<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001364541</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EROC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001398355</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILLS JOSEPH A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 2968</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77252</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Subscription Rights</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21190</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.2527</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-06-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Units and Warrants</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>21190</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100405</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each subscription right entitles the holder to acquire, for $2.50 in cash, (i) one common unit and (ii) one warrant to purchase an additional common unit for $6.00 on certain days starting on or about the close of the rights offering period through May 15, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person surrendered 21,190 subscription rights to satisfy tax withholding liabilities upon distribution of subscription rights received on restricted units in accordance with Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes subscription rights received on both restricted and unrestricted common units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The reporting person is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Eagle Rock Energy G&amp;P, LLC the general partner of Eagle Rock Energy GP, L.P. the general partner of registrant.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles C. Boettcher, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
