This handheld meal is kid-approved, freezer-friendly, and perfectly portable for road trips, picnics, or school lunches! When I was brainstorming new recipes to make, I thought back to my pizza buns, which have always been one of my favorite grab-and-go lunches when I’m out and about with the kiddos. I thought it might be fun to make another freezer-friendly, kid-approved, handheld meal but base it off of another classic comfort food…cheeseburgers! I love anything “cheeseburger” (as I’m sure you can tell from my cheeseburger rice, cheeseburger soup, and cheeseburger cupcakes). Lucky for me, the kids love anything “cheeseburger” too, and I had a feeling that these BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Buns would be a hit! I was right. 😉
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Buns ingredients:
Ground Beef: I use extra lean ground beef so it’s not too greasy. If you’re using a fattier ground beef, make sure you drain the excess grease after you cook it. Bacon: you’ll need two slices of bacon, diced and cooked. Pizza Dough: you can use store-bought pizza dough or make your own. I use half of my homemade pizza dough recipe. BBQ Sauce: use your favorite store-bought variety or whip up a batch of homemade BBQ sauce. Shredded Cheddar Cheese: I recommend shredding your own cheese because it melts better, but pre-shredded cheese will work as well.
How to make BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Buns
This delicious grab-and-go meal takes just 15 minutes to prep!
What dough to use for BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Buns
I usually use a ½-batch of my homemade pizza dough or my homemade whole wheat bun dough. Feel free to use store-bought versions of either to keep the prep minimal. Store-bought biscuit dough might also work, although I haven’t tried it.
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Bun variations
Use other hamburger toppings. I tend to keep it simple with the bacon and cheddar cheese, but you can layer on any of your favorite hamburger toppings. Try it with diced red onion, relish, pickles, or even jalapeños for a little heat. Try another cheese. Cheddar is a classic but these would also be delicious with pepper jack, Swiss, gouda, you name it. Use different meat. This recipe works great with ground turkey or chicken in place of the beef, if preferred. Use another sauce. Try this with cherry BBQ sauce, cranberry BBQ sauce, or skip the BBQ entirely and use ketchup and mustard!
Serving suggestions
These BBQ bacon cheeseburger buns are the perfect grab-and-go meal, but if you’re serving them as a sit-down meal, feel free to pair them with a couple classic cheeseburger side dishes. A few of my favorites are coleslaw, french fries, pasta salad, or baked beans!
Can BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Buns be made ahead of time?
Absolutely! This recipe is a freezer-friendly meal that’s designed to be made ahead of time. To make ahead and store in the fridge, bake as directed, cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. To make ahead and freeze, simply assemble and bake as directed, cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to serve, thaw on low heat in the microwave for about 1 minute. Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again. Register Now Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel — I love to see what you’re making!
