~ Everyone’s favorite flavors of pizza and hamburgers combined in one juicy, satisfying sandwich! Quick and easy – with make-ahead tips, too! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Freezable • Includes Make-Ahead Steps •
So when you ask your family what they want for dinner, we’re gonna bet we can guess a couple things that often top their wish lists: pizza and burgers.
We get it! We totally crave those, too!
If only we could have both at once! If only pizza and burgers could be jam-crammed together into one amazing mouthful … if only … if only …… if only ………….
You can now officially stop your daydreaming, because these burgers are all of your dreamy wishes, rolled into one! One delicious, juicy, satisfying, might-make-you-cry-in-sheer-delight, pizza-y burger!
This recipe was a runaway hit at both our houses. (As in … we might have done maybe just a few more taste tests than were technically necessary … and we might secretly have a couple batches stashed in the freezer to satisfy the frequent requests …)
It’s another of our THK recipes that really and truly makes the kiddos cheer when dinner is announced. Not kidding. It happens.
When we first started kicking around ideas for this burger, the light bulb over Gretchen’s head went off (*ding*) – she remembered her mom’s pizza meatballs! A quick rummage turned up the recipe, lovingly recorded in one of her mom’s keepsake recipe books.
Alrighty then! We ran with that.
After tinkering with a few different cooking methods and spice combinations, we settled on the formulation that made every single taste tester deliriously, deliciously happy. Then we made these burgers several more times just because we wanted to eat them again … and again …
And while we’re in the business of granting wishes and fulfilling dreams, here’s one more little bonus for all you busy, busy cooks: They’re speedy-quick and really easy to make ahead of time, too. (Yay – THK make-ahead tips!) …
- You can prep these burgers earlier in the day or even a day ahead (just like our Italian Grilled Hamburgers). Store the patties, tightly wrapped in the fridge, until you’re ready to cook them.
- Or, make them way in advance and freeze them (uncooked) until you need them. It’s the perfect solution if you like to plan ahead for parties or cookouts!
We just know you’re gonna love these! Pizza … and burgers … together! Dreams really do come true!
Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Burgers
These Pizza Burgers are juicy and delicious, plus so quick and easy to make!
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Freezable • Includes Make-Ahead Steps •
Ingredients
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 20 slices turkey pepperoni (about 1 - 1 1/4 ounces), quartered
- 1/2 cup shredded, reduced-fat four-cheese Italian cheese blend
- 1/2 - 1 cup pizza sauce, warmed
- 4 whole wheat buns
- optional toppings for serving: onions, banana peppers, sliced black or green olives ... or anything else you like on your pizza
Instructions
- Break ground beef apart in a large bowl and sprinkle oregano, salt, basil, and garlic powder over top. Add pepperoni and cheese.
- Mix everything together until throughly combined. The key here is to be gentle and not over-mix. Over-worked burgers can be tough.
- Divide the mixture into four portions and lightly form into burgers. Compact each burger just enough that it stays together, but be very careful not to press too firmly or pack too tightly. Again, this can make the burgers tough.
- Preheat your grill, or a nonstick skillet or grill pan, on medium heat.
- Add the burgers and cook on the first side until nicely browned and mostly cooked through (about 5 minutes on the grill or in a covered skillet, or 8 minutes uncovered).
- Flip the burgers and continue cooking until just cooked through (about 3-5 minutes). Be careful not to overcook, which can cause the burgers to be dry.
- Serve your burgers on buns, topped with pizza sauce and any optional toppings you'd like.
Notes
Make-ahead options: Prep the burger patties earlier in the day or up to a day ahead, then store them, tightly wrapped in the fridge, until you're ready to cook them. To prep further ahead of time, you can freeze the uncooked patties and then thaw prior to cooking.
Burger divots: Some burgers tend to dome up during cooking. Although we haven't had much trouble with these particular burgers doing that, there's a simple method for preventing the problem in any burger recipe: Simply press a slight indentation (just use your thumb) into the middle of each burger before cooking.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 brugers Serving Size: 1 burgerAmount Per Serving: Calories: 470
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
Okay, let’s talk about how you managed to combine two of my favorite foods and still made it look appetizing! This is serious big news. So happy I found your blog, can’t wait to start reading!
Hey, Tara! We’re so happy you stopped by! Thanks so much for your kind words! Hope you enjoy some of our other recipes, too – and we’re definitely looking forward to checking out your blog, as well! 😀 ~G&S
I think these pizza burgers look delicious! Very interesting tip about putting a divot in the middle of the burger–we’ll try that! Thanks for all of the great recipes!
Thanks so much, Bill! Yeah – definitely try the divot. As we mentioned in the post, these burgers haven’t given us much trouble with cooking up into domed little balls, but many burgers have a tendency to do that as the meat’s collagen tightens during cooking. One little divot, and you’re looking like a burger superhero! Won’t your guests be impressed at your next cookout?!?!? 😀 ~G&S
We had these Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Burgers for dinner tonight. They were very tasty! We put two more in the freezer for use in a couple of days. This recipe has been added to my “You Don’t Have to Check With Me First to Fix This For Dinner” list. The divot in the burgers worked well, too!
Lol, Bill – love the approved list of “You Don’t Have to Check First” meals!!! And we’re so glad to help you find another recipe for the list! Thank you soooo much for stopping back to let us know how much you enjoyed them – we really, really appreciate it! 😀 ~G&S
Yum! These look great! Such a kid friendly burger. And I actually have some pepperoni in the refrigerator right now!
If you’ve got pepperoni waiting, then you just know this was meant to be! 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by, Kelly! ~G&S
These look fantastic – and what a GREAT idea! I love that you can freeze them too. I’m definitely trying this one, it puts two of our favorite things together! Pinned!
Thanks, Kristi! Yeah, freezing them in such a snap – it hardly takes any extra time to make a double or triple batch and freeze the extras. Then you’re set those for those last-minute dinner emergencies! Yay! 😀 ~G&S
Ladies! You guys are ROCKSTARS! Pizza and burgers together….without ruining my waistline? Me and the hubs are going to go crazy for these. Pinned!!
Wow! Rockstars?? 🙂 You’re so sweet, Taylor! You and your hubby will LOVE these! So tasty – and yep – healthy, too!!! ~G&S