Name: Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 12 buns
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F/45°C); 1/4 cup warm water (110°F/45°C); 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground beef; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or alternative); 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon paprika; Salt and pepper to taste; 1 egg (for egg wash); Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

Fluffy, golden buns filled with a savory, well-seasoned ground beef mixture—these meat-stuffed soft buns are perfect for a cozy family dinner or a hearty snack. With a hint of spice and a deliciously tender dough, they’re sure to be a hit even with picky eaters!

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I've had a pretty hectic week at work with no time to experiment in the kitchen. I finally had a more relaxed day so I decided to get back to my AI kitchen adventures. I asked ChatGPT:

I have ground beef. I need some new, creative ideas for dinner. My audience is picky eaters but I still want something rich and nutritious. Give me 10-15 ideas. Each idea should include name, total prep time, dish complexity, assumed picky eater rating (1-10) and ingredients (ingredients should be in one bullet point and not several)

And it provided me an interesting list:

Here are some creative ground beef dinner ideas for picky eaters that are also rich and nutritious: 1. Cheesy Beef Quesadillas Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Dish Complexity: Easy Picky Eater Rating: 9/10 Ingredients: ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, tortillas, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, olive oil 2. Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry Total Prep Time: 25 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 7/10 Ingredients: ground beef, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, soy sauce (or alternative), garlic, ginger, sesame oil, rice 3. Mini Meatball Sliders Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 8/10 Ingredients: ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, mini slider buns, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder 4. Beef and Cheese Stuffed Shells Total Prep Time: 45 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 7/10 Ingredients: ground beef, jumbo pasta shells, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, spinach (optional), garlic, Italian seasoning 5. Ground Beef Tacos with Hidden Veggies Total Prep Time: 20 minutes Dish Complexity: Easy Picky Eater Rating: 9/10 Ingredients: ground beef, taco seasoning, tortillas, shredded cheese, grated zucchini, grated carrots, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, salsa 6. Beef and Potato Skillet Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Dish Complexity: Easy Picky Eater Rating: 8/10 Ingredients: ground beef, potatoes, onions, garlic, cheddar cheese, paprika, olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh parsley 7. Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers Total Prep Time: 40 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 6/10 Ingredients: ground beef, bell peppers, spinach, quinoa (or rice), tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper 8. Homemade Beef and Cheese Taquitos Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 8/10 Ingredients: ground beef, tortillas, shredded cheese, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, onions, garlic powder, olive oil, sour cream 9. Beefy Mac and Cheese Casserole Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 8/10 Ingredients: ground beef, elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese, milk, butter, flour, onions, garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper 10. Beef and Cheese Crescent Rolls Total Prep Time: 25 minutes Dish Complexity: Easy Picky Eater Rating: 9/10 Ingredients: ground beef, crescent roll dough, shredded cheddar cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, ketchup (for dipping) 11. Beef and Black Bean Nachos Total Prep Time: 20 minutes Dish Complexity: Easy Picky Eater Rating: 8/10 Ingredients: ground beef, tortilla chips, black beans, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapeños (optional), sour cream, salsa, guacamole 12. Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps Total Prep Time: 20 minutes Dish Complexity: Easy Picky Eater Rating: 7/10 Ingredients: ground beef, lettuce leaves, hoisin sauce (or alternative), soy sauce (or alternative), garlic, ginger, shredded carrots, sesame seeds, green onions 13. Beef and Cheese Empanadas Total Prep Time: 50 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 7/10 Ingredients: ground beef, empanada dough, cheddar cheese, onions, bell peppers, garlic, cumin, paprika, olive oil, egg wash 14. Beef and Broccoli Fried Rice Total Prep Time: 30 minutes Dish Complexity: Easy Picky Eater Rating: 8/10 Ingredients: ground beef, rice, broccoli, soy sauce (or alternative), eggs, onions, garlic, sesame oil, carrots, green onions 15. Cheeseburger Pizza Total Prep Time: 35 minutes Dish Complexity: Medium Picky Eater Rating: 9/10 Ingredients: ground beef, pizza dough, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, pickles, ketchup, mustard, onions, tomatoes, lettuce These ideas should give you a good mix of flavors and textures while keeping the picky eaters in mind!

The empanadas intrigued me so I asked (I do not like cheese and meat together):

can you give me an empanada recipe, minus the cheese, and the dough recipe too?

