Old School Pizza Burgers

Close up of pizza burger with a bite taken out of it to see the layers of bun, ground beef and mozzarella cheese

These old-school pizza burgers are a nostalgic mix of savory beef, melted cheese, and rich pizza sauce layered on toasted buns. They’re baked until golden and bubbly for that classic cafeteria-style flavor everyone remembers. You’ll love how quick and easy they are to make for busy nights or casual get-togethers.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 8

Total Time 28

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings burgers

Calories 293 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef as lean as possible
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup onion finely chopped
½ cup bell pepper any color, finely chopped
15 ounces pizza sauce
1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground, if possible
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
8 hamburger buns or English muffins
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
fresh parsley or Italian seasoning

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and peppers, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes.
Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onions and peppers, breaking up any large clumps. Stirring occasionally, cook until the meat is well-browned throughout. (Placing a lid on the pan will help the meat cook faster and more evenly.)
Drain the excess grease from the skillet and return the pan to the stovetop.
Add the pizza sauce, black pepper, salt, basil, and garlic powder to the skillet and mix well. Remove from heat.
Split the buns (or English muffins) and place each half, face up, on the lined baking sheet. Use a large spoon or measuring cup to scoop ⅓ cup of the seasoned meat onto each half. Top each with 2-3 tablespoons of shredded cheese.
Bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 8-10minutes.
Let rest for 5 minutes and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or Italian seasoning before serving.

Notes

Pizza sauce is preferred for this recipe for two reasons: the flavor, and it’s thicker than traditional spaghetti sauce which helps keep the meat together.

Nutrition

Keyword burgers, ground beef, pizza

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