Blend two favorites – pizza and burgers – to make this Pizza Burger recipe! Seasoned juicy beef patties are topped with melty mozzarella, bold pizza sauce, pepperoni, and fresh basil. Let’s Eat!
We’re a pizza-lovin’, burger-lovin’ family, so of course, we love this Pizza Burger recipe! This twist on a traditional cheeseburger features all the familiar flavors of Pepperoni Pizza served on an herb-butter toasted bun. The hearty beef patties are packed with Italian seasoning, onion, and garlic for savory flavor and then topped with zesty Pizza Sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese.
Why You’ll Love This Pizza Cheeseburger, Too!
These fun and flavorful pizza burgers are welcome any time of the year, and always disappear fast. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
- A perfect mesh of two favorites. Who doesn’t love pizza? For that matter, who doesn’t love cheeseburgers? This pizza burger recipe is the best of both worlds, wrapped in a buttery, toasted bun.
- Simple. If you’ve made a hamburger, it’s just a few more steps to make a pizza burger. There’s nothing complicated or fancy about this wonderful recipe.
- Adaptable. It’s so easy to make a few changes if you wish – try a different cheese, sauce, and more. I’ve outlined some suggestions lower down to get you started.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Below, find an overview of the ingredients in this pizza burger recipe. Check the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
For the Burgers
- Ground beef – I use lean ground beef.
- Onion – A yellow or red onion works fine.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper are all you need for great flavor. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, substitute an equal amount of dried basil and oregano.
- Olive oil – I always use extra-virgin olive oil.
- Sauce – My Homemade Pizza Sauce is perfect for this recipe. Or, pick up a jar of pizza or marinara sauce from the store.
- Fresh basil – You can substitute dried basil if needed, but fresh basil leaves add a wonderful fresh flavor. And they’re pretty!
- Mozzarella cheese – I use sliced mozzarella but you can use shredded if you like.
- Pepperoni – If you don’t care for pepperoni, you can omit this ingredient, and you’ll still get a classic pizza taste!
For the Toasted Buns
- Hamburger buns – Use your choice of hamburger buns.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter is fine.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic adds delicious flavor to the buttery toasted buns.
- Fresh parsley – This adds a fresh herby flavor.
How To Make A Pizza Burger
There are a few steps that go into making these pizza burgers, but nothing is complicated. I’ve outlined how to make them below. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Season buns. Mix the softened butter with the garlic and parsley, then cut the buns in half and spread with the butter.
- Toast buns: Place the buns in a skillet and toast buttered side down.
- Make burger patties: Mix the ground beef and seasonings. Divide the mixture into four equal portions and shape them into patties.
- Cook: In a skillet, with some olive oil, cook the burgers on each side until done.
- Add sauce and basil. During the last minute of cooking, add pizza sauce. Then sprinkle with chopped basil leaves.
- Top with cheese and pepperoni. Add a slice of cheese to each patty, then top with pepperoni. Let the cheese melt.
- Assemble and serve. Place cooked burger patties on the bottom half of each toasted bun, and serve them warm.
Tips & Variations
These burgers are almost endlessly customizable. You can try different cheeses, add vegetables, and more. See a few suggestions below:
- Use a meat thermometer. Whatever your preferred level of doneness for a burger, you can use an instant-read thermometer to ensure it’s cooked to a safe temperature. According to the USDA, beef is safely cooked when it reaches a minimum of 165°F. Just know that you’ll get the most flavor and best texture when you don’t overcook the burger.
- Grill. If you wish, you can grill these burgers. This adds another delicious layer of flavor.
- Different sauces. Try a different sauce in this pizza burger recipe. You can swap the red sauce for pesto, or for an even heartier burger, use a meat or bolognese sauce.
- Other cheese. Skip the mozzarella and add your favorite cheese. Cheddar, Jack, or Parmesan cheese will pack the pizza burger with flavor.
- Try turkey. If you wish, substitute ground turkey for the ground beef.
- Customize! Just like traditional pizzas, you can customize pizza burgers with various toppings such as mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, onions, arugula, etc.
Serving Suggestions
Make a pizza burger the star of your dinner, then round out your plate with a few easy sides. Check out my serving suggestions below:
- Salad. I like to serve a fresh salad with burgers. Grilled Romaine Salad or this tasty Italian Chopped Salad are obvious great choices. Try a light Cucumber Salad for some crunch – or Mediterranean Chopped Salad or Roasted Beet Salad.
- Fries. A side of fries is the perfect side dish for pizza burgers. My decadent Truffle Fries are a nice choice.
- Other potatoes. Try garlicky little Roasted Potatoes or Grilled Potato Packets alongside a burger.
- Cocktails. A tall, cold glass of something refreshing is always welcome. My Bourbon Limoncello Cocktail is full of fresh flavors. A light Cucumber Mojito or a glass of tequila-spiced Ranch Water are lovely complements to the flavorful burgers. If you like to pair beef with red wine, try my Tinto de Verano!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
Burgers and toasted buns taste best when they’re fresh and hot. However, if you have any leftovers, here’s how to store them:
- Fridge – Wrap leftover burgers in plastic wrap or foil, or place them in an airtight container, and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat – Burgers reheat well in the oven or stovetop skillet, or even in the microwave. Place them on a baking sheet and heat in a 300°F oven, or in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through and the cheese is melted. To microwave, use 20-second intervals to heat until warmed to your liking.
More Burger Recipes
Pizza Burger
Yield: 4 servings
Blend two favorites (pizza and cheeseburgers) to make this Pizza Burger recipe! Juicy beef patties are topped with tangy pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, and fresh basil.
Print
Ingredients
Burger Patties
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup Pizza Sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 12 pepperoni slices
Toasted Buns
- 4 hamburger buns
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley until well combined.
- Slice the hamburger buns horizontally and spread with prepared garlic parsley butter evenly on the cut sides.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add buns, buttered side down, and toast until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes total. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, onion, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix to combine evenly.
- Divide beef mixture into four equal portions and shape them into burger patties, ensuring they are slightly larger than the size of your hamburger buns.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the burger patties and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked to the desired level of doneness.
- During the last minute of cooking, spoon a generous amount of pizza sauce onto each burger patty, sprinkle chopped basil leaves, followed by a slice of mozzarella cheese, and top with pepperoni. Allow cheese to melt.
- Transfer cooked burgers to the bottom half of each toasted bun. Serve pizza burgers immediately, while they are still warm and the cheese is gooey.
Nutrition Information:
Calories: 527kcal Carbohydrates: 29g Protein: 38g Fat: 29g Saturated Fat: 12g Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 12g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 109mg Sodium: 1452mg Potassium: 726mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 6g Vitamin A: 731IU Vitamin C: 8mg Calcium: 294mg Iron: 5mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!
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