Pizza burgers are a delicious and fun twist on the traditional school lunch menu. This recipe combines two all-time favorites, pizza and burgers, to create a mouthwatering meal that students will love. To make these delectable treats, start by forming ground beef into burger patties seasoned with Italian herbs and spices. Cook the patties until they are juicy and flavorful. Next, generously top each patty with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, allowing the cheese to melt and bubble. For an extra burst of flavor, add toppings such as pepperoni, onions, and bell peppers. Finally, serve these delightful pizza burgers on a soft bun, and watch as students flock to the lunch line. Not only does this recipe provide a tasty and satisfying option for lunch, but it also offers a creative way to incorporate different food groups, like dairy and vegetables, into one dish. With their gooey cheese, tangy sauce, and savory toppings, these pizza burgers are sure to become the new favorite school lunch item!
You can refer to a few recipes for Pizza Burgers for school lunches below:
LUNCH LADY PIZZA BURGERS
Equipment:
- 12-inch Non-Stick Skillet
- Meat Masher Tool
- Rimmed Baking Sheet
- Rotary Cheese Grater
Ingredients:
- 1½ lb lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- 1 (6-oz) can tomato paste
- 1¾ cups water
- 2¼ tsp basil
- 2¼ tsp oregano
- 1¾ tsp marjoram
- ½ tsp thyme
- salt & pepper to taste
- 8- oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 hamburger buns
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except for cheese and hamburger buns and stir. Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Split hamburger buns. Place bottom halves of hamburger buns on a baking sheet. Place a couple of spoonfuls of the meat mixture on the bottom bun half. Top meat with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Serve as an open-faced sandwich or add the top bun for a closed sandwich.
Notes:
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
- Feel free to use fresh onions and add bell peppers to the mix. Cook the fresh vegetables with the ground beef so that they soften.
- I use shredded mozzarella cheese. You can use any cheese that you enjoy. Provolone, grated American cheese, or cheddar cheese are great.
- For extra flavor, melt butter and brush it on the hamburger bun halves before placing them on the cookie sheets.
- Can substitute an equal amount of Italian seasoning for the basil, oregano, marjoram, and thyme.
- Are pizza burgers gluten-free? Yes! All of the ingredients in this recipe are gluten-free.
- Can School Pizza Burgers be made in advance? Yes! You can make the meat mixture ahead of time and reheat it before serving.
- Can Old School Cafeteria Pizza Burgers be frozen? Yes! Prepare the meat mixture and let it cool completely. Transfer the meat to a freezer bag and freeze. To reheat, thaw completely and reheat in the microwave or the stovetop.
