This pepperoni pizza burger combines a beef and Italian sausage patty with pepperoni, warm pizza sauce, and melted cheese on a toasted bun. It cooks on the grill or in a skillet.
The sausage seasons the meat, while the pepperoni and sauce bring the flavors of a pizza night to a handheld dinner. It is a fun change from a standard cheeseburger.
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Why This Pepperoni Pizza Burger Recipe Works
Mixing ground beef with Italian sausage seasons the patty from the inside, so the burger tastes savory even before the toppings go on.
The sauce, pepperoni, and cheese go on during the last minute of cooking, which melts the cheese without drying out the meat.
Toasting the buns keeps them firm so the sauce and juices do not soak through before the first bite.
Ingredients for Pepperoni Pizza Burger
- For the patties: one pound 80 percent lean ground beef, four ounces Italian sausage, a quarter teaspoon salt, and a quarter teaspoon black pepper
- For the toppings: twelve pepperoni slices, half a cup pizza sauce, one cup shredded mozzarella cheese, and four burger buns
Ground beef. Eighty percent lean beef has enough fat to keep the patties juicy on the grill. Leaner beef cooks up drier.
Italian sausage. Choose mild or spicy, depending on your taste. Remove the casings so the sausage mixes evenly into the beef.
Pepperoni. Standard pepperoni slices melt slightly into the cheese and add salty, spiced flavor to each bite.
Pizza sauce. Use a thick jarred sauce or a homemade one. A thinner sauce runs off the burger and soaks the bun.
Cheese and buns. Mozzarella gives the classic pizza pull, though cheddar also works. Sturdy buns hold up well to the juicy patty.
How to Make Pepperoni Pizza Burger
1. Mix the patties Combine the ground beef, sausage, salt, and pepper in a large bowl with your hands, mixing just until blended. Overmixing makes the burgers dense.
2. Shape the patties Divide the meat into four equal portions and shape each into a patty slightly wider than the bun.
3. Heat the grill Preheat a grill or skillet to medium high heat.
4. Cook the patties Cook for five to seven minutes per side, until the center reaches 160 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.
5. Add the toppings During the last minute, place pepperoni on each patty, spoon on pizza sauce, and add the cheese. Cover briefly so the cheese melts.
6. Toast and assemble Toast the buns on the grill or in a toaster, set each patty on a bun, and add extra pizza sauce if you like. Serve immediately.
How to Serve Pepperoni Pizza Burger
Serve the burgers hot with extra pizza sauce for dipping. They go well with a tangy macaroni salad, baked beans with root beer, an Italian house salad, and fresh peach lemonade. A handful of chips or fries rounds out the plate.
How to Store and Reheat Pepperoni Pizza Burger
Refrigerate leftover patties in an airtight container for up to three days, kept separate from the buns. Reheat in a skillet or the microwave until steaming hot, to 165 degrees F. For longer storage, freeze cooked patties for up to three months and thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating.
Tips and Variations for Pepperoni Pizza Burger
Keep the meat cold. Cold meat holds together better and stays juicier. Mix and shape quickly so the fat does not warm up.
Do not press the patties. Pressing squeezes out juices and makes the burgers dry. Flip once and leave them alone otherwise.
Use a thermometer. Ground meat is safe at 160 degrees F, so check the center rather than guessing by color.
Add toppings late. Sauce and cheese added too early slide off the patty. Wait for the last minute of cooking.
Warm the pizza sauce. Heating the sauce briefly makes it spread easily and helps the cheese melt.
Wash up carefully. Wash your hands, plates, and tools after handling raw meat, and never reuse the platter that held raw patties.
Flag the allergens. The burgers contain wheat, milk, and possibly soy from the buns and sausage. Check labels before serving guests.
Check trusted guidance. For safe temperatures for ground meat, read the FDA safe food handling guidance before you cook.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pepperoni Pizza Burger
What temperature should a pepperoni pizza burger reach?
Cook the patties to 160 degrees F in the center. Use an instant read thermometer for an accurate reading.
Can I make a pepperoni pizza burger in the oven?
Yes, bake the patties on a rimmed baking sheet in a hot oven until they reach 160 degrees F, then add the toppings and return them until the cheese melts.
Can I prepare a pepperoni pizza burger ahead?
Shape the patties up to a day ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. Cook and top them just before serving.
Which cheese melts well?
Mozzarella melts into stretchy strands, and provolone or cheddar also work. Slices melt faster than shreds.
Can I use turkey instead of beef?
Ground turkey works, but cook it to 165 degrees F. It is leaner, so mix in a little extra sausage for moisture.
Pepperoni Pizza Burger
Equipment
- Grill or large skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Instant read thermometer
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb 80 percent lean ground beef
- 4 oz Italian sausage mild or spicy, casings removed
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 12 pepperoni slices
- ½ cup pizza sauce plus extra for dipping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or cheddar
- 4 burger buns toasted
Instructions
Cooking
- Mix. Combine the beef, sausage, salt, and pepper and shape into four patties.
- Cook. Cook on a grill or skillet over medium high heat for five to seven minutes per side, to 160 degrees F.
- Top. In the last minute, add pepperoni, pizza sauce, and cheese to each patty until the cheese melts.
- Serve. Toast the buns, set the patties on top, and add extra sauce.
