Old School Pizza Burgers

Featured in Satisfying Hearty Mains.

These nostalgic pizza burgers recreate that classic cafeteria taste with ground beef, pizza sauce, and melted cheese baked on burger buns in just 22 minutes.
Sophia from Recipes by clare team
Updated on Tue, 10 Jun 2025 12:26:31 GMT
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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.

Old School Pizza Burgers

Nostalgic cafeteria-style pizza burgers with seasoned ground beef, pizza sauce, and melted cheddar cheese on toasted buns.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
12 Minutes
Total Time
22 Minutes

Category: Hearty Mains

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (12 pizza burger halves)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

→ Meat Mixture

01 1 pound lean ground beef
02 1 cup pizza sauce
03 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

→ Assembly

04 6 hamburger buns, split in half
05 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

Step 01

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

Step 02

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Cook until no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes.

Step 03

Drain any excess fat from the beef, then stir in the Italian seasoning and let it cook for another minute to release the flavors.

Step 04

Pour in the pizza sauce and mix well with the seasoned beef. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.

Step 05

While the mixture simmers, place all the burger bun halves cut-side up on your prepared baking sheet, arranging them so they don't overlap.

Step 06

Spoon the hot beef and sauce mixture generously onto each bun half, spreading it out evenly to the edges.

Step 07

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over each loaded bun half, making sure to cover the meat mixture completely.

Step 08

Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to turn golden brown around the edges.

Step 09

Let the pizza burgers cool for 2-3 minutes before serving. They can be enjoyed open-faced or topped with the other bun half.

Notes

  1. These taste just like the pizza burgers from school cafeterias - pure nostalgia!
  2. Try mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar for a more traditional pizza flavor
  3. Add toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms, or bell peppers before adding the cheese
  4. Leftovers reheat best in the oven to keep the buns from getting soggy

Tools You'll Need

  • Large skillet
  • Large baking sheet
  • Wooden spoon

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains gluten from burger buns
  • Contains dairy from cheddar cheese

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Total Fat: 18 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 28 g
  • Protein: 24 g