Bacon-Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

These Bacon-Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites are cute, creative and crowd-pleasing! Perfect finger food for football season!

The Perfect Burger Bite

Score big with your fellow football fans and bring these Bacon-Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites to the next tailgate or watch party and be sure to grab yourself a few before they quickly disappear. Slightly crisp baked bacon wrapped around a bite-sized cheeseburger, lettuce, pickle and tomato secured with a toothpick for easy transportation to the mouth. They’re easy to make and fun for everyone to eat. The most perfect little appetizers for a hungry crowd.

Football Season’s Favorite Appetizer

Football season is finally here! Woo-hoo! Come fall, our weekends are for football. We plan everything around the big games and the grub that goes along with them. So much fun and yum to come over the next several months!

As you plan for all the tailgates and watch parties, you’ve got to add these bacon-wrapped cheeseburger bites to the menu.

Dare I Say “Cute”

We love finger food and serving small bites as appetizers. Pizza taco bites, little pigs in a blanket, and mini potato skins show up in regular rotation when we’re home watching a game. Now, I hesitate to use the word cute to describe them (because football food), but come on, they’re soooo cute! The most perfect little appetizers for a hungry crowd. A bite-size bunless bacon cheeseburger that you can dip in ketchup and/or mustard. Who wouldn’t love these?!

So score big with your fellow football fans and bring these to the next tailgate or watch party and be sure to grab yourself a few before they quickly disappear. Whether your team wins or loses, you’ll win the best grub game!

Ingredients for Bacon-Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

(see recipe card at the bottom of this post for measurements and details)

Ingredients:

• Center cut bacon: acts as the crispy, salty “bun” that holds everything together and adds that indulgent flavor—just be sure not to cook it too crisp or it will break when you try to wrap it. You could use turkey bacon or even prosciutto, though it won’t be quite as sturdy or crispy.
• Ground beef: the main protein and base of the “mini burger” flavor. Ground turkey or chicken works for a lighter option, or even plant-based crumbles if you’re feeding a mixed crowd.
• Cheddar or American cheese (thinly sliced): adds melty richness and that classic cheeseburger taste. You can use any good melting cheese like Colby Jack, mozzarella, or pepper jack (if you want a little kick).
• Romaine or butter leaf lettuce: gives a fresh, crisp contrast to all the rich, savory elements. You could skip it honestly (I sometimes do for picky eaters) or swap with spinach or even cabbage for more crunch.
• Cherry tomatoes (sliced into thin rounds): adds juiciness and a pop of sweetness/acidity like a burger topping. Roma tomato slices or even halved grape tomatoes work great—whatever you have on hand.
• Dill pickle chips: brings that tangy, briny bite that makes it taste like a real cheeseburger. You could swap with bread-and-butter pickles for sweetness or even a cucumber slice for a fresh bite.
• Ketchup and mustard (for serving): classic condiments that tie all the flavors together and make it feel complete. You could switch it up with burger sauce, ranch, BBQ sauce, or even a spicy mayo depending on the vibe.

Supplies:

• Rimmed baking sheets
• Aluminum foil
• Baking rack
• Parchment paper
• Mini round cutter
• Large skillet
• Toothpicks

How to Make Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a rack snuggly into it. Spray the rack with non-stick cooking spray. Place the bacon out on the rack. Bake for 20-30 minutes until cooked all the way through and starting to crisp on the outside. Cook the bacon until just done but still pliable—avoid over-crisping, as it will break when wrapping the bites.
• Meanwhile, divide beef into 1 tablespoon-sized balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. You should have about 32 balls. Flatten each ball slightly with your thumb. Generously salt and pepper both sides of each beef patty.

• Using a mini round cutter, slice the cheese into circles or cut into squares that will fit over the beef patties. You should have 32 small rounds or squares of cheese.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little oil. Place as many beef patties onto the skillet as will fit. Cook 1-2 minutes or until bottoms of the beef patties start to brown. Flip each patty over and place a slice of cheese on the cooked side of the patty.

• Place a lid or baking sheet over the skillet without it touching the cheese and let cook about 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
• To assemble, lay out a piece of bacon. Place a piece of lettuce in the middle followed by a cheeseburger.

• Add a pickle slice and then a cherry tomato bite.
• Wrap the bacon up over the cheeseburger and toppings

• Secure with a toothpick. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Serve with ketchup and mustard for dipping.

Storage

Store leftover bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For best results, remove toothpicks and reheat only the bacon-wrapped burger portion in a 325°F oven for 5–7 minutes, then add fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles before serving, as the bacon will soften and the lettuce may wilt during storage.

If prepping ahead, cook the bacon (still pliable, not too crisp), prepare and cook the mini burger patties with cheese, and slice all toppings. Store components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, reheat the bacon and patties on a baking sheet in a 325°F oven for 5–7 minutes, until warmed through and the bacon is lightly crisped, then assemble with fresh toppings.

If you make my Bacon-Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites and post a pic to social, be sure to tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see! If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes and ideas I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,

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