Pizza Burgers are the ultimate easy comfort food that brings a nostalgic twist to a classic favorite! I top toasted English muffins with a saucy mixture of crumbled meat, frozen peppers and onions, then add melty mozzarella and optional pepperoni for plenty of pizza flavor. The frozen vegetables mean there’s no chopping, and the whole recipe is ready in about 30 minutes! I remember pizza burgers from my school cafeteria, and even my mom says she enjoyed them during her school days. At about $1.71 a serving, they’re a fun and budget-friendly way to switch up your dinner routine (and kids LOVE them!)
Homemade Cheesy Pizza Burgers
I used to get pizza burgers at school lunch, served open-faced, and this version brings back all that nostalgic, cheesy goodness! I kept this recipe as simple and inexpensive as possible by using a tube of ground beef and pork, which was significantly cheaper than straight ground beef at my store (though you can use whatever ground meat you like!). Start by cooking the meat in one pan with frozen peppers and onions, then drain off the excess fat before adding the marinara. This keeps the filling rich and savory without making it greasy. Then all that’s left to do is spoon it over pre-toasted English muffins, top with mozzarella and pepperoni (if using), and bake until bubbly.
These pizza burgers are saucy, cheesy, crisp around the edges, and the easiest dinner to throw together for my family when time is tight. There’s no chopping. No patties to shape. Very few dishes. AND THEY’RE FREEZER-FRIENDLY TOO! If easy pizza-night recipes are your thing, try our French bread pizza recipe next!
Recipe Success Tips
- Toast the English muffins first. One thing I want to avoid with these pizza burgers is a soggy bottom. To combat this, I toast the sliced muffins for about 5 minutes until the cut side feels dry and very lightly toasted. Toasted muffins create a sturdier base that doesn’t immediately start soaking up the sauce from the topping.
- Cook off the extra moisture. Frozen peppers and onions release water as they cook, so sauté them until softened and any liquid in the pan has evaporated before adding the meat!
- Drain the excess fat. I used a ground beef and pork blend because it was the cheaper option at my store, but it still gives these pizza burgers a classic hamburger flavor. It does render quite a bit of fat, though, so I made sure to carefully blot it with folded paper towels to drain some of the grease away. This helps keep the meat sauce from tasting or feeling super greasy. Never pour hot grease down the drain, as it can cause a blockage!
Pizza Burgers
Equipment
- Sauté Pan
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil $0.05
- 1 lb. ground beef and pork blend $3.97*
- ½ Tbsp Italian seasoning $0.05
- 24 oz. marinara sauce one 24 oz. can, $1.58**
- ¾ cup frozen peppers and onions 5 oz., (half a bag) $0.78***
- 12 slices mozzarella cheese $1.84
- 6 English muffins 1 package, $1.62
- 12 slices pepperoni optional, $0.38
Instructions
- Gather ingredients. Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Cut English muffins in half and toast in the oven for about 5 minutes.
- In a sauté pan, add the olive oil and half the bag of frozen peppers and onions (¾ cup of frozen veggies). Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the entire tube of ground beef and pork, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
- Cook until all of the meat is browned, about 5-10 minutes.
- Tilt the sauté pan and soak up the fat from the pan with a paper towel, or strain it out carefully.
- Next, add the canned sauce and Italian seasoning blend.
- Mix and simmer over medium-low heat until warm and bubbly, about 6 minutes.
- Spoon the meat and sauce mixture over each of the toasted English muffins.
- Cover each with 1 slice of mozzarella cheese. I cut mine in half and crossed them over the top so it would fit better.
- Quarter the pepperoni slices and add them to the top of the pizza burgers (optional).
- Bake the pizza burgers until the cheese has melted and begun to toast on top, about 8-10 minutes. Enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition
how to make Pizza Burgers Step-by-Step Photos
Gather all of your ingredients and preheat the oven to 350°F.
