Cheesy Pizza Burgers Recipe

Cheesy Homemade Pizza Burgers Recipe: Two Favorites Combined!

Melting cheese and juicy beef create a mouthwatering pizza burgers fusion that combines two classic comfort foods.

This culinary mashup delivers explosive flavors in every single bite.

Weekend grilling champions and home cooks will love how simple the recipe becomes.

Burger lovers appreciate the creative twist on traditional patties.

The secret lies in blending premium ground beef with classic pizza seasonings and toppings.

Each burger promises a delicious journey through familiar yet exciting taste territories.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 550 kcal

Servings: 3

Everything Inside Pizza Burgers

For Meat Base:
  • Ground Beef: Provides rich, hearty protein foundation with deep flavor and satisfying texture for burger base.
  • Italian Seasoning: Infuses classic pizza-inspired herbal notes that complement the beef's robust taste.
  • Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the meat's natural flavors.
For Moisture and Melting Elements:
  • Olive Oil: Creates perfect searing environment and prevents patties from sticking during cooking.
  • Marinara Sauce: Adds tangy tomato profile that mimics traditional pizza sauce and keeps burgers juicy.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Delivers classic stretchy, melty pizza-style topping with creamy mild flavor.
For Garnish and Finishing Touches:
  • Pepperoni Slices: Introduces spicy, savory pizza-inspired protein element with crispy edges.
  • Black Olives: Provides briny, salty accent that elevates overall burger complexity.
  • Fresh Basil or Parsley: Brings bright, herbal freshness and vibrant green color as final garnish.
  • Burger Buns: Serves as sturdy, toasted foundation that holds all ingredients together.

Tools To Make Pizza Burgers At Home

  • Mixing bowl: Essential for combining ground beef with seasonings and forming patties.
  • Skillet or grill: Perfect for cooking burgers with even heat and creating delicious sear marks.
  • Spatula: Helps flip patties smoothly and transfer them to buns.
  • Knife: Useful for slicing toppings like pepperoni and herbs.
  • Measuring spoons: Ensures accurate seasoning for the meat.
  • Cheese slicer or knife: Helps cut mozzarella cheese precisely.
  • Tongs: Great for handling hot patties and moving them around the cooking surface.

How To Assemble And Cook Pizza Burgers

  • Flavor Foundation

Ground beef gets a flavor makeover with classic Italian seasonings. Shape four perfect patties with a gentle center dimple to ensure even cooking, guaranteeing juicy results.

  • Sizzling Transformation

Fire up a skillet or grill to medium-high heat. Cook those patties until they develop a gorgeous golden-brown exterior, roughly 4-5 minutes per side. Watch for that perfect sear.

  • Cheesy Magnificence

Drench each patty with rich marinara sauce, then crown with a melty mozzarella slice. Let the cheese luxuriously cascade over the meat, creating a molten pizza-inspired topping.

  • Burger Construction

Nestle each flavor-packed patty onto a toasted bun. Get creative with classic pizza toppings like crispy pepperoni, tangy black olives, or a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

  • Delicious Finale

Serve these pizza burgers piping hot with extra marinara sauce for an irresistible dipping experience. Get ready for a flavor explosion that bridges burger and pizza worlds.

Smart Tips For Juicy Pizza Burgers

  • Pizza Burger Perfection: Insider Tips for Irresistible Results
  • Meat Master Technique: Choose ground beef with 80/20 fat content for juicier, more flavorful burgers that stay moist during cooking.
  • Seasoning Secret: Blend Italian herbs like oregano, basil, and garlic powder directly into the meat mixture for deeper pizza-inspired flavor that penetrates every bite.
  • Cheese Melting Magic: Let cheese sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before adding to patties, ensuring smoother and faster melting with perfect coverage.
  • Low-Carb Transformation: Swap burger buns with large lettuce leaves or portobello mushroom caps for a keto-friendly and gluten-free alternative that keeps the pizza burger essence intact.
  • Vegetarian Variation: Replace ground beef with plant-based burger patties or grilled portobello mushrooms, maintaining the pizza-inspired toppings and marinara sauce for a delicious meatless version.

How To Serve Pizza Burgers Fresh

  • Pizza Party Platter: Create a fun buffet-style spread with various pizza burger toppings like sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, and extra cheese for guests to customize their burgers.
  • Dip Delights: Set out small bowls of marinara, ranch, or garlic aioli for an interactive dipping experience that elevates the burger's flavor profile.
  • Family-Style Feast: Slice burgers in half and arrange on a large wooden board with colorful side salads, crispy potato wedges, or garlic bread to make mealtime feel special and communal.
  • Picnic Perfect: Pack these burgers in a cooler for outdoor adventures, wrapping them individually in foil to keep them warm and portable for beach trips, park outings, or backyard gatherings.

How To Store Leftover Pizza Burgers

  • Quick Chill Method: Wrap individual pizza burgers in parchment paper or aluminum foil after cooling to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, maintaining their delicious flavor and texture.
  • Freezer-Friendly Option: Separate burger patties with wax paper before freezing in an airtight container. They'll stay fresh for 1-2 months, ready for a quick reheat when unexpected hunger strikes.
  • Reheating Secrets: Warm refrigerated burgers in a skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side, ensuring crispy edges and melted cheese. Avoid microwave reheating to prevent soggy buns and tough meat.
  • Smart Prep Strategy: Assemble burger patties and chop toppings ahead of time, storing separately in sealed containers. This meal prep technique saves time and allows for easy, quick assembly during busy weeknights.
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Cheesy Pizza Burgers Recipe

Cheesy Pizza Burgers Recipe


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4.5 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 3 1x

Description

Hearty pizza burgers merge classic Italian and American flavors into one delicious handheld meal. Cheese-stuffed ground beef patties topped with marinara sauce create a mouthwatering fusion that satisfies hungry diners seeking comfort and excitement.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (80/20 for juicier burgers)
  • 4 slices mozzarella cheese (or provolone)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) marinara sauce (plus extra for serving)
  • 4 burger buns, toasted
  • ¼ cup (60 g) pepperoni slices, chopped (optional)
  • ¼ cup (40 g) black olives, sliced (optional)
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil (for grilling or frying)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Meat Preparation: Blend ground beef with Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Craft four even patties with a central depression to promote uniform cooking and prevent swelling.
  2. Cooking Process: Heat a skillet or grill to medium-high with a light olive oil coating. Sear patties for 4-5 minutes per side, achieving a golden-brown crust and desired internal temperature.
  3. Pizza Transformation: Ladle marinara sauce over each patty, crown with a mozzarella slice, and cover to create a melted, pizza-inspired cheese blanket.
  4. Burger Assembly: Position patties on toasted buns, embellish with pepperoni, black olives, and a garnish of fresh basil or parsley for vibrant flavor and visual appeal.
  5. Serving: Plate immediately with a side of marinara sauce for additional dipping, ensuring a hot and appetizing presentation.

Notes

  • Meat Indentation Technique: Create a slight depression in the center of each patty to prevent uneven cooking and bulging, ensuring a perfectly shaped burger every time.
  • Cheese Melting Hack: Cover the skillet after adding marinara and cheese to trap heat, promoting even and quick melting of the mozzarella for that signature gooey pizza-style topping.
  • Herb Freshness Boost: Chop fresh basil or parsley just before serving to maximize flavor intensity and aromatic profile, giving the burger a vibrant finishing touch.
  • Customize Toppings Wisely: Experiment with alternative pizza-inspired toppings like sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, or swap pepperoni for vegetarian options to suit different dietary preferences and taste buds.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3
  • Calories: 550
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 950 mg
  • Fat: 34 g
  • Saturated Fat: 13 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
  • Trans Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 35 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 90 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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