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A close-up of a baked bread roll filled with seasoned ground beef, topped with white and black sesame seeds. One roll is cut in half to show the savory meat filling inside. Other rolls are visible in the background.
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4 from 1 vote

Easy Baked Meat Buns | Soft & Juicy

Fluffy homemade meat buns filled with savory spiced beef and onions. Easy, soft, and flavorful beef-stuffed bread recipe perfect for any meal.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Rise time1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: World
Keyword: buns
Servings: 18 buns
Calories: 230kcal

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 4 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Instant dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Salt
  • ¼ cup Oil read notes
  • 1¼ cups Water

For the filling:

  • 1 pound Ground beef read notes
  • 1 Onion chopped
  • 3 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 3 cloves Garlic crushed
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme dried or fresh
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
  • ¾ cup Broth or water
  • ¼ cup Pine nuts optional

For topping:

  • 1 Egg beated
  • ¼ cup Sesame seeds
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, and sugar. Stir in salt, then add warm water and oil. Mix until a soft dough forms, then knead for about 7–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  • Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  • Make the filling: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink (about 5 minutes). Stir in the salt, pepper, thyme, cumin, paprika, and tomato paste. Mix well and cook for about 2 minutes. Then pour in the broth (or water) and cook on low heat for a few minutes, until the mixture is juicy but not dry. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Stir in pine nuts if using.
  • Shape the buns: Punch down the dough and divide it into 18 equal pieces (each about 45–50 grams). Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten into a 3–3.5 inch (7–9cm) circle.
  • Spoon 2 tablespoons of filling into the center, gather the edges, and pinch to seal tightly. Shape back into a smooth ball.
  • Rest and bake: Arrange the filled buns on a parchment-lined baking tray, seam-side down. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Brush each bun with beaten egg, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and bake for 18–22 minutes, or until golden brown.

Video

Notes

  • Meat variations: You can use ground chicken, turkey, or lamb instead of beef.
  • Vegetarian version: Swap the beef for sautéed mushrooms, lentils, or crumbled tofu with the same spices.
  • Add cheese: Mix in a little shredded mozzarella or feta to make cheesy meat buns.
  • Make ahead: Prepare the buns up to the resting stage, cover, and refrigerate for up to 12 hours. Bake when ready.
  • Freezing: Once baked and cooled, freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 300°F (150°C) until warm.
  • Oil options: You can use any neutral oil for the dough such as canola, sunflower, or grapeseed oil. Olive oil gives a richer flavor but slightly denser texture, choose based on your preference.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 485mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 131IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg