Last Friday my husband’s family gathered for an open house to send my nephew Ian off as he begins a position with the Air Force. A couple of weeks before the event I asked his mom if I could bring anything. She suggested an appetizer and I asked what Ian would like. After offering a few options she checked with him, and Ian chose the cheeseburger bites I had mentioned.
Ian isn’t a fan of pickles or onions, so I adapted the original recipe to suit his tastes while keeping the fun element: wonton cups. I love wonton cups because they’re crispy, handheld, and add a playful touch to any appetizer. I wanted something attractive to set on the table too—especially since we planned to park our big, bright purple ten-passenger van in front of my sister-in-law’s house. She’s excellent at entertaining and decor, so I wanted the food to look as inviting as the event felt.
These Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger Bites are great for parties because most components can be made ahead. The barbecue beef filling can be cooked up to two days in advance and reheated when needed. Bacon crisps well ahead of time and can be refreshed briefly in the microwave before serving. Cheese can be grated or bought pre-shredded, and the wonton cups can be baked a day or two ahead and stored, tightly covered, at room temperature. Chop the parsley (and green parts of the green onions, if using) earlier in the day and keep it refrigerated until assembly. The recipe is versatile—serve it at an elegant gathering or to a group of kids at a game—and the wonton cups hold up nicely without getting soggy.
Cook’s Notes:
- Prepare the beef filling, bacon, and wonton cups ahead of time for convenience. Grate the cheese and chop herbs in advance as well.
- Serve the bites hot, warm, or at room temperature. I prefer heating the beef filling and briefly reheating the bacon before assembling; the flavors are best warm. However, served at room temperature they remain tasty and the wonton cups stay crisp.
- Pick a barbecue sauce you enjoy, whether homemade or store-bought, because it’s a dominant flavor in this dish. Choose a sauce that complements your beef for the best result.
Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger Bites
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
For the Wonton Cups:
- 1 package wonton wrappers
- non-stick cooking spray or cooking oil spray
For the Barbecue Beef Filling:
- 12 ounces sliced bacon cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
- 2 pounds 90% lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
- 1 teaspoon fish or Worcestershire sauce
To Assemble the Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger Bites:
- 1 batch Barbecue Beef Filling
- 1 batch Wonton Cups
- grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack Cheese
- 4 green onions green parts only, finely chopped
- 1 handful fresh parsley leaves finely chopped
Instructions
To Prepare the Wonton Cups:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray mini muffin tins with non-stick spray and gently press one wonton wrapper into each cup. Bake 8–12 minutes, until lightly browned and firm. Don’t over-bake—wonton cups will continue to darken as they cool. Remove and turn them out immediately onto a cooling rack or into a large bowl.
To Make the Barbecue Beef Filling:
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Add the bacon strips to a large skillet over medium heat and cook until crispy. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat and return the pan to medium heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up by hand, then stir in the garlic, granulated onion, and kosher salt.
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Cook, stirring and breaking the beef into small pieces, until it’s no longer pink. Drain if necessary by placing the beef in a colander over a paper towel-lined bowl. Return beef to the pan and stir in the barbecue sauce and fish or Worcestershire sauce. Heat until the sauce is bubbly and the filling is hot through, then remove from heat.
To Assemble the Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger Bites:
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Mix the chopped parsley and green onion in a small bowl. Fill each wonton cup with the barbecue beef filling, top with grated cheese, a few pieces of crispy bacon, and a sprinkle of the parsley/green onion mixture. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Finally, please join me in wishing my nephew Airman Ian Lindamood well as he continues our family’s tradition of service. We are so proud of him—God bless you, Ian!