These Ultimate Pizza Burgers are the perfect mashup of two classic comfort foods: juicy burgers and cheesy, flavorful pizza! Imagine a perfectly grilled burger patty topped with warm pizza sauce, gooey mozzarella cheese, and crispy pepperoni, all nestled between toasted buns. I love how this recipe combines the best of both worlds, creating a fun, satisfying, and surprisingly easy meal. It’s a guaranteed hit for family dinners, game nights, or any time you’re craving a flavor explosion!
Why You’ll Love These Pizza Burgers
- Two Classics in One: Combines the deliciousness of burgers and pizza in a single, satisfying bite.
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the toppings to your liking, just like ordering your favorite pizza.
- Kid-Friendly: Kids (and adults!) will love this fun and flavorful twist on a classic burger.
- Perfect for Grilling: These burgers are amazing on the grill, but you can also cook them in a skillet.
Ingredients for Pizza Burgers
Here’s what you’ll need to make these epic burgers. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Burger Patties
- Ground beef (80% lean / 20% fat) (Meat)
- Italian seasoning (Spice Blend)
- Garlic powder (Spice)
- Salt (Seasoning)
- Black pepper (Spice)
Toppings
- Hamburger buns (Bread)
- Pizza sauce (Sauce)
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (Dairy)
- Pepperoni slices (Meat)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love these Pizza Burgers just the way they are, but feel free to get creative:
- Different Cheese: Try using provolone, Parmesan, or a blend of Italian cheeses.
- Add Veggies: Top the burgers with your favorite pizza toppings, like sliced mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, or olives.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the burger mixture or use a spicy pizza sauce.
- Different Meat: Substitute ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage for the ground beef.
- Garlic Bread Buns: Brush the buns with garlic butter before toasting for extra flavor.
How to Make Pizza Burgers
Let me show you how to make these amazing Pizza Burgers:
Prepare the Burger Patties
- In a large bowl, I mix together the ground beef, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until everything is well combined.
- I shape the mixture into 4 patties.
- Then I set the patties aside to rest.
Preheat Grill and Toast Buns
- I preheat a grill or grill pan and the broiler to medium-high heat.
- I arrange the buns, cut side up, on a baking sheet and toast them until they’re golden brown.
- I remove the top halves of the buns and set them aside.
Grill the Burgers
- I grill the patties for 4-5 minutes per side, until they’re cooked to my desired level of doneness.
Warm Pizza Sauce and Prepare Buns
- While the burgers are cooking, I warm the pizza sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.
- I spread half of the warmed pizza sauce over the bottom buns.
- Then I top with half of the mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices.
- I broil for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Assemble the Pizza Burgers
- I place the cooked burger patties on the prepared bottom buns.
- I top them with the remaining sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.
- I broil again until the cheese is melted.
- Finally, I place the top halves of the buns over the burgers.
Serve
- I serve the pizza burgers immediately.
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Pizza Burgers
Here are a few of my tips for making these burgers truly exceptional:
- Use 80/20 Ground Beef: This ratio of lean meat to fat provides the best flavor and juiciness.
- Don’t Overmix the Meat: Overmixing can make the burgers tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Toast the Buns: Toasting the buns adds a nice crunch and prevents them from getting soggy.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: For perfectly cooked burgers, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
How to Serve
These Pizza Burgers are a meal in themselves, but here are a few serving suggestions:
- Fries or Potato Wedges: Serve with a side of crispy fries or baked potato wedges.
- Salad: A simple green salad or a Caesar salad would complement the burgers nicely.
- Onion Rings: Add some onion rings for an extra-indulgent treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the burger patties ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Leftover cooked burgers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or in the microwave.
FAQs about Pizza Burgers
- Can I use a different type of cheese?
- Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite cheese or a blend of Italian cheeses.
- Can I make these without the pepperoni?
- Yes, you can omit the pepperoni or substitute it with another topping, like cooked sausage or mushrooms.
- Can I bake these burgers instead of grilling them?
- Yes you can, you might want to add some liquid smoke to keep the grilled taste.
Enjoy these Ultimate Pizza Burgers! They’re a fun, flavorful, and easy-to-make meal that’s sure to be a hit with everyone.
Print
Ultimate Pizza Burgers
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Course, Burgers
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Description
These Pizza Burgers combine the best of both worlds! Juicy beef patties are seasoned with Italian spices, grilled to perfection, and then loaded onto toasted buns with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80% lean / 20% fat)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 16–24 slices pepperoni (about 4–6 slices per burger)
Instructions
- Prepare Burger Patties: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix. Shape the mixture into 4 equal-sized patties. Let the patties rest at room temperature while you preheat the grill and broiler.
- Preheat and Toast Buns: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Preheat your oven’s broiler. Arrange the split hamburger buns, cut-side up, on a baking sheet. Toast the buns under the broiler until lightly golden brown. Remove the top halves of the buns and set them aside.
- Grill Burgers: Grill the burger patties for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- Warm Sauce and Assemble Bottom Buns: While the burgers are cooking, warm the pizza sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Spread half of the warmed pizza sauce evenly over the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and half of the pepperoni slices.
- Broil Bottom Buns: Place the baking sheet with the assembled bottom buns under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Assemble Burgers: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Place the cooked burger patties on top of the cheese and pepperoni on the bottom buns. Top each burger with the remaining pizza sauce, remaining mozzarella cheese, and remaining pepperoni slices.
- Broil Again (Optional): If desired, return the burgers (without the top buns) to the broiler for another minute or two, just until the cheese on top is melted.
- Add Top Buns and Serve: Place the reserved top buns on the burgers. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Ground Beef: 80% lean ground beef is recommended for juicy burgers, but you can use leaner ground beef if you prefer.
- Doneness Adjust the time based on your desire.
- Buns: You can use any type of hamburger buns you like.
- Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade pizza sauce.
- Toppings: Feel free to add other pizza toppings, such as sliced mushrooms, onions, or bell peppers.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these pizza burgers with french fries, onion rings, or a salad.