh – and Cabot’s Horseradish Cheddar is amazing if you shred a bit into scrambled eggs!
Once all of the burger toppings got spread across the puff pastry, another sheet went on top. Then comes a key step – cutting the puff pastry into squares before you bake it. If you’ve ever worked with puff pastry before, then you know it gets flaky. It’s delicious, but it’s flaky. The squares might need to get separated after baking, but it’s way easier if you cut the puff pastry before it goes into the oven.
I used one package of puff pastry (two sheets) for this recipe, and I ended up with ~50-55 squares. That’s plenty for a football party with friends! Of course, it would be easy to double up this recipe if you’re feeding a lot of folks.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Leftovers of these Bacon Cheeseburger Bites should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, place the bites in a 350°F oven for 7-8 minutes, or until heated through. (If possible, pull the bites out and let them rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before reheating.) I do not recommend freezing these leftovers.
Football playoffs are here, so grab the ingredients, make some delicious finger food appetizers and enjoy the company of good friends! These Bacon Cheeseburger Bites didn’t last long around our house, and I hope they’re popular in your house, too. Cheers!
Did you make a batch of these Bacon Cheeseburger Bites at home? Leave a comment or snap a photo and tag me (@Spicedblog) and Cabot (@CabotCreamery) on Instagram – we’d love to see your version!
Bacon Cheeseburger Bites
Ingredients
For the Bites
- 1 17.3-oz. box puff pastry, i.e. 2 sheets puff pastry
- 8 oz. thick-cut bacon
- ¼ cup diced red onions
- ¼ cup chopped dill pickles patted dry
- 2 cups shredded Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg white
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
For the Beef
- 16 oz. lean ground beef can substitute lean ground turkey
- 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1½ tsp dried oregano
- 1½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1½ tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Let puff pastry thaw according to package instructions. (Tip: I usually let the box sit at room temperature for ~40-45 minutes.)
- Meanwhile, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove bacon from skillet and crumble into a bowl; set bacon aside.
- At the same time, make the beef mixture by combining all of the ingredients (ground beef, red wine vinegar, oregano, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder and onion powder) in a large mixing bowl.
- Place large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, add beef mixture. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until beef is fully cooked. Drain any excess liquid from the skillet and set mixture aside.
- Working on a lightly floured surface, roll each sheet of puff pastry into a 12”x16” rectangle. Using a fork, prick each piece of puff pastry at 1” intervals.
- Lay one sheet of puff pastry on a piece of parchment paper. Spread the beef mixture evenly on top of puff pastry. (Note: If there is excess liquid in the beef mixture; drain or pat dry with paper towels first.)
- Sprinkle crumbled bacon, red onions, chopped pickles and shredded Cabot cheese evenly on top of beef.
- Lay the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the fillings, pressing lightly on top to seal.
- Using a sharp knife, cut into ~1½-2” squares. Slide the parchment paper containing the bites onto a baking sheet.
- Place the sheet pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Whisk egg white together with 1 Tablespoon of water. Brush this egg wash evenly on top of bites and then sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until puff pastry is light golden brown on top.
- Serve warm.
Looking for more Super Bowl Appetizer recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Thanks for making me hungry BTW cant wait to make your recipes soon for me
Thanks, Ramya! These are a fun appetizer for sure. I hope you enjoy them!
David, I think you landed on an absolutely delicious finger food-would be perfect for almost any casual gathering. Thanks for sharing!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year right back at ya! And, yes, I agree that these bites are perfect for any sort of get together. They’re a good excuse to invite friends over! 🙂
Well these look fun! I love puff pastry. You can put just about anything in it and it turns out magical!
I totally agree, Mimi – puff pastry is such a fun base for all sorts of recipes! These bites turned out really well.
I would be impressed if someone served these to me!
Haha – thanks, Barb! This is a fun recipe for sure!
There is something so irresistible about pastry with fillings :-). I always try to use butter puff only as there is less palm oil in it. We don’t want those orang-utans losing their territory do we?
Cheers
Sherry
I agree, Sherry – butter puff pastry is the best! And if you fill it with cheese and ground beef? It becomes even better!!
The only problem with these is that I could probably eat the whole pan on my own!
Haha – I totally know that feeling, Jeff!
Really love this, I can devour that all in one sitting
I absolutely know that feeling!!
I’m not at all a sports fan, but I’m a huge fan of finger foods. And these bites look terrific! Indeed, I like the idea of using slider buns too, but of course using puff pastry elevates a good idea to a different, outstanding level. Great job!
Are you a board game fan? These bites would be perfect to make if you invite some friends over to play games! Or maybe just a tv night on the couch? Either way, these are fantastic – I highly recommend them!!
Hamburger in puff pastry. Worlds collide. You’re blowing my mind, David, lol! But I have to say it does sound really tasty. Really clever idea.
Haha – worlds collide is absolutely right, Frank! These bites turned out really well. In fact, I wonder if we should ever use regular buns again!? (Ok, maybe on a summer day…)