Juicy Pizza Burgers with Pepperoni (Print Version)
Beef patties loaded with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni on toasted buns. Ready in 35 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ For the Patties
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
03 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ For Assembly
06 - 4 burger buns, split
07 - 1/2 cup pizza sauce
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1.5 oz pepperoni slices
10 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
11 - 1 small bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Optional Toppings
13 - Fresh basil leaves
14 - Red chili flakes
15 - Extra pizza sauce for dipping
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until evenly incorporated, then shape the mixture into 4 equal-sized patties.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Sear the patties for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until fully cooked through and juices run clear.
03 - While the patties cook, preheat the oven broiler to high. Arrange the bottom halves of the burger buns on a baking sheet.
04 - Spread approximately 1 tbsp of pizza sauce onto each bun bottom. Place one cooked patty on top of each sauced bun.
05 - Spoon another tbsp of pizza sauce over each patty. Layer with shredded mozzarella, pepperoni slices, thinly sliced red onion, and bell pepper strips.
06 - Transfer the baking sheet under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely, until the mozzarella is bubbly and fully melted.
07 - Remove from the oven. Garnish with fresh basil leaves or red chili flakes if desired, then cap each with the top bun half. Serve immediately with extra pizza sauce on the side for dipping.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It solves the eternal dinner debate when half the table wants burgers and the other half wants pizza.
- The broiler melts everything into a gooey, bubbling layer that tastes like you put far more effort into this than twenty minutes.
02 -
- Do not walk away from the broiler, because thirty seconds of distraction will gift you blackened cheese and a kitchen that smells like regret.
- Let the patties rest for two minutes after cooking before assembling, otherwise the juices run straight out and soak through the bun.
03 -
- Toast the bun tops lightly under the broiler for about thirty seconds before serving so they hold up against the sauce without falling apart.
- Shred your own mozzarella from a block rather than buying pre shredded, since the anti caking agents on bagged cheese keep it from melting into that perfect stretch.