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.