Pizza and burgers are two of the most loved comfort foods in the world, and this pizza burger recipe combines the best of both worlds! A Pizza Burger is essentially a burger with pizza toppings, and tastes absolutely incredible in each bite!
With its juicy beef patty, melty cheese, tangy tomato sauce, and delicious hamburger bun, each bite is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that will satisfy any craving.
So if you’re looking for a new twist on classic comfort food, try this Pizza Burger recipe and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Want to learn how to make this Pizza Burger recipe? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
- What is a Pizza Burger?
- What Makes This Pizza Burger Recipe Special?
- What You Need to Make Pizza Burger at Home
- How to Make Pizza Burger (Step-by-Step)
- Tips for Making the Best Pizza Burger Ever
- Recipe Variations for Pizza Burger
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Store Leftover Pizza Burger
- Similar Recipes You'll Love
- Recipe Card
- Pizza Burger Recipe (Classic Pizza Flavors in a Burger!)
- Comments
What is a Pizza Burger?
A pizza burger is a hybrid dish combining the two popular fast foods of pizza and burger. It is a burger patty topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and other traditional pizza toppings like pepperoni, green peppers, and olives. The patty is often sandwiched between two slices of hamburger buns for that burger variation.
The origins of pizza burgers are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have first been created in the United States in the 1970s. It quickly gained popularity as a comfort food that satisfied cravings for both pizza and burgers in one delicious package.
What's good about pizza burgers is that they offer the best of both worlds, making them a great option for people who can't decide between pizza and burgers. They are also versatile, allowing you to customize the toppings to your liking.
Plus, the combination of melted cheese, savory meat, and tangy tomato sauce creates a mouthwatering flavor that is sure to satisfy your cravings.
What Makes This Pizza Burger Recipe Special?
Delicious: The combination of pizza and burger flavors makes this recipe a taste sensation that's sure to satisfy your cravings. The juicy beef patty, melted cheese, and pepperoni melds together with the marinara sauce for an explosion of flavors in every bite.
Versatile: You can customize this recipe to fit your personal taste preferences. Swap out the protein for ground turkey or chicken, use different types of cheese, add veggies like mushrooms or peppers, or experiment with different marinara sauces. The possibilities are endless!
Easy: This recipe is simple to make, making it perfect for easy weeknight dinners or entertaining. You can even make the homemade pizza sauce and patties ahead of time, so all you have to do is assemble and cook when you're ready.
Crowd-pleaser: Who doesn't love pizza and burgers? Combining two classic favorites is sure to be a hit with family and friends. Plus, it's a great way to switch up your traditional burger night routine.
Fun: There's something playful and fun about a pizza burger. It's a unique and creative take on two iconic foods, and it's not often you get to enjoy both at the same time. This recipe is perfect for kids and adults alike who want to indulge in a little bit of culinary whimsy.
What You Need to Make Pizza Burger at Home
All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make these delicious pizza burgers at home. Let's look at them in more detail:
- Ground beef: You'll be needing some ground beef to make this recipe; we'll be browning it in a skillet before adding other ingredients.
- Salt: We'll also need some salt to season the ground beef and enhance its flavor; it'll help draw out moisture and make the meat tender as it cooks.
- Black pepper: Adding some black pepper to the ground beef will give it a subtle but noticeable heat and complement the other flavors in the recipe.
- Mozzarella cheese: We'll need some mozzarella cheese to melt on top of the beef to create a gooey, cheesy layer, adding a rich flavor and gooey texture to the burger.
- Large pepperoni slices: Adding large pepperoni slices will bring the burger a spicy, savory taste; each bite will be loaded with bold flavor.
- Pizza sauce: We'll also need some pizza sauce to spread on the buns before adding other ingredients; it'll infuse the burger with a delicious, tangy flavor.
- Hamburger buns: Some soft burger buns will hold the beef and toppings in place, giving the burger its classic shape while adding a chewy texture.
How to Make Pizza Burger (Step-by-Step)
Making these delicious pizza burgers is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:
Start by dividing one pound of ground beef into four equal portions.
Take each piece of ground beef and shape it into a burger patty of desired thickness.
Preheat your grill to a temperature of 350°F and place the burger patties onto the grill. Season them with salt and black pepper.
After a few minutes, flip the burger patties to the other side and season them lightly with salt and pepper. Cook the burgers until they reach your desired level of doneness.
Once the burgers are nearly cooked, add a slice of mozzarella cheese on top of each burger and 3 discs of pepperoni on top of the cheese.
While the burgers are at the last stage of cooking, place the buns onto the grill to toast them.
Once the burgers are cooked, transfer them onto a platter and let them rest for five minutes while you heat up the pizza sauce.
Take the bottom half of the toasted bun and place it onto a plate. Add another slice of cheese (optional) if you prefer a more cheesy flavor.
Then, place the grilled burger on top of the cheese and pepperoni.
Using a few spoons, add some warm pizza sauce onto the top half of the bun or on top of pepperoni slices.
