Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites are easy flaky biscuit cups with BBQ sauce and cheese made in 30 minutes with just 4 ingredients! Try them today!
It’s amazing how a few simple ingredients can be turned into so many different recipes. Cheese, ground beef, and barbecue sauce can just as easily be a BBQ Beef Stuffed Peppers or BBQ Beef Sloppy Joes as they can become Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites. Just adding a can of refrigerated biscuits turns a heart main course into a quick Appetizer Recipe or light, fun dinner. For more easy delicious bite-sized recipes using canned dough, try my Bacon Cheeseburger Cups and Garlic Bread Meatball Bites.
Table of contents
- Sabrina’s Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites Recipe
- Ingredients
- Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- How to Make Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites
- Can These Be Made Ahead
- Nutritional Facts
- Tips for Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites
- Serving Ideas for Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites
- How to Store
- Alternative Cooking Methods
- Frequent Questions
- Recipe Card
- Variations
- Related Recipes
Sabrina’s Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites Recipe
These Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites have some of the best flavors in a delicious bite. Tangy BBQ sauce, savory beef, buttery biscuits and of course, gooey cheesy goodness. They make a fun, new appetizer for Super Bowl parties or an easy kid-friendly meal. They are quick and easy to throw together with the same ingredients you need to make BBQ cheeseburgers plus a can of biscuit dough.
My Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites is are also a great recipe for using up leftovers! Extra filling from BBQ Beef Sandwiches or any of our Sloppy Joes Recipes easily becomes a savory appetizer or after-school snack. If you don’t have enough filling to make 10 cups, just fill as many muffin tins as you can and store the unused biscuit dough for up to a week.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef: I recommend an 85/15 blend for the best flavor. You need to cook the meat first so that it’s cooked through without burning the biscuit dough and so they aren’t greasy.
- ¾ cup Barbecue Sauce: The barbecue sauce adds a tangy, smoky flavor to the beef mixture, giving it that classic BBQ taste. You can use your favorite store-bought sauce or make your own BBQ Sauce.
- 1 package Refrigerated Biscuits: The refrigerated biscuits form the flaky, buttery cups that hold the beef and cheese mixture. Using refrigerated dough is the most convenient, quick way to make mini meat pies!
- ¾ cup Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar cheese brings a rich, creamy cheesy goodness to the bites and goes great with the savory beef and tangy barbecue sauce. You can use different types of cheese such as mozzarella or Monterey Jack too.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Skillet: A skillet is needed for cooking the ground beef and mixing it with the barbecue sauce. Opt for a non-stick skillet to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Muffin Tin: You’ll need a regular muffin tin to shape and bake the biscuit cups. Make sure to grease the muffin tin well to prevent the biscuit cups from sticking.
- Mixing Spoon: A mixing spoon is handy for stirring the ground beef and barbecue sauce mixture in the skillet. Use a heat-resistant spoon if cooking over high heat.
- Cheese Grater: You use shredded cheese for the topping of these beef-filled biscuit cups. You can also use bagged shredded cheese.
How to Make Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites
Time needed: 30 minutes.
- Prep Work
Cook and drain the ground beef. See the Tips Section for how to cook ground beef. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and grease 10 cups of a regular muffin tin.
- Cook Beef with Barbecue Sauce
In a skillet over medium heat to medium-high heat, mix the cooked ground beef with barbecue sauce until heated through, stirring constantly.
- Flatten Biscuits and Place in Muffin Tin
Flatten each refrigerated biscuit into a 4-inch round and place one round in each greased dough cup, pressing firmly to form a 1/4-inch rim.
- Fill Biscuit Cups with Beef Mixture
Divide the meat mixture evenly among the biscuit cups, then sprinkle each with shredded Cheddar cheese.
- Bake
Bake the Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites in the preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until the edges of the biscuit cups are golden brown.
- Serve
Once baked, remove the muffin tin from the oven and allow the Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy these delightful appetizers with your favorite burger sides and sauces!
Can These Be Made Ahead
You can prepare the beef mixture and store it in the refrigerator a day in advance. When ready to serve, assemble the biscuit cups with the beef mixture and cheese, then bake as directed.
