This pizza burgers recipe turns a garlic-buttered English muffin into a quick, freezer-friendly dinner that serves four and is ready in about 20 minutes. Each one is topped with a seasoned meat sauce and melty mozzarella, then crisped in the oven or air fryer - a retro, kid-approved meal updated for busy weeknights when you need food on the table fast.
What goes into a pizza burger
The base is an open-faced English muffin brushed with a mix of melted butter and grated garlic. The filling is a simple skillet sauce, and the whole thing is finished with cheese before baking. Core ingredients for four servings include:
- 1 lb ground turkey, chicken or Italian sausage, plus 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning
- 6 to 8 English muffin halves
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted, plus 1 clove grated garlic
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/2 cup chopped pepperoncini (optional)
How to make pizza burgers
Brown the meat with the oil, stir in the seasonings and marinara, then fold half a cup of mozzarella into the warm sauce off the heat. Brush the muffin halves with the garlic butter, spoon the meat mixture on top, and cover each with the remaining mozzarella and a pinch of Parmesan. To cook right away, bake at 350 degrees F for 5 to 7 minutes and broil briefly to brown the cheese, or air fry at 350 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes until golden. If you use Italian sausage, scale back the added salt since the sausage is already well seasoned.
Make-ahead and freezing tips
The real advantage here is batch cooking. Freeze the assembled, uncooked burgers individually on a parchment-lined sheet, then transfer them to a bag or container once solid so you can reheat them one at a time. Straight from frozen, air frying at 350 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes brings them back warm and crisp - ideal for fast lunches or getting out the door before practice.
Because each one reheats on its own, a single batch can stretch across several quick meals without committing the whole family to the same dinner at once. That flexibility is what makes the recipe such a useful staple during a hectic stretch of the school year, when a home-cooked meal in minutes beats takeout on both cost and nutrition.
Easy ways to customize
The format is endlessly adaptable. Swap the protein among ground turkey, chicken or Italian sausage depending on what you have, and add chopped pepperoncini for a tangy kick. A finishing touch - extra Italian seasoning, a dollop of pesto or a drizzle of good olive oil - takes them from simple to genuinely crave-worthy. It is a flexible, low-effort formula that works equally well for meal prep and picky eaters. For more quick weeknight dinners and easy recipe ideas, browse our latest food coverage, plus our food and lifestyle picks for family meals.
Pizza burgers FAQ
Can you freeze pizza burgers?
Yes. Assemble them uncooked, freeze individually on a parchment-lined sheet until solid, then bag them. Cook straight from frozen in an air fryer at 350 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes.
What is the fastest way to cook pizza burgers?
The air fryer is quickest - 4 to 5 minutes at 350 degrees F for fresh burgers, or 6 to 8 minutes from frozen, with no need to preheat an oven.
