Pizza Burgers (turkey burgers)

Pizza burgers, made with ground turkey, are packed with all the good stuff you love about pizza. There’s nothing boring about these burgers!

Pizza burgers take everything good about pizza and stuff it all into a burger: pepperoni, cheese, sauce, and fresh basil. If you love pizza (and who doesn’t?), you’ll love these burgers.

(I may have a pizza fixation. I just counted and there are 34 posts on my site that feature some variation of pizza.)

You’ll love these juicy turkey burgers, seasoned with garlic, oregano, and onion, and studded with bits of spicy pepperoni and Parmesan cheese. And we don’t stop there. These are pizza burgers so they are topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, just like your favorite pizza.

About This Recipe

I love making turkey burgers. Ground turkey has a less assertive flavor than beef, so it’s easy to add your own special signature to the meat by adding different seasonings and/or toppings.

I usually make my turkey burgers with more of a southwestern vibe, seasoning them with parsley, onion, cumin, and a bit of cayenne. Today I’m bringing you something a little different, a pizza burger recipe, with a taste of Italy.

These burgers are broiled so it won’t matter if your grill happens to be covered with snow. Homemade turkey burgers tend to be softer and you’ll find that broiling is an easier option than grilling. Clean-up is a breeze because you broil them on foil.

By the way, did you know that you can use turkey to make delicious meatballs, too? Have you tried these baked Italian-style turkey meatballs or Greek meatballs? Oven meatballs are so easy to make, with no added oil for frying because they’re baked in the oven. You don’t have to flip them either. Meatballs are delicious on a bun, too, in meatball subs with marinara and mozzarella cheese.

Back to the burgers! I’ll get you started here and give you lots of helpful tips.

You’ll find the printable recipe card near the end of the post. It has complete instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.

What You’ll Need

• Ground Turkey: There are different types of ground turkey, just like ground beef. I usually recommend 85/15 (that is, 15% fat content) because the burgers just taste better with a little fat. If you prefer, go to 93/7 but I wouldn’t recommend fat free (ground turkey breast) because it makes a pretty dry burger.
• Pepperoni: Just a little bit of pepperoni (1 ounce) goes a long way to flavor the burgers. If you prefer, buy turkey pepperoni. Sliced pepperoni keeps for a long time in the fridge and can be used to add extra pizzazz to sandwiches, casseroles, and yes, pizza.
• Onion: A small yellow cooking onion is perfect for this recipe. You don’t need a lot of onion and it’s grated so there won’t be large pieces in the burger. Finely chopped green onion is a good substitute.
• Egg: The egg works as a binder, along with the panko. It helps hold the burger together, and keeps it tender and moist.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko is coarser than regular bread crumbs. If you happen to substitute regular bread crumbs for the panko, use a bit less. For a gluten-free option, substitute rolled or quick oats or a gluten-free bread crumb. Homemade breadcrumbs are easy to make, too, and you can use day-old bread.
• Parmesan Cheese: Grated or finely shredded cheese adds lots of flavor to the burger mix and a bit of saltiness, too.
• Dried Oregano, Garlic Powder, Salt and Pepper: These simple seasonings give the burgers an Italian flair.
• Pizza Sauce: Instead of ketchup, these burgers are topped with pizza sauce. Any type of pizza sauce is fine, including homemade pizza sauce. Marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce will work as well.
• Mozzarella Cheese: What’s a pizza without cheese? if you prefer, substitute fresh mozzarella.
• Fresh Basil: Use large basil leaves as a flavorful substitute for lettuce on your burgers. If fresh basil isn’t available, a few baby spinach leaves or lettuce will do just fine although you’ll miss that lovely basil.

How To Make Pizza Burgers

Before you get started, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean-up. The burgers are broiled in the oven, so get your oven preheating on high, too. The rack should be in the upper third of your oven.

In a large bowl, lightly beat the egg. Add the ground turkey, pepperoni, panko, , seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Peel the onion and grate it over the bowl, so you catch both the onion and the juices.

If you aren’t squeamish about getting your hands getting sticky, go ahead and mix it all up with your fingers. It’s really the best way to get things thoroughly blended together. You don’t want to overmix the meat mixture or the result will be tough burgers. When it looks like it’s coming together, it’s time to stop squishing it.

Form the mixture into four patties. Make them a little thinner in the centers. The burgers need to be cooked all the way through and thinner centers mean that the burgers will cook more evenly.

Place the burgers on the pan you prepared and place them under the broiler, flipping them once. The internal temp of the burger should be 165°F with an instant read thermometer, and the meat no longer pink inside.