Toast the English muffins: Split 6 English muffins in half and arrange all 12 halves cut side up on a large baking sheet. Toast for about 5 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
Cook the vegetables: As the muffins toast, heat 1 tsp olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add 5 oz. (about ¾ cup) frozen peppers and onions. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until softened and any liquid released by the vegetables has evaporated.
Cook the meat: Add 1 lb. ground beef and pork blend to the pan. Break it into small crumbles with a spatula and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until completely browned and the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
Drain the excess fat: Remove the pan from the heat and carefully discard any pooled fat. I do this by blotting it with folded paper towels. You can also spoon it into a heat-safe container.
Make the topping: Now return the pan to medium-low heat. Stir in one 24 oz. container of marinara sauce and ½ Tbsp Italian seasoning.
Simmer uncovered for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling is hot, bubbly, and thick enough to mound on the English muffins. If the sauce still looks loose, simmer it a little longer so it doesn’t make the muffins soggy.
Assemble the pizza burgers: Divide the meat mixture evenly among the 12 toasted English muffin halves.
Now top each half with 1 slice of mozzarella cheese. For a better fit, I like to cut each slice in half and cross the two pieces over the round muffin. If using, quarter 12 pepperoni slices and divide the pieces evenly among the pizza burgers (I’ve shared some more topping ideas below!).
Bake: Place the sheet pan into the preheated oven and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the filling is hot and the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and beginning to brown around the edges. Serve hot and enjoy!
More Topping Ideas!
Treat these homemade pizza burgers like any other pizza and add whatever toppings you want! I’d scatter them over the cheese before baking, or finely chop them and stir them into the meat mixture. Here are some ideas to try:
- Mushrooms: Sauté them first until browned and their liquid has evaporated, then stir them into the meat sauce.
- Olives, banana peppers, or jalapeños: I’d drain them well, dice them smaller, and add them on top before baking.
- Cooked bacon, ham, or sausage: Chop into small pieces and mix them into the filling or sprinkle them over the cheese.
- Spinach: Stir it into the hot meat sauce and let it wilt before topping the English muffin halves.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Mix into the marinara for heat throughout, or sprinkle them on top before serving.
- Extra cheese: If you’ve got other melty cheeses to hand, you can use them with/instead of the mozzarella! I think Parmesan, provolone, or cheddar would be delicious!
Serving Suggestions
I remember my school serving pizza burgers with tater tots, steamed green beans, and, of course, a little carton of milk. Peak cafeteria lunch! I count two open-faced halves as one serving in this recipe, and they’re pretty hearty, so a simple Caesar salad makes an easy dinner alongside them. Or a side of crispy sweet potato fries turns them into an extra-filling dinner option for the whole family! Our creamy macaroni salad is another great side when you’re feeding a crowd or want something you can prepare ahead.
Storage & Reheating
For the best texture, store the cooled meat mixture separately from the English muffins in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. You can also refrigerate fully assembled pizza burgers, but the muffins will soften as they sit.
Reheating
Reheat them in the air fryer or oven at 350°F until the filling is hot and reaches 165°F. The microwave works in a pinch, but the English muffins will be much softer.
Freezing
You have two options here! Freeze the cooled meat mixture on its own in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator (or using the defrost setting on your microwave), reheat it thoroughly, then spoon it over freshly toasted English muffins and add the cheese and pepperoni before baking.
You can also freeze the assembled pizza burgers (before baking). Arrange them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then wrap them individually and transfer them to a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Bake them straight from frozen in a 350°F oven until heated all the way through!
More Pizza Inspired Recipes to try:
- This easy Baked Pizza Chicken tops juicy chicken breasts with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni for a fun chicken dinner!
- Got more muffins to use up? Make these Homemade Frozen Mini Pizzas for an inexpensive snack or quick meal straight from the freezer.
- Skillet Pizza Casserole packs plenty of saucy, cheesy pizza flavor into one easy and comforting family dinner.
Other Easy Pizza Recipes
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