This pizza burger recipe has settled countless dinnertime debates in our house. Emma could never decide between pizza night and burger night, so I created this mashup that delivers both in one satisfying meal. After dozens of test runs with different cheese blends and sauce ratios, I've nailed down the perfect combination - Italian-seasoned beef, gooey mozzarella, crispy pepperoni, and tangy marinara all working together on a toasted bun.
Why You'll Love This Simple Pizza Burger Recipe
Back years of making weeknight dinners for picky eaters, I've learned what makes a recipe stick. This pizza burger hits all the right notes - it's fast enough for busy Tuesday nights but special enough that Emma asks for it by name. The Italian seasonings mixed into the beef mean every bite tastes like pizza, not just the toppings. Plus, you can customize each burger to suit different tastes, which saves me from making multiple meals when Emma wants pepperoni and his friend prefers just cheese.
What really sells this recipe is how forgiving it is. The cheese melts beautifully whether you're using fresh mozzarella or the pre-shredded stuff from your fridge. Store-bought marinara works just as well as homemade. You can grill these outdoors in summer or cook them on the stovetop in winter. And because everything cooks together, you're not juggling multiple pans or dealing with complicated timing - just season, cook, top, and serve.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Simple Pizza Burger Recipe
- Ingredients for Pizza Burger Recipe
- How To Make Pizza Burger Recipe Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Pizza Burger Recipe
- Pizza Burger Recipe Variations
- Equipment For Pizza Burger Recipe
- Storing Your Pizza Burger Recipe
- Grandma's Hidden Recipe: A Family's Legacy
- Top Tip
- What to Serve With Pizza Burger Recipe
- FAQ
- Time for Burger Night Done Right!
- Related
- Pairing
- Pizza Burger Recipe
Ingredients for Pizza Burger Recipe
The Burger Foundation:
- Ground beef
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt and pepper
- Grated Parmesan
Pizza Toppings:
- Mozzarella cheese
- Pepperoni slices
- Marinara sauce
- Fresh basil leaves
The Bun & Extras:
- Optional: mushrooms, olives, bell peppers
- Hamburger buns
- Butter for toasting
- Olive oil
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Pizza Burger Recipe Step By Step
Prep Work:
- Mix Italian seasonings into ground beef
- Add Parmesan and garlic powder
- Form into patties
- Make slight indent in center
- Warm marinara sauce on low
Cook the Burgers:
- Heat grill or skillet to medium-high
- Cook patties 4-5 minutes first side
- Flip once only
- Cook 3-4 minutes second side
- Check temp reaches 160°F
Build the Pizza Magic:
- Top each burger with mozzarella
- Add pepperoni slices
- Cover to melt cheese
- Toast buns with butter
- Remove burgers when cheese bubbles
Assembly:
- Top bun and serve hot
- Spread marinara on bottom bun
- Place cheesy burger on top
- Add fresh basil if using
Smart Swaps for Pizza Burger Recipe
Meat Options:
- Ground beef → Ground turkey
- Regular → Lean ground chicken
- Beef → Plant-based burger
- Standard → Ground lamb (extra flavor)
Cheese Choices:
- Mozzarella → Provolone
- Fresh → Pre-shredded
- Dairy → Vegan mozzarella
- Regular → Burrata (fancy version)
Sauce Alternatives:
- Marinara → Pizza sauce
- Tomato → Pesto base
- Red sauce → Alfredo (white pizza style)
- Store-bought → Homemade
Bun Swaps:
- Buns → Lettuce wrap (low-carb)
- Hamburger buns → Ciabatta rolls
- Regular → English muffins
- Wheat → Gluten-free buns
Pizza Burger Recipe Variations
Supreme Style:
- Add sautéed mushrooms
- Diced bell peppers
- Sliced black olives
- Extra cheese layer
Meat Lover's:
- Crumbled Italian sausage
- Bacon strips
- Ham slices
- Double pepperoni
Veggie Loaded:
- Grilled zucchini
- Roasted red peppers
- Fresh spinach
- Sun-dried tomatoes
White Pizza Burger:
- Skip marinara
- Use Alfredo sauce
- Add ricotta dollop
- Fresh garlic and herbs
BBQ Pizza Fusion:
- BBQ sauce instead of marinara
- Red onion slices
- Bacon pieces
- Cheddar and mozzarella mix
Equipment For Pizza Burger Recipe
- Grill or heavy skillet
- Wide spatula
- Meat thermometer
- Small pot for sauce
- Cheese grater (optional)
Storing Your Pizza Burger Recipe
Best Fresh:
- Serve immediately after cooking
- Cheese tastes best when hot and melty
- Assemble burgers right before eating
Leftover Storage (1-2 days):
- Store cooked patties separate from buns
- Keep in airtight container
- Refrigerate sauce separately
- Cheese can stay on patties
Reheating Tips:
- Warm patties in skillet over medium heat
- Add fresh cheese if needed
- Toast fresh buns
- Warm sauce separately
- Reassemble with fresh toppings
Make-Ahead Option:
- Season just before cooking
- Form patties in advance
- Store uncooked up to 24 hours
- Keep separated with parchment
Grandma's Hidden Recipe: A Family's Legacy
My grandmother grew up in a small Italian neighborhood where every family had their own version of everything. But her pizza burgers were different - she'd learned the trick from her best friend's mother who ran a tiny sandwich shop in the 1950s. Instead of just seasoning the outside of the meat, she would create a pocket in each patty and stuff it with a mixture of ricotta, fresh basil, and a touch of garlic. Then she'd seal it up so nobody could see what was inside until they took that first bite.
The real magic happened when those burgers hit the heat. The ricotta would melt into the beef, creating this incredible creamy center that mixed with the juices. She'd top them with her homemade marinara that she'd simmer all day with a secret ingredient - a small piece of orange peel that she'd fish out before serving. "It brightens everything without being orange," she'd explain when anyone asked why her sauce tasted different. Now when I make this pizza burger recipe with that hidden ricotta center.
Top Tip
- Emma discovered something by pure accident that changed our pizza burgers forever. One evening, he was helping me grate mozzarella when he got impatient and just tore chunks of the cheese with his hands instead. "Mom, let's just rip it!" he said, dropping uneven pieces onto the hot burgers. I was about to explain why we grate cheese evenly, but then I watched what happened.
- Those torn, irregular pieces of mozzarella created pockets where some cheese melted into the burger while other chunks stayed thick and gooey on top. The different textures made every bite interesting - some parts had that stretchy cheese pull, others had concentrated cheesy spots. Now we deliberately tear the mozzarella instead of grating it perfectly. Emma calls them "cheese puddles and cheese mountains," and honestly, it's become his signature move with this pizza burger recipe.
What to Serve With Pizza Burger Recipe
From years of making these for family dinners, I've found that the best sides balance out the richness of the pizza burger without competing for attention. Classic options like crispy French fries, sweet potato fries, or onion rings work perfectly - they're familiar comfort foods that let the burger be the star. For lighter fare, a simple green salad, coleslaw, or cucumber tomato salad cuts through all that melted cheese and provides a refreshing contrast.
If you want to lean into the Italian theme of this pizza burger recipe, try serving it with garlic bread, a classic Caprese salad, or an antipasto platter with olives and pickled vegetables. Italian pasta salad also works great for cookouts when you're feeding a crowd. The key is keeping sides simple - these burgers already pack bold pizza flavors, so you don't need anything fancy or heavily seasoned competing on the plate. Sometimes a handful of chips and some carrot sticks are all you need to round out the meal.
FAQ
What goes on a Pizza Burger Recipe?
A classic pizza burger features marinara sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni on top of an Italian-seasoned beef patty. You can customize with traditional pizza toppings like mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, or extra cheese. The key is balancing moisture so toppings don't make the bun soggy.
Is a Pizza Burger Recipe difficult to make?
Not at all - Pizza Burger Recipe are actually easier than making pizza from scratch. Simply season ground beef with Italian spices, cook like regular burgers, then top with cheese and pepperoni while still hot. The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners.
How to make mozzarella burger?
Mix Italian seasoning into ground beef, form patties, and cook until nearly done. Top with fresh or shredded mozzarella during the last 2 minutes of cooking, covering the pan to help cheese melt. The cheese should be bubbly and melted before removing from heat.
Who is the owner of Pizza Burger Recipe?
Pizza Burger Recipe is a general recipe concept rather than a trademarked dish, so there's no single owner. This fusion food has been made in home kitchens and restaurants for decades. Anyone can create their own version of this pizza burger recipe with their preferred toppings and seasonings.
Time for Burger Night Done Right!
Now you have all the secrets to perfect Pizza Burger Recipe - from the Italian-seasoned patties to Grandma's hidden ricotta center trick. This mashup proves that sometimes the best recipes come from combining two classics into something even better.
Craving more comfort food favorites? Try our Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe that brings French bistro flavors to your weeknight table. For seafood lovers, The Best Clam Linguine Recipe delivers restaurant-quality pasta in under 30 minutes. Want something light and fresh? Our Delicious and Easy Ceviche Recipe is perfect for summer entertaining!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Pizza Burger Recipe
Pizza Burger Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Grill or Heavy Skillet (To cook the patties)
- 1 Wide spatula (To flip burgers easily)
- 1 Meat thermometer (For checking burger doneness (160°F))
- 1 Small Pot (To warm marinara sauce)
- 1 Cheese Grater (Optional) (To grate mozzarella if preferred)
Ingredients
- 1lb Pounds Ground Beef - For the burger patty base
- 1tbsp Teaspoon Italian Seasoning - Mixed into the beef
- 1tsp Teaspoon Garlic Powder - Seasoning for flavor
- 1tsp Teaspoon Onion Powder - Seasoning for flavor
- 1tsp Teaspoon Salt - For seasoning
- 1tsp Teaspoon Pepper - For seasoning
- ¼Cup cup Grated Parmesan - Mixed into the beef
- 4oz Ounces Mozzarella Cheese - Sliced or torn into pieces
- 8-12Slices Pepperoni As topping - for each burger
- 1Cup cup Marinara Sauce - Warmed for serving
- 4-8 Leaves Fresh Basil - Optional garnish
- 4 Buns Hamburger Buns - Buttered and toasted
- 2tbsp Tablespoon Butter - For toasting the buns
- 1tbsp Tablespoon Olive Oil - Optional for cooking the patties
Instructions
-
Mix Italian seasonings into beef and form patties
-
Heat the marinara sauce in a small pot over low heat
-
Cook beef patties on medium-high heat until fully cooked
- Top each patty with mozzarella and pepperoni, cover to melt
-
Toast buns, add sauce, place patty on bun, and garnish with basil
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