Picture this: all the flavors of a loaded cheeseburger, but wrapped up in pillowy soft dough and slathered with garlic parmesan butter that’ll make you question every other appetizer you’ve ever served. These little bombs are basically handheld happiness — seasoned ground beef, gooey cheese, maybe some crispy bacon if you’re feeling dangerous, all tucked inside Rhodes dinner rolls and baked until golden. Then we brush them with enough garlic butter to make your neighbors jealous from three houses away. Fair warning: these disappear faster than free pizza at a college dorm, so maybe double the batch if you’re feeding more than two people.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They’re basically sliders without the assembly drama
- Perfect for game day, parties, or “I don’t feel like cooking but want something amazing”
- Kids lose their minds for these (in the best way)
- You can prep them ahead and just pop them in the oven
- Garlic butter makes everything better — this is science
- Way more impressive than they are difficult to make
- Customizable with whatever burger toppings you’re obsessed with
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Bombs:
- 12 frozen Rhodes dinner rolls (or similar frozen bread dough)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend is perfect)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional but recommended)
- 12 cubes of cheese (cheddar, American, or whatever melts your heart)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
For the Garlic Parmesan Butter:
- 6 tbsp butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of salt
Optional Add-Ins:
- Diced pickles (trust me on this one)
- Mushrooms, diced and sautéed
- Jalapeños for heat lovers
- Different cheese varieties
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Prep Those Rolls
Take frozen dinner rolls out and let them thaw at room temperature for about 2-3 hours, or follow package directions for quick thawing.
They should be soft and pliable but not fully risen yet.
Step 2: Make the Filling
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in minced garlic, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook another minute until fragrant.
Let the mixture cool completely — hot filling will melt your cheese cubes too early and make assembly messy.
If using bacon, fold it in now.
Step 3: Assembly Time
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Take each thawed roll and gently stretch it into a 4-5 inch circle (don’t worry if it’s not perfect).
Place about 2 tbsp of the beef mixture in the center, top with a cheese cube.
Gather the edges of the dough up and around the filling, pinching tightly to seal. Make sure it’s sealed well or you’ll have delicious but messy explosions.
Place seam-side down on your prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each bomb.
Step 4: Get Them Golden
Brush the tops with beaten egg for that gorgeous golden color.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Step 5: The Magic Butter Moment
While bombs are baking, make your garlic butter by mixing melted butter, minced garlic, Parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, and salt.
As soon as the bombs come out of the oven, brush them generously with the garlic butter mixture.
Let them cool for about 5 minutes (the cheese inside is molten lava hot).
Serving Suggestions
Serve these with classic burger sides — fries, onion rings, or coleslaw.
Ranch or thousand island dressing for dipping because why not?
A cold beer and some friends make these even better.
They’re also amazing with a simple side salad if you want to pretend you’re being healthy.
Switch It Up
Turkey Bombs: Use ground turkey instead of beef and add some Italian seasoning.
Pizza Style: Add pepperoni, marinara sauce, and mozzarella instead of burger fixings.
Breakfast Bombs: Scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, and cheese with a different butter blend.
Veggie Version: Sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers, and cheese for the non-meat eaters.
Spicy Kick: Add diced jalapeños and pepper jack cheese, finish with sriracha butter.
Make-Ahead Tips
Assemble the bombs in the morning and keep them covered in the fridge until dinner time.
The beef filling can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored in the fridge.
You can even freeze assembled (unbaked) bombs for up to a month — just bake from frozen and add 5-10 minutes.
The garlic butter keeps for a week in the fridge and is amazing on basically everything.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I use fresh bread dough instead of frozen? A: Absolutely! Pizza dough works great too. Just divide it into 12 pieces and roll them out.
Q: What if my dough tears when I’m wrapping it? A: Pinch it back together and keep going. These are rustic bombs, not fine dining.
Q: Can I make them smaller for appetizers? A: Yes! Use 24 smaller rolls and adjust the filling accordingly. Bake time might be a few minutes less.
Q: How do I know when they’re done? A: Golden brown on top and they should sound hollow when you tap the bottom. Internal temp should hit 165°F.
Q: Why are mine leaking cheese everywhere? A: Make sure you’re sealing the seams really well, and let your beef mixture cool completely before assembly.
Print
Garlic Parmesan Burger Bombs
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 bombs 1x
Description
Picture this: all the flavors of a loaded cheeseburger, but wrapped up in pillowy soft dough and slathered with garlic parmesan butter that’ll make you question every other appetizer you’ve ever served. These little bombs are basically handheld happiness — seasoned ground beef, gooey cheese, maybe some crispy bacon if you’re feeling dangerous, all tucked inside Rhodes dinner rolls and baked until golden. Then we brush them with enough garlic butter to make your neighbors jealous from three houses away. Fair warning: these disappear faster than free pizza at a college dorm, so maybe double the batch if you’re feeding more than two people.
Ingredients
For the Bombs:
- 12 frozen Rhodes dinner rolls (or similar frozen bread dough)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend is perfect)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional but recommended)
- 12 cubes of cheese (cheddar, American, or whatever melts your heart)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
For the Garlic Parmesan Butter:
- 6 tbsp butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of salt
Optional Add-Ins:
- Diced pickles (trust me on this one)
- Mushrooms, diced and sautéed
- Jalapeños for heat lovers
- Different cheese varieties
Instructions
Take frozen dinner rolls out and let them thaw at room temperature for about 2-3 hours, or follow package directions for quick thawing.
They should be soft and pliable but not fully risen yet.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in minced garlic, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook another minute until fragrant.
Let the mixture cool completely — hot filling will melt your cheese cubes too early and make assembly messy.
If using bacon, fold it in now.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Take each thawed roll and gently stretch it into a 4-5 inch circle (don’t worry if it’s not perfect).
Place about 2 tbsp of the beef mixture in the center, top with a cheese cube.
Gather the edges of the dough up and around the filling, pinching tightly to seal. Make sure it’s sealed well or you’ll have delicious but messy explosions.
Place seam-side down on your prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each bomb.
Brush the tops with beaten egg for that gorgeous golden color.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
While bombs are baking, make your garlic butter by mixing melted butter, minced garlic, Parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, and salt.
As soon as the bombs come out of the oven, brush them generously with the garlic butter mixture.
Let them cool for about 5 minutes (the cheese inside is molten lava hot).
Notes
Serve these with classic burger sides — fries, onion rings, or coleslaw.
Ranch or thousand island dressing for dipping because why not?
A cold beer and some friends make these even better.
They’re also amazing with a simple side salad if you want to pretend you’re being healthy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~320 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~15g
- Protein: ~18g