Description: These Old School Pizza Burgers are a nostalgic and incredibly satisfying meal that combines the best of a burger and a pizza. Ground beef is simmered in a flavorful pizza sauce with Italian herbs, then piled high on toasted buns with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. It’s a quick, easy, and family-friendly recipe that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or casual get-togethers.
Ingredients:
For the beef mixture:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup pizza sauce (plus extra for spreading)
For assembling:
- 6 hamburger buns (or English muffins or sandwich thins)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Butter or nonstick spray (for toasting buns)
Preparation:
Step 1: Preheat Oven Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures the burgers don’t stick and makes cleanup a breeze.
Step 2: Prepare the Beef Mixture In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Sauté onions until translucent, then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Adding the onion and garlic at this stage builds a foundation of flavor for the whole dish. Be careful not to burn the garlic; 30 seconds is all it needs to release its aroma.
Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat. Nobody wants a greasy pizza burger! Drain it well, using a spoon to press against the beef and remove as much fat as possible.
Stir in pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Simmering the sauce allows the flavors to meld together, creating a richer, more complex taste. It’s also your chance to tweak the seasoning to your liking.
Step 3: Toast the Buns (Optional but recommended) Lightly butter the inside of each bun half and toast in a pan or under a broiler until golden. Toasting the buns adds a wonderful texture and prevents them from becoming soggy under the weight of the meat mixture and cheese. The subtle buttery flavor also enhances the overall experience. If you are using English muffins or sandwich thins, toasting is particularly important to hold the structure.
Step 4: Assemble the Pizza Burgers Place the bottom halves of the buns on the baking sheet.
Spoon the meat mixture evenly over each. Be generous! You want each burger to be packed with that flavorful beef.
Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on top (optional for extra sauciness). If you love a saucy burger, this is a great addition. It’s completely optional, but it will make the burgers even more pizza-like.
Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Don’t skimp on the cheese! A generous layer of mozzarella is essential for that melty, stretchy, cheesy goodness that defines a pizza. The Parmesan adds a salty, savory depth.
Place the top buns (cut side up) next to the bottoms on the sheet and sprinkle with cheese. This way, you end up with cheesy tops and bottoms for your burger.
Step 5: Bake Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil for the last minute for a golden cheesy crust. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven. Keep a close eye on the burgers and broil for that extra crispy, golden crust.
Step 6: Serve Put the top buns over the meat (or serve open-faced). Garnish with extra herbs or crushed red pepper if desired. Serving open-faced allows you to admire the cheesy masterpiece, but topping with the bun makes it easier to eat. A sprinkle of fresh herbs like basil or oregano, or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, adds a final flourish of flavor and color.
Why You Will Love This Recipe:
This Old School Pizza Burger recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for several reasons:
- Nostalgia: It brings back fond memories of childhood and simpler times. It’s a comforting and familiar dish with a fun twist.
- Ease and Speed: It’s quick to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The simple steps and readily available ingredients mean you can have dinner on the table in just 30 minutes.
- Flavor Explosion: The combination of savory ground beef, tangy pizza sauce, aromatic Italian herbs, and gooey melted cheese is an irresistible flavor combination.
- Customizable: The recipe is incredibly versatile. You can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs. Add your favorite pizza toppings, use different cheeses, or even substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef.
- Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike will love these pizza burgers. It’s a great way to get kids involved in cooking and encourage them to try new flavors.
Serving Suggestions:
- Classic Sides: Serve with classic burger sides like french fries, onion rings, or coleslaw.
- Salad: A fresh garden salad or Caesar salad provides a lighter counterpoint to the richness of the pizza burgers.
- Vegetables: Steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or a side of corn on the cob are healthy and delicious accompaniments.
- Potato Salad: A creamy potato salad is a perfect picnic-style side.
- Garlic Bread: Enhance the pizza theme with a side of garlic bread or breadsticks.
- Pickles: Add a touch of tanginess and crunch with pickle spears or relish.
Tips:
- Ground Beef Choice: Use 80/20 ground beef for the best flavor and texture. Leaner ground beef can be used, but it may result in a drier burger.
- Spice It Up: Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to your preferred level of heat.
- Cheese Variations: Experiment with different types of cheese, such as provolone, pepper jack, or a blend of Italian cheeses.
- Garlic Bread Buns: For an extra flavor punch, use garlic bread instead of regular hamburger buns.
- Supreme Version: Add your favorite pizza toppings, such as pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives, for a supreme pizza burger experience.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the beef mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. This will save you time on busy weeknights.
- Freezing: These pizza burgers are great for freezing. Wrap cooked pizza burgers individually in foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave from frozen.
- Bun Alternatives: If you are looking for a lower-carb option, consider using portobello mushroom caps as buns.
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutritional Information: (Approximate, per burger) Calories: ~430 Protein: 26g Sodium: Varies depending on ingredients
Conclusion:
Old School Pizza Burgers are a delightful and easy way to satisfy your cravings for both burgers and pizza. This recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, casual get-togethers, or any time you want a quick and delicious meal. With its customizable ingredients and simple instructions, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will become a family favorite. Enjoy the nostalgic flavors and create new memories with this fun and flavorful dish!
Questions and Answers:
Q1: Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef?
A: Absolutely! Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for ground beef in this recipe. Just be sure to cook the turkey or chicken thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). You may want to add a little extra olive oil or a splash of broth to keep the mixture moist, as turkey and chicken tend to be leaner than ground beef.
Q2: I don’t have Italian seasoning. What can I use instead?
A: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can create your own blend by combining equal parts of dried oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. Start with about 1/4 teaspoon of each herb and adjust to your liking.
Q3: Can I make these pizza burgers ahead of time and reheat them?
A: Yes, you can prepare the beef mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to assemble the burgers, simply follow the remaining steps in the recipe. You can also assemble the entire pizza burgers and bake them later, but the buns may become a bit soggy. For best results, bake them fresh. You can also freeze the finished pizza burgers as per the directions above.
Q4: Can I add vegetables to the beef mixture?
A: Of course! Adding vegetables to the beef mixture is a great way to sneak in some extra nutrients and flavor. Finely chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, or spinach would all be delicious additions. Sauté the vegetables along with the onion and garlic at the beginning of the recipe.
Q5: What can I do if I don’t have an oven?
A: If you don’t have access to an oven, you can still make delicious pizza burgers using a skillet or a toaster oven. After preparing the beef mixture, assemble the burgers on toasted buns and cook them in a skillet over medium-low heat, covered, until the cheese is melted and the burgers are heated through. Alternatively, you can use a toaster oven to melt the cheese and toast the buns.
