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These old school pizza burgers took me straight back to elementary school lunch lines and that weird excitement of getting something that felt like "real" pizza on a hamburger bun. When my kids started complaining about their school cafeteria food, I figured I'd try recreating one of the few things I actually looked forward to eating back then. Turns out, when you make them at home with decent ingredients, they're actually pretty amazing instead of just nostalgic.
My neighbor's teenage son was over when I made these and he got really excited, saying they were exactly like the ones from his elementary school but way better. He ended up eating three of them and asking his mom to get the recipe. Apparently these hit some kind of universal childhood food memory.
What You Need
- Ground beef: Nothing fancy, just regular 80/20 works great
- Pizza sauce: Any jar from the store is fine
- Italian seasoning: The basic dried herb mix from the spice aisle
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Shredded makes it easier
- Regular hamburger buns: Don't overthink this part
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Getting Them Done
- Making the meat mixture:
- Brown your ground beef in a skillet, breaking it up as it cooks. Once it's completely cooked through, drain off the grease because nobody wants soggy buns. Stir in the Italian seasoning and pizza sauce, then let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens up a bit.
- Setting up for baking:
- Heat your oven to 350°F and put the burger bun halves cut-side up on a baking sheet. This makes everything easier to handle and ensures they all cook evenly.
- Putting them together:
- Spread the beef mixture on each bun half, getting it all the way to the edges. Top with plenty of shredded cheese, this is not the time to be stingy because the melted cheese is what makes these work.
- Baking them:
- Stick them in the oven for about 12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. The buns should get lightly toasted on the edges and everything should smell like pizza.
I messed up the first batch by not draining the beef well enough, and the buns turned into a soggy mess. Now I always take the time to drain it properly and let the sauce cook down a little.
How to Serve Them
These are perfect with some frozen fries thrown in the oven or just some chips on the side. My kids like them with apple slices or grapes. They're rich enough that you don't need much else, but some kind of side makes it feel like a real meal.
Making Them Different
You can add pepperoni slices on top of the cheese before baking, or mix some diced peppers into the meat. Sometimes I use mozzarella instead of cheddar to make them taste more like actual pizza. The basic idea works with lots of variations.
Leftovers and Storage
They keep in the fridge for a couple days and reheat pretty well in the oven. The microwave works but makes the buns soggy, so if you have time, the oven is definitely better for reheating.
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These pizza burgers have become one of those random weeknight dinners that everyone actually gets excited about. There's something really satisfying about taking a weird cafeteria memory and turning it into something genuinely good that your own kids will probably remember fondly someday.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I use different types of cheese for these pizza burgers?
- Absolutely! Mozzarella gives a more traditional pizza taste, while American cheese melts really well. You could even mix different cheeses.
- → How do I prevent the buns from getting soggy?
- Make sure to drain the ground beef well and let the sauce mixture thicken before spreading it on the buns. Toasting the buns lightly first also helps.
- → Can I add other pizza toppings to these burgers?
- Yes! Try pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives. Add them on top of the meat mixture before adding the cheese.
- → Are these the same as the pizza burgers from school lunch?
- These are very similar! The combination of ground beef, pizza sauce, and cheese on a bun is exactly what made those cafeteria pizza burgers so memorable.
- → How do I store and reheat leftover pizza burgers?
- Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 300°F oven for 8-10 minutes to keep the buns from getting soggy in the microwave.