Stuffed Pizza Burger

Can’t decide between a burger or pizza for lunch or dinner? Don’t sweat it. With this mouth-watering stuffed pizza burger recipe, you can satisfy both cravings in one!

This is not your normal boring burger. We start with the sweet, doughy flavor of brioche buns (or regular hamburger buns) and slice them in half. Then, spread creamy butter on the cut side of each half and jazz them up by sprinkling parmesan cheese and garlic powder.

Then, make the buns nice and golden brown by popping them in the oven for 5 minutes. Once done, remove them from the oven and set them aside.

Now it’s time to get cheesy. Carefully slice four quarter-inch slices from the fresh mozzarella ball or block and break up the remaining cheese into smaller chunks. Set those aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Get ready to mix! In a large bowl, combine ground beef, oregano, remaining parmesan cheese, pepperoni, salt, pepper and marinara sauce. Take in the delicious pizza smells as you mix until well combined. Then, divide the mixture into eight portions.

Form the eight portions into patties. Top four of the patties with a slice of mozzarella cheese, and then cover these with the other remaining four patties to form a patty sandwich. Make sure to pinch the outer edges to seal in the cheese and give the patties a rounded, uniform shape.

You are almost done! Now grill your stuffed patties for seven minutes on each side before finishing them off in the oven. Top each patty with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese; don’t forget the pepperoni!

Pop the patties back into the oven and keep an eye out to not overcook the cheese. Once the mozzarella is nice and melted, you can remove them from the oven and serve them on your buttery, toasted parmesan buns.

Prep Time:  15 minutes   |    Cook Time:  40 minutes   |    Total Time:  55 minutes   |    Servings:  4

Ingredients:

• 4  Specially Selected  Brioche Buns or  L'oven Fresh  Hamburger Buns
• 2 tablespoons  Countryside Creamery  Unsalted Butter, softened
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons  Reggano  Parmesan Cheese, divided
• ¼ teaspoon  Stonemill  Garlic Powder
• 8 ounces Emporium Selection  Fresh Mozzarella
• 1 pound  Simply Nature  Organic 100% Grass Fed Ground Beef
• 1 teaspoon  Stonemill  Oregano
• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped  Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen  Sliced Pepperoni, divided
• ¼ teaspoon ground  Stonemill  Sea Salt Grinder
• ¼ teaspoon ground  Stonemill  Peppercorn Grinder
• ½ cup  Simply Nature  Organic Marinara Sauce, divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Preheat grill on high.
2. Open buns, spread the cut side of each half with butter. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Toast in the oven for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.
3. Cut four ¼-inch slices from the mozzarella ball. Break the remaining cheese into smaller pieces. Reserve.
4. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, oregano, remaining ¼ cup parmesan cheese, ½ cup pepperoni, salt, pepper and ¼ cup of marinara sauce. Mix until well combined; divide into 8 portions.
5. Form into patties, top 4 with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Cover with remaining patties and pinch edges together until all seams are closed. Shape into a uniform round patty.
6. Grill patties for 7 minutes on each side. Remove from grill and place on a baking sheet. Finish cooking in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches at least 130°. Top each patty with remaining marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted.
7. Remove from oven, serve on toasted buns.

TIP: Along with the cheese and pepperoni, try topping the burgers with more great pizza toppings such as bell peppers, mushrooms or onions.

Recipe Courtesy of Chef Linsey, ALDI Test Kitchen