Big Mac Cheeseburger Bombs
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Cheeseburger Bombs feature cheese-stuffed meatballs wrapped in dough and baked until golden. It’s like munching on the famous McDonald’s burger but in poppable form! These Big Mac bites are such fun party or game day appetizers, and perfect for feeding a crowd!
Cheeseburger Bites
Add a fun twist to weeknight dinners or serve up a platter of these Big Mac bites the next time you host the big game. Don’t forget the special sauce for dunking!
Need a make-ahead option? Capture all of those same iconic flavors in a big bowl of pasta salad instead.
Prep everything in the morning, then toss it together and chill before everyone arrives.
For more fast food favorites, try a homemade version of Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza or a spicy chicken sandwich like the one from Chick Fil A!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Frozen Rolls – I use Rhodes for all of my bomb recipes! Any brand will work, as long as it’s yeasted roll dough.
In a pinch, you could probably use refrigerated pizza or biscuit dough too, though the flavor will be a bit different. - Ground Beef – Choose a leaner blend (I prefer 80/20) to limit the amount of grease that forms underneath the dough.
- Cheese – American cheese adds that classic flavor to each cheeseburger bomb, but you could use a mild or medium cheddar instead.
Keep in mind that cheddar won’t ooze as much as the American. - Onions and Pickles – Be sure to chop these as small as possible so they don’t prevent the meat mixture from forming nicely around the cheese.
Plus, smaller pieces of onion will still cook through in the relatively short cook time. - Egg – Feel free to skip this if allergies are a concern. It just helps to brown the tops of the cheeseburger bombs.
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Big Mac Bites
- Form and cook the filling first.
Like many of my bomb recipes, you’ll be sealing a tasty filling inside of thawed dinner roll dough.
For the best results, pan-fry the stuffed meatballs before wrapping them in the dough.
This helps seal the meat around the cheese, reduces some of the liquid that would make the Big Mac bites soggy, and adds another layer of flavor.
Plus, having the center of the cheeseburger bombs warm from the start helps them cook a bit more evenly!
- Seal the dough really well.
Because the cheese is already sealed inside the meat mixture, there’s very little chance it will ooze out.
However, you still don’t want your burger bites to fall apart! Be sure to wrap the dough all the way around each meatball and pinch it to seal.
Then, place each stuffed bread roll seam-side down on the baking sheet.
- Beat an egg and brush it over the top before baking.
Once all of the Big Mac bombs are sealed, brush the tops with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
This helps them brown better in the oven and gives you that classic sesame seed bun flavor!
Prep Ahead
- Thaw dinner rolls
- Chop onion and pickles
- Slice cheese into cubes
- Line baking sheet with parchment
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Baking Sheets lined with Parchment Paper – Used for anything from cookies to roasting, a good baking pan will last for years.
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Skillet – This is my go-to pan that I’ve had for over a decade! It heats evenly and cleans up beautifully with a little baking soda so it still looks brand new.
- Small Wooden Dowel Rolling Pin – Perfect for small jobs like making TSRI’s bombs! It’s also great for noodles, dumplings, and turnovers, and it even has a ruler on the side.
- Basting Brush – I like this one over the silicone ones.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy Big Mac bombs the same way you’d enjoy a regular burger! I usually toss some French fries in the air fryer and maybe toss together a quick salad.
For true Big Mac flavor, you’ll want plenty of special sauce for dunking them in, and my homemade recipe is easy to make.
If you have more time on your hands, make a potato salad and a big bowl of fresh fruit!
You can also serve this Big Mac bites recipe as finger food for parties and game days. They’d go great with jalapeno poppers and fried pickles.
Big Mac Bites Recipe FAQ
While it’s best to bite into a cheeseburger bomb fresh from the oven, there are definitely a few things you can do to party prep!
First, be sure to thaw the rolls in the fridge overnight. You can also form the meatballs the night before, then cover and chill them until you’re ready to pan-fry.
It’s easier to cook them just before wrapping in bread than to try and reheat them first — and they’re less likely to dry out that way.
You can also make the dipping sauce ahead of time! It will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
When I tested out this Big Mac bites recipe, pan frying gave the best results both in overall texture and preventing any cheese from oozing out.
I did try wrapping and cooking the raw meat, but the dough didn’t cook as well and there was some wetness in the center.
Baking the meatballs before wrapping them was the least successful method. I tried various amounts of time, and they all had their drawbacks.
Storing and Reheating Cheeseburger Bomb Leftovers
Once cooled, transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days.
Reheat in the microwave, oven, or air fryer until warmed through.
Cheeseburger bombs also freeze really well! Flash freeze them on a sheet pan until firm, then store in a Ziploc storage bag for up to 6 months.
Thaw as many as you’d like in the refrigerator overnight before reheating, or bake from frozen for 15-20 minutes at 350°F.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Bread Bomb Recipes
Big Mac Cheeseburger Bombs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup finely minced or grated white onion
- 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles, chopped into very small pieces
- 1/2 pound block of American cheese
- 1 package of 24 frozen dinner rolls
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Thaw roll dough according to package instructions.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion powder, garlic salt, salt and pepper, minced onion, and dill pickles.
- Divide the meat mixture into 24 sections. Slice the cheese into 24 chunks (about ½” square). You may have a little leftover cheese.
- Form a flat circle with each meat section. Place a chunk of cheese in the center and roll the meat up around the cheese to form a ball with the cheese nested in the center.
- When you have formed all of the cheese-stuffed balls, place them in a large skillet and brown them on each side. This is a quick “pre-cook” – the meat doesn’t need to be browned on all sides and it should not be cooked all the way through. Toss them gently in the pan while browning to help maintain their circular shape and prevent the cheese from leaking out.
- On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll one ball of thawed dough into a circle just slightly larger than a ball of meat. Place a ball in the center of the dough and wrap the dough around it, pinching the dough together on the bottom to seal. Place the prepared Big Mac bomb on the lined sheet pan.
- Repeat for all of the rolls – forming 24 Big Mac bombs.
- Brush the tops and sides of the bombs with the beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the tops of the bombs are golden brown.
- Serve immediately with a side of Big Mac special sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published December 2021, updated and republished December 2024
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These sound yummy! Can they be frozen?
Thanks
Do you answer emails?
Can these be frozen after baking
I always bake my meatballs. Faster and they cook more uniformly. What is the drawback to baking these?
can Pilsbury horgun biscuits work
Did you try this? It’s hard to find frozen dough that isn’t pie crust.
These are better than big macs! I love that they’re bite sized, but filling. They could be good for an appetizer. I loved making them though it did take some prep.
I’m still uncertain as to which rolls I should buy for this
in the freezer section we’re the frozen bread dough loads are they have frozen dinner role dough also regular size and Texas size also
Rhodes frozen dinner rolls would work perfect in this recipe, I’m going to have to go buy some. Thanks for another great recipe. I’m going to try these out on my grandkids when I babysit.