Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

Whip up a batch of these tasty air fryer bacon wrapped cheeseburger bites as a quick air fryer appetizer. They’re hearty, satisfying and every bite is just delicious.

Also consider cheeseburger meatloaf or some crockpot meals. Try some seared steak nachos and homemade chicken nuggets too.

Why You’ll Love Them                    

Such a simple recipe: You only need 8 ingredients and about 25 minutes to make this delicious snack or appetizer. Once you’ve combined all your ingredients to make them, you simply pop the bacon cheeseburger bombs into your air fryer to cook!
Rich, bold flavors: With beef, cheese and bacon, how could these burger bites filled with cheese cubes be anything less than delicious?
A versatile snack: Enjoy these as an appetizer, as a snack or even as part of a meal – they’d also be a popular treat at your next party!

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatballs Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Ground beef: Feel free to use any kind of ground beef, although I find that lean beef is best for this recipe.
Egg: To bind the bacon cheeseburger meatballs together.
Breadcrumbs: To absorb fat and moisture, which helps achieve a soft, tender texture.
Cheddar cheese: Cubes of cheese go into the center of each cheeseburger bite.
Bacon: Choose center-cut bacon, which is bacon that’s had the fatty ends removed. It’s better for wrapping. Also save some center-cut bacon when you next make bacon-wrapped green beans and you’ll see the difference.
Sesame seeds: Adds crunch and a nutty flavor (like you’d get on a burger bun).

How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Bombs

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Shape the burger bites: Mix the beef with egg, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper in a large bowl for the meatloaf balls. Next shape the meat mixture into 6 equal-sized portions. Cut the cheese into cubes and then pop one cube of cheese inside each meatball.
Wrap them in bacon: Wrap a slice of bacon around each one, securing with a toothpick or tucking the ends in.
Air fry them: Air fry for about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Add sesame seeds: Sprinkle sesame seeds over each one and serve hot with ketchup and mustard for dipping.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free meatballs.
Ground beef: Ground beef, pork, chicken, turkey, or a blend of ground meats is going to work just as well, so pick your favorite.
Cheddar cheese: Pepper jack cheese would also be a good option in these cheesy bacon bombs. Anything would work in these bacon cheeseburger bombs, even blue cheese or Swiss cheese. So pick any kind of cheese you love to pair with beef.
Optional add-ins: A splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce adds a bold flavor. Or consider a pinch of onion powder and garlic powder, or some dried herbs to change the flavor.

Serving Suggestions

As an appetizer: Pair your bacon wrapped burger bites with some warm bread and maybe a dill pickle or two.
As a snack: Enjoy them with something sweet for a contrast, perhaps flourless fudge cookies or homemade cupcakes. 
As a main dish: Serve them for lunch or dinner with mashed potatoes, fries or a macaroni salad.

How to Store Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

Store: Keep leftovers in a Ziploc bag or sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Freezing them uncooked is another option if you do this before adding the bacon. Arrange the uncooked meatballs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze. Then you can transfer them into a Ziploc freezer bag. Or you can freeze fully cooked ones, although the bacon won’t be crispy like before freezing.
Thaw: Defrost uncooked meatballs in the refrigerator overnight and then wrap in bacon and proceed with the recipe. Or defrost cooked ones and warm them back up.
Reheat: Reheat them in the air fryer or oven on a low setting or in the microwave.