Nutritional Facts
Tips for Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites
How to Cook Ground Beef
- Start with a large skillet and heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat.
- Add the ground meat and spread it out to cover the bottom of the pan, pressing with a spatula so it’s like one large loose patty. Let it brown on the bottom for 4-5 minutes.
- Break up the meat into small bits while stirring. Keep cooking, while stirring often, for about 5-10 minutes more, until there is no more pink in the meat.
- Drain the grease well. You can also season the meat with salt and pepper to taste if you want.
Serving Ideas for Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites
Appetizers: Easily double or triple this recipe for a crowd-pleasing game day snack! Serve the bites with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
Dinner: If you are craving burgers, but want a quick weeknight dinner, try these Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites with French Fries instead. Make the meal a bit healthier by serving with a side of Roasted Broccoli.
How to Store
Storing: These are best warm and can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours. Store in an airtight container lined with a paper towel (to absorb moisture) for up to 3 days.
Reheat: To reheat Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites, use a regular oven or toaster oven for best results. Preheat to 350 degrees and warm for about 5-7 minutes until heated through. Avoid using the microwave to prevent the biscuits from becoming soggy.
Freezing: Cool completely before freezing in sealed container for up to 2 months. Freeze on a baking sheet for an hour before storing in a freezer bag to keep from sticking together.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Casserole: Instead of individual bites, make this into a Cheesy BBQ Beef Casserole by spreading biscuits on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Pinch biscuits together to create one large crust. Cover with cooked BBQ beef filling and top it with cheese. Bake as usual, adding 5-10 minutes to the time as needed.
Meat Pies: Use a jumbo muffin pan to make larger meat pies. Line the cups with 2-3 biscuit rounds rolled out to fit the cup. Fill the cups with the beef and cheese mixture then top with another rolled out biscuit. Cut slits to vent the top crust and pinch the edges to seal. Brush with egg wash and bake for 20 minutes or until the biscuits are cooked and golden.
Frequent Questions
Ground beef should take about 10-15 minutes total to cook on the stove top. I recommend cooking it undisturbed the first few minutes (about 4-5 minutes), then break it up and finish cooking it while stirring occasionally until there is no pink left.
Yes, you want to cook the ground beef before baking it. Firstly, the meat won’t have time to cook all the way if it’s raw. Secondly, you cook it first so you can drain the grease so your burger cups aren’t greasy.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef , 85/15, cooked, drained
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 package refrigerated biscuits , 10 count
- 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese , shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 10 cups of a regular muffin tin.
- In a large skillet, mix cooked beef and barbecue sauce over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until hot.
- Press each biscuit flat into a 4 inch round. Place 1 round in each of the 10 muffin cups. Firmly press in bottom and upside, forming ¼ inch rim.
- Fill with beef mixture and sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until edges of biscuits are golden brown.
Notes
- Click on the yield amount to slide and change the number of servings and the recipe will automatically update!
- Click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.
- To convert measurements to grams, click on the Metric option next to Ingredients in the recipe card.
Nutrition
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Variations
The possibilities are almost endless for variations on this easy Cheesy BBQ Beef Cups recipe.
- Breakfast: Make easy on-the-go breakfast bites by whisking 5-6 eggs and adding cooked, drained sausage, chopped ham, diced cooked veggies, spinach, etc to eggs. Bake until eggs are set and the biscuits are golden brown.
- Meat: Instead of ground beef, use ground turkey or ground chicken. You can also mix in chopped cooked bacon for Cheesy Bacon BBQ Beef Bites!
- Pulled Pork: These Cheesy BBQ Beef Bites are a great way to use leftover BBQ Pulled Pork.Top with coleslaw after they are done baking.
- Buffalo Chicken: Turn these into spicy Cheesy Buffalo Bites by substituting shredded Buffalo Chicken and topping with Monterey Jack, Blue Cheese, or Pepper Jack cheese. Drizzle with Ranch Dressing before serving.
- Taco: Make Beef Taco Bites by browning ground beef and then simmering in 1 tablespoon Homemade Taco Seasoning and ¼ cup water until thickened. Season with black pepper to taste. Top bites with salsa and sour cream.
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