Juicy burger pops made from spiced ground beef are fantastic finger food. Both kids and adults love food on a stick. Dip them into your favorite sauce for a simple appetizer or a light meal. (Skip to recipe.)

Whether you’re cooking with children or preparing a platter for an adult gathering, these quick and easy burger pops are fun to make. A small technique keeps the meat moist and encourages a beautiful brown crust so each pop looks and tastes irresistible.

Cooking with Meredith

Raise your hand if you agree that food tastes better on a stick.

Food on a stick instantly boosts the fun factor—no forks or knives required, and you can dip it. These burger pops are like flavorful little sausages on a stick: easy to form, quick to bake, and perfect for parties, picnics, or a casual family meal.

A tiny trick borrowed from Eastern European cooks makes a big difference: adding a pinch of baking soda to ground meat. This raises the pH, loosens the proteins slightly so the meat stays tender and springy, and helps it hold more moisture. It also aids browning through improved Maillard reactions. Just about 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda transforms ground beef into moist, sausage-like morsels.

Kids enjoy helping with the simple steps: mixing meat and spices, shaping the portions, and pressing them onto sticks. Serve the burger pops with your favorite dipping sauce for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Popular options include fresh salsa, tzatziki, guacamole, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, smoked chipotle sauce, or a spicy orange mayonnaise. Serve alongside fries or roasted parsnip fries for a fuller meal.

Let’s Get Cooking

Begin by soaking wooden popsicle sticks in hot water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning in the oven. Lay a spoon or similar weight on top to keep them submerged.

Mix the ground beef, baking soda, and spices thoroughly. An easy way to divide the meat into eight even pieces is to flatten it into a disk and cut it into wedges with a knife or a stick.

Roll each portion into a ball, then shape each ball into a smooth, oblong cylinder. Push a soaked stick into each piece, pinch the meat around the stick to seal, and roll to finish the shape.

Place the burger pops on a wire rack set over a foil-lined baking sheet so drips are contained and cleanup is easier. Bake until cooked through and nicely browned.

Prepare a dipping sauce—this Guaca‑Salsa below is an easy, tasty match for the spices in the burger pops and combines the best of guacamole and salsa.

Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon or lime and your favorite dip.

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Kitchen Notes: Wooden popsicle sticks or wooden coffee stir sticks (about 4½ inches / 11.5 cm) are usually available at grocery, craft, or dollar stores. Soak them in hot water for at least 20 minutes to keep the exposed handles from burning in the oven.

Burger Pops (Fantastic Food on a Stick)

8 wooden popsicle sticks
1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef
1 garlic clove (or ½ teaspoon garlic powder)
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon onion powder
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried oregano
Optional for adults: ¼–½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit for children)

Place the popsicle sticks in a shallow container, cover with hot water, and soak for 20 minutes or longer.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and set a metal cooling rack on top to catch drips.

In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, minced garlic (or garlic powder), baking soda, water, onion powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano. Mix well by hand until evenly combined.

Press the meat mixture into a flat disk, then cut it into eight even wedges with a butter knife. Roll each wedge into a ball, then shape each ball into an oval or cylinder about 3½–4 inches (9–10 cm) long. Insert a soaked popsicle stick lengthwise into each piece, leaving about one-third of the stick exposed. Press the meat around the stick to seal, then roll between your palms to smooth and even the shape.

Arrange the burger pops on the prepared rack and bake for 15–18 minutes, until cooked through and nicely browned.

Serve immediately with lime or lemon and your preferred dipping sauce—salsa, tzatziki, guacamole, barbecue sauce, or Guaca‑Salsa.

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Not quite guacamole and not quite salsa, this creamy Guaca‑Salsa blends the two into a bright, mellow dip. Don’t be fooled by its color—it’s full of flavor.

Guaca‑Salsa

1 small ripe avocado
½ cup of your favorite salsa
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash well with a fork, then stir in the salsa and lime juice. Yields about 1 cup of dip.

Guten Appetit!

For more family-friendly cooking projects and easy recipes, explore other cooking-with-kids ideas and try different sauces and side dishes to pair with these burger pops.