Ultimate Pizza Burgers with Pepperoni & Mozzarella
Make the Ultimate Pizza Burgers! This fun recipe features a seasoned grilled beef patty on a toasted bun with pizza sauce, melty mozzarella cheese, and crispy pepperoni.
Ingredients
(Based on 1x column)
Burger Patties:
- ▢ 1 pound ground beef (80% lean / 20% fat recommended)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Assembly & Toppings:
- ▢ 4 hamburger buns, split
- ▢ ½ cup pizza sauce
- ▢ 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ▢ 16-24 slices pepperoni (4-6 per burger), divided
Instructions
1. Prepare and Season Burger Patties:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Gently mix the ingredients together with your hands until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the meat, as this can make the burgers tough.
- Shape the mixture into 4 equal-sized patties, about ½ to ¾-inch thick. Create a slight indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb to help them cook more evenly. Set the patties aside to rest briefly.
2. Preheat Grill & Broiler, Toast Buns:
- Preheat your grill or a stovetop grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Adjust an oven rack so it is about 3-4 inches from the broiler element and preheat the oven’s broiler.
- Arrange the split hamburger buns, cut side up, on a large baking sheet. Place under the broiler and toast for 1-2 minutes, or until just golden. Watch them very carefully as they can burn quickly!
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Set the top halves of the buns aside.
3. Grill Burgers and Warm Sauce:
- While the buns toast, place the seasoned burger patties on the preheated grill.
- Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked to your desired doneness.
- While the burgers are cooking on the grill, warm the pizza sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.
4. Assemble Bottoms and First Broil:
- Once the burgers are nearly done grilling, begin assembling the bottoms.
- Spread half of the warm pizza sauce (about ¼ cup total) evenly over the 4 toasted bottom buns on the baking sheet.
- Top the sauce with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese (about ½ cup total) and half of the pepperoni slices.
- Place the baking sheet back under the preheated broiler for 2-3 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
5. Add Burgers, Final Toppings, and Final Broil:
- Remove the baking sheet from the broiler.
- Place one cooked burger patty on each of the cheesy bottom buns.
- Top each burger patty with the remaining warm pizza sauce, the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese, and the remaining pepperoni slices.
- Place the baking sheet back under the broiler for another 1-2 minutes, or until the top layer of cheese is melted and bubbly and the pepperoni is slightly crisped. Watch very carefully!
6. Serve:
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
- Place the top halves of the toasted buns over the burgers.
- Serve the Pizza Burgers immediately while hot and gooey. Enjoy!