Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or turkey/plant-based)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger buns (or English muffins/garlic bread)
- ¾ cup pizza or marinara sauce
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella (or provolone blend)
- 12–16 pepperoni slices or ½ lb cooked Italian sausage (optional)
- 1 cup sautéed veggies (mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives)
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan, for finishing
- Fresh basil or arugula, for serving (optional)
- Olive oil or butter, for toasting buns
- Crushed red pepper, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Season meat with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; gently form 4 equal patties.
- Cook patties on a hot grill or skillet over medium-high heat until browned and cooked to your liking.
- Spoon pizza sauce over hot patties; top with mozzarella and desired toppings (pepperoni, sautéed veggies).
- Cover pan or close grill briefly to melt cheese; alternatively, place patties on a sheet pan and broil 1–2 minutes until bubbly.
- Toast buns with a little olive oil or butter until golden to prevent sogginess.
- Assemble: bun, cheesy sauced patty, extra sauce if desired, Parmesan, basil or arugula, top bun. Serve immediately.
Notes
Go light on sauce to keep buns crisp. Pre-cook hearty veggies for best texture. Finish under the broiler for that classic pizza melt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grill or Stovetop
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: pizza burgers, burger recipe, mozzarella burger, pepperoni burger, weeknight dinner, party food