Juicy Pizza Burgers with Pepperoni (Printable)
Beef patties loaded with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni on toasted buns for a fun family dinner.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Patties
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
03 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ 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 tablespoon 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 ground beef, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined, then shape into 4 equal-sized patties.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until fully cooked through and juices run clear.
03 - Preheat the oven broiler to high. Place the bottom halves of the burger buns on a baking sheet, cut side up.
04 - Spread 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce onto each bun bottom, then place one cooked patty on top of each sauced bun.
05 - Spoon another tablespoon of pizza sauce over each patty. Layer shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, thinly sliced red onion, and bell pepper on top.
06 - Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is bubbly and fully melted.
07 - Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil leaves or red chili flakes if desired. Top with the remaining bun halves and serve hot with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It solves the eternal dinner debate when half the family wants burgers and the other half wants pizza.
- The broiler melts the cheese into those irresistible golden bubbles that make everyone hover around the oven.
02 -
- Walk away from the broiler for even thirty seconds and you will have burnt pepperoni and a kitchen that smells like regret for the rest of the evening.
- Letting the patties rest for two minutes after cooking keeps the juices inside instead of running out and soaking the buns.
03 -
- Press a small indent into the center of each raw patty with your thumb so they cook flat instead of puffing up like meatballs.
- Warm the pizza sauce slightly before spreading so it melts into the patty instead of cooling the meat down on contact.