Recipe- Delicious Cheesy Meat Buns

I’m always on the hunt for make-ahead toddler dinner options that the rest of the family enjoys too and these Cheesy Meat Buns are a big favorite with my people! These meat rolls are basically a cheese burger with the filling tucked into the bun…which means they are super easy to eat and they store and reheat beautifully.

This recipe is from my mother-in-law and it’s taken me a handful of tries to get it right—and to pass the standards of my husband who grew up eating them. The bread is super soft and the meat and cheese are moist, which makes them easy for toddlers to chew. My youngest has never been a fan of the texture of meat and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen her eat beef. I was shocked to watch her eat a half of one of these in one sitting—the texture gave her no trouble at all!

Ingredients

1 package instant yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon sugar or honey
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups all purpose flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Method

* Stir the yeast and sugar into 1 cup warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes or until puffy.

* Add the flours, salt, egg, and water-yeast mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on medium-low for 10 minutes.

* Remove dough hook. Cover with a clean towel and let rise for 1-2 hours or until about doubled in size. It should look puffy.

* Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the beef and stir to break. Sprinkle with salt and spices cook for 8-10 minutes or until fully cooked through. Remove from heat.

* Divide the dough into 8 even sections. (I use a paring knife to cut it in half, then in half again and again, etc to make a pinwheel shape with 8 even triangles.)

* Working with one piece of dough at a time, coating with flour as needed if sticky, flatten into a disc that’s about 6 inches wide. (It doesn’t need to be precise!)

* Place 2 heaping tablespoons each cooked meat and cheese into the center and fold in the dough to enclose the fillings.

* The seams should press and hold together with slightly pressure and a little gentle pressing.

* Place roll onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and repeat to make all 8. Set aside and cover with a towel while the oven preheats.

* Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake the buns for 20-22 minutes or until firm to the touch. Let cool slightly and serve.