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    Home » Recipes » Beef

    Published: Apr 20, 2023 by Cassie Waltman · 3 Comments

    Quick and Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Subs With Special Sauce

    click here to get straight to the recipe

    For a fun twist on cheeseburgers try these cheeseburger sub sandwiches! The seasoned beef is combined with cheddar cheese for a rich filling ready for all of your favorite toppings. This is sure to be your next family favorite!

    A bacon cheeseburger sub topped with lettuce and special sauce in a basket alongside potato chips.

    This quick and easy dinner is perfect for the family meal rotation and will have everyone running to the table! No grilling required, these cheeseburger subs are a year-round alternative to classic cheeseburgers.

    Skillet meals are great for busy weeknight dinners. Try these Ground Pork Tacos or this Thai Basil Beef and Green Beans stir fry for some other speedy and delicious options.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Prepare the Toppings and Special Sauce
    • Prepare the Cheeseburger Filling
    • Build your Best Sandwich
    • Substitutions
    • Make Ahead Options
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • FAQ
    • More Quick Stovetop Recipes
    • Try It and Share
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Ingredients

    The list of ingredients for the cheeseburger filling is pretty short, but there are loads of toppings that you might want to add. Check out the ideas below.

    The ingredients for the cheeseburger subs are arranged in small bowls and plates on a black surface.

    I include ingredient notes here when I think they’ll be helpful, including ways to source, any preparation tips, or why I've chosen a particular ingredient. Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and their quantities!

    For the filling:

    • Lean (90%) ground beef: Using lean beef makes prep easy so that you don't have to drain the fat from the skillet. What remains is the the right amount for building the sauce.
    • All-purpose flour: This is used to thicken the filling. This way, your beef doesn't fall out of the bun and it stays moist and coated with flavor.
    • Beef broth: Along with the flour and cheese this helps build a saucy gravy to coat the ground beef.
    • Worcestershire sauce: Full of umami, this ingredient adds rich flavor to the filling.
    • Sharp cheddar cheese: I love the deep flavor of sharp cheddar, but feel free to swap it with mild cheddar, pepper jack for a little spice, or swiss if you want a flavor twist.
    • Brat or sausage rolls: You want a roll that is heftier than a hot dog bun so that it can hold all of your filling and toppings. A french roll would also be a great option.

    For the special sauce:

    • Mayonnaise: Mayo helps to build a creamy base for the special sauce.
    • Barbecue Sauce: I love the smoky notes and sweetness to balance out the salty cheese and bacon.
    • Apple cider vinegar: The acidity helps to cut through the rich filling.

    Toppings:

    • Bacon, ketchup, sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, mustard, pickles, avocado, you name it! If you'd put it on a cheeseburger you can add it to these cheeseburger subs.

    Prepare the Toppings and Special Sauce

    Gather up your ketchup, mustard, and pickles and prep your veggies. I love finely shredded iceberg lettuce on top of my subs for that crisp, cool crunch. I think tomato slices tuck easily into the side of the rolls, but diced tomatoes are great for sprinkling over the top as well.

    Four slices of baking frying in a skillet.

    Crisp up the bacon in a skillet over medium heat and drain it on paper towels or a brown paper bag. Drain the fat and wipe out the skillet for cooking the filling.

    Scooping the excess bread out of a roll with a spoon to make more room for filling.

    For maximum filling and toppings, scoop out the excess bread from your rolls and toast them to warm them up.

    Ingredients for the special sauce arranged in small bowls on a black surface.

    For the special sauce, gather the mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, onion powder, and apple cider vinegar.

    The special sauce whisked together in a small black bowl.

    Whisk to combine and serve in a small bowl or add the sauce to a squeeze bottle for easy use.

    Prepare the Cheeseburger Filling

    Flour added to the browned ground beef in a skillet.

    Start by browning the beef over medium-high heat in the same skillet as you used for the bacon. Then add in the flour and cook it for one minute, stirring to coat the beef.

    Spices and seasonings added to the browned ground beef in a skillet.

    Add in the beef broth and stir, scraping the bottom of the skillet, for 3 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce and cook for about 3 more minutes.

    Cheddar cheese being stirred into the seasoned ground beef in a skillet.

    Add the cheese and stir to combine and melt the cheese into the sauce.

    The finished bacon cheeseburger filling in a skillet.

    Set the filling aside and off the heat.

    Build your Best Sandwich

    A bacon cheeseburger sub topped with lettuce and special sauce in a basket alongside potato chips and extra toppings.

    I like to bring the rolls stuffed with the filling to the table on a platter and let everyone build their best subs with their favorite toppings.

    Substitutions

    This recipe has plenty of flexibility with the ingredients to suit special dietary needs or preferences. Change the variety of toppings to suit your family or guests and make the changes to the filling noted below.

    • Make it Vegetarian - Substitute plant-based beef crumbles or ground beef for the standard ground beef. Soy sauce is a good swap for the Worcestershire sauce. Use vegetable stock in place of the beef stock. Omit the bacon or use a vegetarian substitute.
    • Make it Dairy Free - Use vegan shredded cheese in place of the sharp cheddar.

    Make Ahead Options

    If you know that you'll need this dinner in a hurry, you can make the cheeseburger filling ahead of time and simply warm it up in the microwave or stovetop. A bit of water or additional beef broth or stock may be needed to loosen up the filling.

