Description
Old school pizza burgers are a nostalgic fusion of two classics, combining juicy beef patties with marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and pepperoni. This hearty dish delivers the flavors of pizza in the form of a burger, making it a fun and indulgent option for family dinners, game nights, or casual gatherings. Easy to customize with add-ins and dietary substitutions, these burgers are a comforting yet creative meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 hamburger buns
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8–12 pepperoni slices
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional add-ins: mushrooms, bell peppers, or onions
- Substitutions: turkey patties, plant-based patties, or gluten-free buns
Instructions
- Preheat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat and lightly oil the surface.
- Form ground beef into 4 equal patties and season both sides with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cook patties for 3–4 minutes per side, or until desired doneness.
- In the last minute of cooking, top each patty with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Cover until melted.
- Lightly toast the hamburger buns on the grill or toaster.
- Assemble burgers: place cheesy patty on bottom bun, add pepperoni slices, and top with remaining bun.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella for best melt and flavor.
- Slightly warm the marinara sauce before topping patties to avoid cooling.
- Toast buns to prevent sogginess and add texture.
- Customize with jalapeños, fresh herbs, or hot sauce for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilled / Skillet
- Cuisine: American / Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: ~520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg