These Soft Bread with Ground Meat and Cheese Sauce buns are the ultimate comfort food—soft, pillowy bread stuffed with seasoned ground meat and melted cheese, topped with a rich cheese sauce. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or as a fun party snack, these buns are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Let’s dive into the recipe and make these mouthwatering buns together!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Soft, pillowy bread: The homemade dough is soft, fluffy, and perfectly complements the savory filling.
Flavor-packed filling: The seasoned ground meat with spices and cheese layers brings a delicious, hearty taste in every bite.
Topped with cheese sauce: For an extra indulgent touch, these buns are drizzled with a creamy cheese sauce.
Customizable spice levels: Adjust the cayenne pepper to your desired spice level for a personalized taste.

Ingredients (Makes 9 Buns)

For the Dough:

130 ml milk (lukewarm)
10 g honey
5 g instant yeast
1 egg
25 ml sunflower oil
300 g all-purpose flour
5 g salt

For the Ground Meat Mixture:

5 ml olive oil
500 g ground meat
3 g salt
3 g cayenne pepper
3 g onion powder
1 g black pepper
2 g garlic powder

For the Extra:

Cheddar cheese (sliced and grated)
Cheese sauce (optional, garnish)

Tips for Success

Lukewarm milk: Use lukewarm milk (around 37°C) to activate the yeast properly and ensure your dough rises well. If the milk is too hot, it can kill the yeast and prevent the dough from rising.
Let dough rise properly: Ensure the dough is rising in a warm, draft-free place. You can place it in an oven set to 30°C or near a warm spot in your kitchen.
Meat moisture: Make sure the ground meat is cooked well and is crumbly. If there’s excess moisture, the buns may not hold the filling well.
Cheese sauce: If you’re feeling extra indulgent, don’t skip the cheese sauce topping. It adds richness and creaminess to the buns.

Directions

1. Prepare the Dough

In a deep bowl, add lukewarm milk, honey, and instant yeast. Stir well and let sit for 5 minutes to activate the yeast.
Add beaten egg, sunflower oil, flour, and salt. Knead the dough until smooth and cohesive, about 10 minutes.
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

2. Cook the Ground Meat

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground meat, salt, cayenne pepper, onion powder, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Cook for 8-9 minutes, breaking the meat apart with a spatula until fully cooked and crumbly. Let the mixture cool.

3. Shape the Dough

Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 9 equal pieces (about 35 grams each).
Shape each piece into a ball, then roll each ball out into a flat circle.

4. Prepare the Baking Rings

Place baking rings on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Lay the rolled dough circles over the rings, pressing them down to cover the inside of each ring.

5. Layer the Meat and Cheese

Fill each dough-lined ring with a layer of the cooked ground meat mixture.
Place slices of cheddar cheese on top of the meat, then add another layer of ground meat.
Sprinkle grated cheese over the top for extra cheesiness.
Let the dough rise again for 30 minutes or until it doubles in size.

6. Bake the Meat Buns

Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F).
Bake the meat buns for 12-18 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

7. Garnish (Optional)

Once the buns are baked and golden, you can drizzle with cheese sauce if desired. Serve warm for the ultimate cheesy experience!

Storage

These buns are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days at room temperature. To reheat, simply pop them in the oven or microwave.

Conclusion

These Soft Bread with Ground Meat and Cheese Sauce buns are a hearty, satisfying meal with the perfect balance of soft bread, flavorful meat, and gooey cheese. Whether you’re making them for a family dinner or a special occasion, they’re sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection. Enjoy the deliciousness and the compliments that will follow!