    Much like this Antipasto Salad, you can have all of the veggies chopped and toppings prepared ahead of time and have dinner on the table in about 10 minutes.

    A bacon cheeseburger sub topped with lettuce and special sauce on a plate alongside potato chips and extra toppings.

    Storage

    Store the toppings separately in air-tight containers in the refrigerator. The cheeseburger filling can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

    Top tip

    Use precooked bacon to really speed up the prep time for these subs. Just a minute or so in the microwave and you have crispy bacon ready to top your sandwich!

    FAQ

    Is this a good recipe to feed a crowd?

    Absolutely! You can easily double (or triple) this recipe to feed a crowd and have a toppings "buffet" with some other creative options. Display all of the standard burger condiments and toppings for guests to use. Make ultimate cheeseburger subs by offering avocado slices, pepperoncini, blue cheese crumbles, crispy fried onions, and more!

    Can you take these sandwiches on-the-go?

    Yes, if you'll be eating them shortly after preparation. Wrap the cheeseburger subs in parchment and slice them in half for easy eating. Then wrap the whole sandwich in foil to keep it warm. They make great handheld dinners when wrapped this way.

    What sides do you serve with these cheeseburger subs?

    I love to make tis an easy meal, so I stick with potato chips and maybe some veggie sticks. French fries, potato salad, cole slaw, fruit salad, or baked beans would make great sides too.

    A cheeseburger sub wrapped in white parchment paper and sliced in half to show the texture and toppings.

    More Quick Stovetop Recipes

    These are all great options for big flavor in short order.

    • Shrimp, chickpeas, and diced red pepper sitting atop a bed of cous cous garnished with cilantro leaves and lemon.
      Garlic Paprika Shrimp Bowls with Chickpeas and Lemon
    • A bowl of the soup is topped with cilantro, avocado chunks, shredded cheese, and sour cream and is accompanied by a handful of tortilla chips and a lime wedge.
      Quick Green Chile Chicken Soup with Beans
    • A pot of Vegan Chili Mac sits on a black surface next to a stack of white bowls and a serving of pasta garnished with chopped fresh tomatoes.
      Vegan Chili Mac
    • A filet of salmon with a brown crust on a white plate. It is topped with a chunky yellow salsa.
      Cast Iron Salmon with Homemade Mango and Peach Salsa

    Try It and Share

    I hope you try these cheeseburger subs and share the recipe with family or friends. I want to see your results! Tag your photo with #planeatpostrepeat and mention me @planeatpostrepeat on Instagram or Facebook. I can give you a virtual high five and thank you for cooking one of my recipes! Comment below with any questions and please leave a review so others can find this recipe more easily.

    Recipe

    A bacon cheeseburger sub topped with lettuce and special sauce in a basket alongside potato chips.

    Quick and Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Subs With Special Sauce

    Cassie Waltman
    These bacon cheeseburger sub sandwiches have a flavor-packed beef filling with all of your favorite cheeseburger toppings and a special sauce!
    5 from 2 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 615 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Cheeseburger Sub Filling

    • 1 lb lean ground beef (90% lean )
    • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup beef broth
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 5 oz. shredded sharp cheddar
    • 6 brat or sausage rolls (or other sandwich rolls)

    Toppings

    • 6 slices bacon
    • 4 tablespoon ketchup
    • 1 cup tomatoes, chopped
    • 1½ cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
    • 4 tablespoon yellow mustard
    • ¼ cup sliced pickles

    Special Sauce

    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup barbecue sauce
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the cheeseburger sub toppings.
    • Grill or warm the rolls and split them down one side. Scoop out the extra bread inside the roll if desired.
    • Stir together the special sauce ingredients in a small bowl and spread on both sides of the rolls.
    • Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it reaches the desired level of crispness. Drain on a kitchen towel or paper bag and dispose of the bacon drippings.
    • Wipe out the skillet and then brown the ground beef over medium-high heat and break into small pieces. When no liquid remains, stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
    • Add the beef broth and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan, for 3 minutes.
    • Add in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce and cook for 3 minutes.
    • Stir in the cheese until melted and set the mixture aside.
    • Fill each roll with the meat filling and top with bacon and any other desired toppings. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition facts are sometimes provided below and are calculated using an online calculator. With specific brands of ingredients and additions, omissions, or substitutions the nutrition facts may change. We encourage you to use your own nutrition facts caculator to obtain the most accurate nutrition facts for your meal.

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 615kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 33gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 1515mgPotassium: 633mgFiber: 3gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 648IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 307mgIron: 5mg
    Share your results on Instagram!Mention @planeatpostrepeat or tag #planeatpostrepeat !

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cassie @ Plan. Eat. Post. Repeat. says

      April 25, 2023 at 8:50 pm

      5 stars
      Share your favorite toppings for these cheeseburger subs and please ask if you have any questions about the recipe.

      Reply
    2. Natalie says

      February 10, 2025 at 6:23 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight and the whole family agreed it was 5 stars! Easy to pull together for a weeknight. Great flavor in the meat and the special sauce, we all loved it and will add this into our regular rotation. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Cassie Waltman says

        March 14, 2025 at 12:11 pm

        Yay! So glad it was a hit with you and the gamily. Thanks for giving it a try!

        Reply

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