Description
Culinary adventure meets comfort with this monster pepperoni and mushroom pizza burger, blending classic Italian flavors into a hearty handheld delight. Cheese-laden patties, zesty pepperoni, and earthy mushrooms create a mouthwatering fusion you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) ground beef
- 12 slices pepperoni
- 6 slices American cheese
- 5 ounces (142 grams) grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Pizza Base and Sauce:
- 2 (8-inch) premade pizza crusts
- 1 cup pizza sauce
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 cup sliced yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup canned sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Fat:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Optional Garnishes:
- Fresh basil leaves
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to broil setting at high temperature.
- Coat a 12-inch ovenproof skillet with cooking spray.
- Spread ground beef evenly across the skillet, creating small indentations to prevent swelling.
- Season meat with salt, Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
- Broil for 15 minutes until meat is thoroughly cooked and develops a rich brown color.
- Remove burger from skillet and discard pan drippings.
- Lower oven temperature to 450F (230C).
- Melt butter in skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté onions for 8 minutes, stirring intermittently until soft and translucent.
- Add garlic and cook for additional 2 minutes until aromatic.
- Transfer onion-garlic mixture to a separate plate.
- Position one pizza crust as the base layer in the skillet.
- Spread pizza sauce across the bottom crust.
- Distribute sautéed onions and garlic evenly.
- Place cooked burger patty on top of the onion layer.
- Cover burger with American cheese slices.
- Layer second pizza crust upside down over cheese.
- Spread remaining pizza sauce on top crust.
- Sprinkle two-thirds of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Arrange pepperoni and mushrooms uniformly across the surface.
- Finish with remaining cheese.
- Bake 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and crust turns golden brown.
- Slice into wedges and serve immediately.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh basil and crushed red pepper flakes.
Notes
- Select high-quality ground beef with 80/20 fat content for juicier, more flavorful burger patties.
- Create shallow indentations in the meat to prevent it from puffing up during broiling, ensuring even cooking.
- Caramelize onions slowly to develop deep, sweet flavor that complements the savory burger and pizza elements.
- Use pre-made pizza crusts for convenience, but brush edges with olive oil for extra crispiness and golden-brown finish.
- Try different cheese combinations like provolone or smoked gouda for more complex flavor profiles.
- Layer ingredients strategically to prevent soggy bottom crust and maintain structural integrity of the pizza burger.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or oregano just before serving to boost aromatic freshness and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 484 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg