Italian Pizza Burgers
Components:
Regarding the Burgers:
One pound (450 grams) of ground beef (or, for a leaner alternative, ground turkey)
One teaspoon of powdered garlic
One teaspoon of powdered onion
One teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning
To taste, add salt and pepper.
Four burger buns, ideally toasted and soft
Add-ons:
One cup of homemade or store-bought marinara sauce
One to two cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
Half a cup of sliced pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, or any other type of Italian meat
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1 medium tomato, sliced
(Optional) fresh basil leaves
Regarding the optional garlic butter:
One tablespoon of melted butter
One minced garlic clove
Half a teaspoon of Italian seasoning
Directions:
Get the burger patties ready:
Combine the ground beef (or turkey), Italian seasoning, garlic and onion powders, salt, and pepper in a bowl. To ensure that the seasonings are distributed evenly throughout the meat, thoroughly mix.
Form the ingredients into burger patties after dividing it into four equal halves. To compensate for shrinkage during cooking, you can make them a little bigger than your buns.
Get the air fryer ready:
For three to five minutes, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
Prepare the patties for the burgers:
To make cleanup easier, lightly mist the air fryer basket with olive oil or line it with parchment paper.
Make sure the burger patties do not overlap when you place them in the air fryer basket.
The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C) for beef or 165°F (74°C) for turkey after 10 to 12 minutes of air fry time at 375°F (190°C), with a flip over halfway through.
Make the optional garlic butter:
Combine the melted butter, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic while the burgers are cooking.
Brush the burger buns with the garlic butter. Lightly toast them in a different pan or in the air fryer for 3–4 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until they are crispy and brown.
Put the Italian pizza burgers together:
After cooking, take the burgers out of the air fryer and leave them for a while.
Put each toasted bun’s bottom half onto a dish.
Drizzle the patty with a good amount of marinara sauce.
Top the sauce with a handful of mozzarella cheese shreds.
Place the sausage, pepperoni, or any other Italian meat on top of the cheese.
Top the burger with a couple slices of red onion and fresh tomato.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves or additional Italian seasoning, if preferred.
Melt the cheese.
To ensure the cheese melts and the toppings are thoroughly heated, place the constructed burgers (with cheese) in the air fryer basket and air fry for a further two to three minutes at 375°F (190°C).
Offer:
After taking the burgers out of the air fryer, place the remaining half of the toasted buns on top and serve right away.
For a full dinner, serve with a fresh green salad or a side of crispy fries.
Remarks:
Feel free to alter the toppings to your liking; for a more pizza-like taste, try adding bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives, or even anchovies.
Consider binding the meat mixture with a small amount of egg or breadcrumbs if you like your burgers thicker.
For a more genuine taste, make your own marinara sauce. If you prefer a little spiciness, you may also add some red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
Calories: 550
Total Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 60mg
Sodium: 800mg
Total Carbohydrates: 40g
Dietary Fiber: 4g
Sugars: 8g
Protein: 30g
Tips and Variations
Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh mozzarella, pepperoni and basil.
Don’t overcook: Maintain juicy patty.
Add some heat: Red pepper flakes or spicy Italian sausage.
Veggie options: Portobello mushrooms, eggplant or zucchini.