Tasty Italian Burger Fusion

This mash-up of pizza and burger brings together two comfort food icons in one mind-blowing meal that's ideal for busy weeknights or laid-back parties. You'll get all the joy of pizza flavors - juicy beef, gooey cheese, tangy sauce, and crispy pepperoni - but in a handy burger form you can pick up.

I came up with these tasty creations when my nephew couldn't choose between having burgers or pizza one night. Our compromise turned into an instant hit that now shows up on our dinner menu a couple times each month.

What You'll Need

• Ground beef: Go for 80/20 meat-to-fat mix for the right balance of taste and juiciness without turning too oily
• Italian seasoning: Packs all those pizza flavors into one easy shake
• Garlic powder: Gives the meat a fragrant kick that works great with the sauce
• Pizza sauce: Pick one that's nice and thick so it won't drip everywhere
• Mozzarella cheese: The bagged kind works fine for busy nights though fresh is amazing
• Pepperoni: Grab a good brand that'll get nice and crispy under heat
• Hamburger buns: Any sturdy bun does the job but brioche adds extra yumminess
• Salt and pepper: Brings out all the beefy goodness in your patties

Making It Happen

Mix and Shape Your Burgers:

Put your beef in a big bowl and mix in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper with your hands until everything's well combined. Split the mix into four equal chunks and gently shape them into patties a bit wider than your buns since they'll shrink while cooking. Push your thumb into the middle of each to make a small dent that keeps them flat. Let them sit out for about 10 minutes to warm up a bit.

Get Those Buns Ready:

While your meat rests, put your split buns cut-side up on a baking sheet and stick them under the broiler for a minute or two until they turn golden. Keep an eye on them as they burn fast! Take the top halves off and set them aside, leaving the bottoms on the sheet.

Cook Your Patties:

Fire up your grill or pan to medium-high. Once it's hot, throw on your patties and let them cook without messing with them for 4-5 minutes until the bottom gets crusty and you see juices on top. Flip once and cook another 4-5 minutes for medium. Don't smash them down or you'll lose all those tasty juices.

Build Your Base:

While patties cook, warm up your pizza sauce in a small pot. Spread a spoonful over each bottom bun, sprinkle some cheese on top, and add a few slices of pepperoni. Stick them under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and pepperoni edges curl up a bit.

Finish Them Off:

Put your cooked patties on top of that cheesy layer, then add more sauce, the rest of your cheese, and extra pepperoni on each burger. Back under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until everything's all melty and bubbly. Cap with your toasted top buns and dig in right away.

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That Italian seasoning mix really makes all the difference in this recipe. I found out the hard way when I ran out once and tried to mix up my own herbs. The burgers were still good but something wasn't quite right. Now I always keep a spare jar of good Italian seasoning just for making these.

Prep Them Early

You can get a jump on dinner by prepping these burgers ahead of time. Season and shape your patties up to a day before, wrap them up in the fridge with some parchment paper between each one so they don't stick together. You can even cook the patties ahead and store them, though they're tastiest fresh off the grill. When you're ready to eat, just warm the pre-cooked patties in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes before adding your sauce and cheese.

Nailing That Cheese Pull

Using the broiler twice in this recipe gives you perfectly melted cheese throughout your burger. For an even more impressive stretchy cheese effect, try throwing in a bit of provolone with your mozzarella. They work together to create that amazing stretch pizza fans go crazy for. If you're using fresh mozzarella, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels first so your buns don't get all soggy.

Mix It Up

The classic pepperoni version is always a hit, but you can switch things up based on your favorite pizza toppings. Want a supreme version? Toss in some cooked mushrooms, peppers, and onions under the cheese. Meat fans can add some cooked Italian sausage bits along with the pepperoni. For the veggie crowd, try some fresh basil leaves after broiling or a sprinkle of oregano before serving. And BBQ lovers can swap in some barbecue sauce for half the pizza sauce and add some sweet caramelized onions.

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When you need a satisfying dinner that's quick and totally crave-worthy, these pizza burgers always hit the spot. They'll soon be on your family's most-requested list.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use ground turkey instead of beef for these pizza burgers?

Absolutely! Turkey works great as a lighter option. Just mix in a tablespoon of olive oil with the meat since turkey doesn't have as much fat as beef. Cook them about a minute less on each side so they don't dry out.

→ What sides pair well with pizza burgers?

These burgers taste amazing with cheesy garlic fries, a fresh garden salad with Italian dressing, soft garlic bread, or grilled veggies like zucchini and peppers. If you want something lighter, try a crisp Caesar salad or some tangy coleslaw.

→ Can I make these pizza burgers ahead of time?

You can shape the patties a day early and keep them in your fridge covered up. For the best taste, cook them right before eating and add the toppings last minute. If you need to, you can fully cook everything and warm it up under the broiler until it's hot and the cheese melts again.

→ What can I use instead of pepperoni for a vegetarian version?

For a meat-free option, ditch the pepperoni and try adding cooked mushrooms, sweet roasted peppers, browned onions, sliced olives, or even chunks of pineapple. You can also swap the beef patties for any good veggie burger mix.

→ How can I make these pizza burgers spicier?

To crank up the heat, mix some crushed red pepper into your beef, grab spicy pepperoni instead of regular, throw on some fresh jalapeño slices, or stir hot sauce into your tomato sauce. You might also want to swap out some or all of the mozzarella for pepper jack cheese.

→ Can I cook these pizza burgers in the oven instead of grilling?

Sure thing! Just pop the patties in a 400°F oven for around 15 minutes or until they hit 160°F inside. Then add all your toppings and broil them like in the main directions to get that nice melty finish.