Take the burgers out of the oven but leave the broiler on. Spread a little pizza sauce on each burger, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and briefly broil again until the cheese is melted.

Butter and toast four hamburger buns, if desired. It really does make a difference when you do that simple step. Place the burgers on the buns (go ahead and add a little sauce to the bottom bun, too, if you like!) and top with several fresh basil leaves. Think of the basil as lettuce, so go ahead and put a bunch on. 

Enjoy! Don’t forget dessert! A homemade snickerdoodle cookie or oatmeal cookie is always a good idea!

FAQs

Make It Your Own

• Not a fan of turkey burgers? Make this recipe with ground beef or ground chicken.
• In a hurry? Cook frozen turkey burgers according to package directions and top with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil.
• Make this recipe gluten-free by substituting rolled or quick oats (or GF breadcrumbs) for the panko. Serve the burgers without buns or on a gluten-free bun.
• A pizza burger can easily be a fork and knife meal. Omit the buns and serve with a salad, or with pasta, or roasted broccoli.

Make-Ahead Ideas

Prep the burgers (without toppings) a day ahead. Form into patties, cover, and refrigerate until ready to cook. You’ll have dinner on the table in about fifteen minutes.

The uncooked patties can be frozen for up to 2 months. Place a layer of waxed paper or parchment paper between each one so they don’t stick together, and put into a freezer safe container or bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge for best results.

Storage & Reheating Tips

If you happen to have a leftover burger or two, wrap them well (without the buns) and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Cooked burgers without toppings can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheat individual burgers that already have toppings in the microwave. If the burgers aren’t topped with the sauce and cheese, it’s best to heat them in a toaster oven or air fryer until heated through, add toppings, and heat briefly until the cheese melts.

More “Pizza” Recipes

Love pizza? So do we! And it doesn’t have to be a conventional pizza. Here’s more pizza-ish recipes for you to try:

• Pizza Sliders
• Homemade Pizza Hot Pockets
• Pizza Pasta (one pan, ready in 20 minutes)
• Pizza Baked Pasta – a really great way to use leftover plain pasta!
• Grilled Pizza with Pesto and Tomatoes {5 ingredients!}
• Pepperoni Pizza Tortilla Pinwheels
• Pizza Quesadillas on the grill
• Pepperoni Pizza Dip
• Pizza Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Pizza Burgers (turkey burgers)

4.75 from 4 votes

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

4 burgers

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Pizza burgers, made with ground turkey, are packed with all the good stuff you love about pizza. There's nothing boring about these burgers!

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound ground turkey
• ▢ 1 ounce sliced pepperoni, finely chopped, about ⅓ cup
• ▢ 1 small yellow onion, grated or finely diced (grate over bowl to catch juices)
• ▢ 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• ▢ ¼ cup finely shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
• ▢ ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper
• ▢ ¼ cup pizza sauce, more if desired
• ▢ ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ▢ 12-18 large basil leaves (they will be standing in for lettuce)

Instructions

• Preheat oven broiler (High) with the oven rack in the top third of the oven. Line a sheet pan with foil for easy clean up.
• Combine turkey, pepperoni, onion, egg, Parmesan, bread crumbs, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Use your hands to blend it together. Don’t over-mix, just make sure everything is well distributed.
• Shape into patties about ½ inch thick (make them slightly thinner in the middle) and place on prepared sheet pan. Broil on high for 6 to 7 minutes or until browned, flip burgers over, and continue to cook for about 4 to 6 minutes or until burgers are cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F).
• Top each burger with a tablespoon of sauce and a tablespoon of shredded cheese. Broil for an additional 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Place burgers on buns (toasted if desired) and top with fresh basil leaves and more pizza sauce if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

• Nutrition information is for burgers with toppings; it does not include buns.
• For gluten-free burgers (without buns), substitute rolled or quick oats for the panko bread crumbs. 
• Slices of fresh mozzarella can be substituted for the shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Make Ahead: Uncooked burger patties made a day ahead, covered and refrigerated or they can be frozen up to two months. Place waxed paper or parchment paper between each burger before placing in a freezer safe container or bag. Thaw overnight for best results.
• Recipe updated 3/3/2022.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1burger, Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 35g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 122mg, Sodium: 592mg, Potassium: 497mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 328IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 142mg, Iron: 2mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

This picture has nothing to do with the burgers but it’s been awhile since I posted a picture of E (and I just can’t help myself).

YES, I WANT THIS!

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