Description
Cheeseburger Puffs are savory, bite-sized muffins filled with seasoned ground beef, barbecue sauce, and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a fun twist on a classic cheeseburger, these puffs are baked to golden perfection and garnished with pickles for an extra burst of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup minced onion
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
Batter
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Assembly
- 3 cheddar cheese strings
- Pickles for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a muffin pan very well to prevent sticking.
- Cook beef and onion: Brown the minced onion and ground beef together in a skillet over medium heat until no pink remains. Drain off any excess fat thoroughly.
- Add barbecue sauce: Stir in the barbecue sauce and cook on low heat until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool completely to avoid curdling the batter later.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, onion powder, and dried parsley evenly.
- Prepare batter: Add the milk and the lightly beaten egg to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined to form a smooth batter.
- Add cheese and beef: Gently fold in the shredded cheddar cheese and the cooled beef mixture. Allow the combined batter to rest for 10 minutes so the flavors meld and the batter thickens slightly.
- Assemble puffs: Divide the batter evenly among 9 muffin wells. Cut each cheddar cheese string into 3 pieces, pressing one piece gently into the center of each muffin so the cheese is embedded inside. Cover the cheese piece with additional batter on top to enclose it.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 19 to 21 minutes or until the puffs are lightly browned and puffed up.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from oven and let cool slightly before garnishing each puff with a pickle slice. Serve warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Make sure the beef mixture is completely cooled before mixing it into the batter to prevent scrambling the egg.
- You can substitute barbecue sauce with ketchup or a tangy tomato sauce if preferred.
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder to the meat mixture.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and shrinkage during cooking.
- These can be served as appetizers, snacks, or a fun party finger food.