Finally, put the top half of the bun onto the burger that is piled with cheese, pepperoni, and pizza sauce.
Your delicious Pizza Burger is ready to be served and enjoyed warm and fresh!
Tips for Making the Best Pizza Burger Ever
Choose quality ingredients: Use fresh ingredients to enhance the flavor of your pizza burger. Opt for high-quality meats and vegetables to create the perfect combination.
Get the right bun: Choose a sturdy and flavorful bun that will hold up to the delicious toppings on the pizza burger. Brioche buns or pretzel buns are great options.
Pre-cook vegetables: Pre-cook vegetables like peppers and onions to ensure they are properly cooked and won't make your burger soggy or too watery.
Don't overcook the meat: Cook the meat to just the right temperature to ensure that it stays juicy and flavorful. Overcooking the meat will make it dry and tough.
Mix up your toppings: Experiment with different toppings like bacon, mushrooms, spinach, and olives to create a unique pizza burger that suits your taste preferences.
Let it rest: Allow the pizza burger to rest for a few minutes before cutting it in half. This will prevent the toppings from spilling out and make it easier to eat.
Recipe Variations for Pizza Burger
This delicious pizza burger recipe is absolutely perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up here are a few variation ideas you can try:
Spicy: Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture for some extra heat. Top the cooked burger patty with sliced jalapeños, pepperoni, and a drizzle of hot sauce.
Italian variation: For a delicious Italian variation, combine ground beef with some Italian seasoning or oregano and seasonings before grilling your patties on medium-high heat in a large skillet or over the grill.
Vegetarian version: Swap out the ground beef for a vegetarian burger patty. Top the cooked patty with pizza sauce, sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions, and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.
Hawaiian flavored: Top the cooked burger patty with pizza sauce, sliced ham, pineapple chunks, and mozzarella cheese. Finish it off with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
BBQ bacon: Add a tablespoon of barbecue sauce to the beef mixture before forming it into patties. Cook the patty and top with more barbecue sauce, crispy bacon, red onion slices, and cheddar cheese. Serve on a toasted bun.
Meat-lover's variation: Mix chopped bacon and pepperoni into the ground beef before forming the patties. Top the cooked burger patty with more pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, and mozzarella cheese. Finish with a drizzle of pizza sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of meat instead of ground beef?
Yes, you can use ground turkey, chicken or pork instead of beef for this recipe.
Can I skip the pepperoni in the recipe?
Yes, you can skip the pepperoni if you prefer a plain pizza burger. You can also substitute it with any of your favorite pizza toppings.
Can I use a different type of cheese instead of mozzarella?
Yes, you can use any type of cheese you prefer instead of mozzarella, such as cheddar, provolone, or parmesan cheese
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, you can make a vegetarian version of this recipe by using a meatless ground meat substitute and omitting the pepperoni. You can also add vegetables of your choice as toppings or even use aromatics like garlic in the meat mixture.
How to Store Leftover Pizza Burger
To store leftovers of this pizza burger recipe, first cool the burger down at room temperature for no more than two hours. Then, place the leftover burgers in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge for up to four days.
To reheat, preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 10-12 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, microwave the burger for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through.
I don't recommend freezing these in a freezer since the texture of the ingredients, especially the burger patty, may change and become tough and dry when defrosted and reheated.
Similar Recipes You'll Love
See more grilling recipes.
Recipe Card
Pizza Burger Recipe (Classic Pizza Flavors in a Burger!)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. – grass-fed ground beef (80/20 lean to fat ratio)
- 1 tsp. – salt or to taste
- ½ tsp. – freshly cracked black pepper or to taste
- 8 slices – mozzarella cheese
- 12 slices – large peperoni disks
- ½ cup – pizza sauce (I used homemade pizza sauce)
- 4 - burger buns (you can use Brioche buns or my homemade burger buns for this recipe)
Instructions
How to Make Pizza Burger
- Start by dividing one pound of ground beef into four equal portions.
- Take each piece of ground beef and shape it into a burger patty of desired thickness.
- Preheat your grill to a temperature of 350°F and place the burger patties onto the grill. Season them with salt and black pepper.
- After a few minutes, flip the burger patties to the other side and season them lightly with salt and pepper. Cook the burgers until they reach your desired level of doneness.
- Once the burgers are nearly cooked, add a slice of mozzarella cheese on top of each burger and 3 discs of pepperoni on top of the cheese.
- While the burgers are at the last stage of cooking, place the buns onto the grill to toast them.
How to Assemble Pizza Burgers
- Once the burgers are cooked, transfer them onto a platter and let them rest for five minutes while you heat up the pizza sauce.
- Take the bottom half of the toasted bun and place it onto a plate. Add another slice of cheese (optional) if you prefer a more cheesy flavor.
- Then, place the grilled burger on top of the cheese and pepperoni.
- Using a few spoons, add some warm pizza sauce onto the top half of the bun.
- Finally, put the top half of the bun onto the burger that is piled with cheese, pepperoni, and sauce.
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