Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Onion Rings | The Ultimate Party Appetizer

If you love cheeseburgers and crispy onion rings, get ready for your new favorite game-day snack: Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Onion Rings. This over-the-top appetizer combines juicy beef, melted cheese, smoky bacon, and crunchy onion rings into one epic bite. Perfect for tailgating, parties, or a fun weekend dinner, this recipe takes comfort food to the next level.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These onion rings aren’t just coated in batter and fried—they’re stuffed with everything you’d find in a classic bacon cheeseburger. Each ring is filled with seasoned ground beef and cheese, wrapped in smoky bacon, and baked or fried until crispy. The result? A savory, cheesy, smoky bite-sized burger wrapped in a crunchy onion ring. Dip them in ketchup, ranch, or your favorite burger sauce, and you’ve got a show-stopping appetizer.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Onion Rings, you’ll need:

2 large onions, cut into thick slices and separated into rings
1 lb ground beef
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or American cheese squares cut into strips)
12–16 slices bacon (thin-cut works best)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Toothpicks (to secure bacon if needed)
Dipping sauces: ketchup, ranch, or burger sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep the onions – Slice onions into 1/2-inch rings. Use two rings of different sizes to create a “ring mold” with space in between for filling.
Make the beef filling – In a skillet, cook ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until browned. Drain excess fat. Let cool slightly, then mix in shredded cheese.
Fill the onion rings – Place a smaller onion ring inside a larger one, leaving space between them. Spoon the beef-cheese mixture into the gap, pressing gently to pack.
Wrap with bacon – Wrap each filled onion ring with 2 slices of bacon, overlapping slightly to cover the filling. Use toothpicks to secure if needed.
Cook –
- Oven method: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place wrapped rings on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for 25–30 minutes until bacon is crispy.
- Air fryer method: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Grill method: Place over indirect heat and cook until bacon is fully crisp.
Serve – Let cool for 5 minutes. Serve with ketchup, ranch, or burger sauce for dipping.

Tips & Variations

Spicy version: Add diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef filling.
Cheese swap: Try mozzarella, pepper jack, or Swiss for different flavors.
Mini version: Use smaller onion rings for bite-sized appetizers.
Extra crispy: Brush bacon with BBQ sauce or glaze with honey before baking.
Make-ahead: Assemble rings ahead of time and refrigerate, then cook right before serving.

Final Thoughts

These Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Onion Rings are the ultimate appetizer mash-up—juicy, cheesy, smoky, and crunchy all in one bite. They’re perfect for game day, BBQs, or any time you want to wow your guests with something unforgettable. Once you try them, you’ll never look at onion rings or cheeseburgers the same way again!