And it did:

Here's a recipe for beef empanadas without cheese, including a homemade dough recipe. Beef Empanada Recipe (No Cheese) Empanada Dough Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces 1/4 cup cold water 1 egg 1 tablespoon white vinegar Empanada Filling Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef 1 small onion, finely chopped 1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 1/4 cup tomato paste 1/4 cup beef broth Salt and pepper to taste 1 egg (for egg wash)

As I was reading through the recipe, I decided it's going to take too much time and is too much of a risk with my picky eater. So I asked about burger buns (that's how I named it for my picky eater):

how about meat stuffed soft buns recipe?

So it gave me the recipe:

Here's a recipe for Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns that are fluffy and delicious, perfect for a comforting meal. Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns Recipe Dough Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons active dry yeast 3/4 cup warm milk (110°F/45°C) 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 egg Filling Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 pound ground beef 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or alternative) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste 1 egg (for egg wash) Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

For a sec there I thought I could use sourdough starter instead so I asked:

can you adjust to use sourdough starter instead of yeast? Also provide total prep time

And it did:

Sure! Here's an adjusted recipe for Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns using a sourdough starter instead of yeast. The process is a bit longer due to the natural fermentation of the sourdough starter, but the buns will have a wonderful flavor and texture. Sourdough Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns Recipe Total Prep Time: 6-8 hours (includes rising time) Dough Ingredients 1 cup active sourdough starter (fed and bubbly) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup warm milk 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 egg 1 teaspoon salt Filling Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 pound ground beef 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or alternative) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste 1 egg (for egg wash) Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

I also asked to update the quantity:

I have 1 lbs. meat. adjust recipe for that quantity

So it did:

Here's an adjusted recipe for Sourdough Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns using 1 pound of ground beef. Sourdough Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns Recipe (Adjusted for 1 Pound of Meat) Total Prep Time: 6-8 hours (includes rising time) Dough Ingredients 1 cup active sourdough starter (fed and bubbly) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup warm milk 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 egg 1 teaspoon salt Filling Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 bell pepper, finely chopped 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or alternative) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste 1 egg (for egg wash) Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

As I was reading through the recipe, I realized I don't have enough time, so I had to go with the less healthy dry yeast option (but I did thank it so it wouldn't think I'm rude):

actually I don't have enough time for the sourdough option, please rewrite the entire recipe with dry yeast thanks

And it did:

Got it! Here’s the Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns Recipe using dry yeast instead of a sourdough starter, adjusted for 1 pound of ground beef. Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns Recipe (with Dry Yeast) Total Prep Time: 2-3 hours (includes rising time) Dough Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F/45°C) 1/4 cup warm water (110°F/45°C) 2 tablespoons sugar 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 egg 1 teaspoon salt Filling Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 bell pepper, finely chopped 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or alternative) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste 1 egg (for egg wash) Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

I did not have bell peppers:

No bell pepper

So it revised:

Here’s the revised Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns Recipe without bell pepper: Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns Recipe (with Dry Yeast, No Bell Pepper) Total Prep Time: 2-3 hours (includes rising time) Dough Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F/45°C) 1/4 cup warm water (110°F/45°C) 2 tablespoons sugar 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 egg 1 teaspoon salt Filling Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or alternative) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste 1 egg (for egg wash) Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

I also saw it said to add the spices at the end. I prefer blooming them with onion for maximum taste:

I want to bloom the spices after the garlic. Adjust recipe

And here is the final outcome:

Servings: 12 buns

Calories per Serving: Approximately 200

Prep Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 2-3 hours

Meat-Stuffed Soft Buns

Ingredients

For the Dough:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup warm milk (110°F/45°C)
1/4 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or alternative)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

For Topping:

1 egg (for egg wash)
Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

Instructions

Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and the active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture becomes frothy.
Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Add the warm milk, melted butter, egg, and the activated yeast mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add more flour if needed.
First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Prepare the Filling:
- Cook the Onion: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic and Bloom Spices: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the cumin and paprika, stirring constantly for about 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
- Add Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Season the Filling: Stir in the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until everything is well combined. Remove from heat and let the filling cool slightly.
Assemble the Buns:
- Punch Down the Dough: After the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into 12-14 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
- Fill the Buns: Flatten each dough ball into a disk and place about 1-2 tablespoons of the beef filling in the center. Fold the dough over the filling, pinching the edges to seal and shape into a ball.
- Second Rise: Place the filled buns seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with a damp cloth, and let them rise for another 30-40 minutes, or until puffy.
Bake the Buns:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Apply Egg Wash and Add Toppings: Beat the egg with a tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash, and sprinkle sesame seeds on top if using.
- Bake: Bake the buns for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Serve: Allow the buns to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy these delicious, soft, and flavorful meat-stuffed buns!