Easy Open-Faced Pizza Burgers on English Muffins: A Nostalgic & Delicious Family Favorite
Discover the ultimate comfort food with these incredible Open-Faced Pizza Burgers! Imagine a perfectly toasted English muffin generously topped with a savory, cheesy ground beef pizza sauce mixture, baked until bubbling and golden. This delightful dish combines the beloved flavors of pizza with the hearty satisfaction of a burger, all served up in a uniquely delicious open-faced style. It’s a simple, versatile, and incredibly satisfying meal that brings back fond memories and creates new ones.
Embracing the Open-Faced Pizza Burger on English Muffins
Years ago, I stumbled upon a gem of a recipe in a quaint small-town church cookbook and immediately knew I had to adapt it. My husband, a self-proclaimed pizza burger enthusiast, inspired me to perfect this recipe, and it quickly became a staple in our home. What makes these “burgers” truly special is their unique open-faced presentation, differing significantly from a traditional burger served in a bun. Instead, we use a perfectly toasted English muffin as the base, providing a delightful chewiness and nooks and crannies to hold all that incredible flavor.
The magic happens when the seasoned ground beef, rich pizza sauce, and a generous blend of gooey cheeses are mixed together and piled high onto those pre-baked English muffin halves. This assembly then bakes in the oven until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly, and the muffin edges are slightly crisp. Because of their hearty toppings, these aren’t your typical hand-held burgers. They are best enjoyed with a fork and knife, making them a more refined, yet utterly comforting, meal that’s perfect for a cozy family dinner or a relaxed gathering with friends.
This dish offers the best of both worlds: the comforting, familiar taste of a classic pizza, combined with the satisfying heartiness of a burger. It’s a fantastic alternative to traditional pizza night and a wonderful way to use ground beef in a creative and exciting manner. The English muffin provides a sturdy, yet light, foundation that complements the rich, savory topping without being overly heavy.
A Trip Down Memory Lane: School Cafeteria Pizza Burgers
For many of us, the concept of open-faced pizza burgers evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of those beloved school cafeteria lunches from our childhood. These homemade pizza burgers capture that comforting flavor perfectly, perhaps even surpassing the originals with their fresh ingredients and homemade touch. I vividly remember being able to pick up those school pizza burgers and take a bite, much like you would a bagel. Looking back, the cafeteria versions often had a lighter layer of toppings, which made them easier to handle. My recipe tends to be more generously loaded, offering a richer, more substantial bite.
If you’re looking to recreate that lighter, more portable school lunch experience, you can absolutely adjust the amount of meat mixture per English muffin half. By using less topping and spreading it across more English muffins, you can easily stretch this meal to feed a larger crowd or prepare smaller portions. This versatility makes them perfect for feeding hungry kids after school, or for anyone craving a taste of their youth.
Beyond main meals, these open-faced pizza burgers are incredibly adaptable. Imagine them as charming little appetizers! Simply use mini English muffins or even sliced bagels as the base, top them with the savory mixture, and bake. They make a fantastic addition to any party spread, offering a bite-sized burst of cheesy pizza flavor that guests of all ages will adore. Whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a special occasion, these pizza burgers are sure to be a hit.
Make Ahead Magic: Freezing and Reheating Pizza Burgers
One of the best features of these open-faced pizza burgers is how wonderfully they lend themselves to meal prepping and freezing. They are an ideal make-ahead meal, saving you precious time on busy weeknights. Once your pizza burgers have cooled completely after baking, you can individually wrap them in aluminum foil or place them into freezer-safe ziplock bags. For best results and to prevent freezer burn, store the individually wrapped burgers in an airtight container in the freezer. This method ensures they retain their flavor and texture for weeks, providing a convenient option whenever a craving strikes.
When you’re ready to enjoy a frozen pizza burger, reheating is a breeze, and you have several excellent options to choose from. For a perfectly crispy bottom and gooey, melted top, my favorite method is to warm them back up in a skillet. Simply heat a dry skillet over medium heat, place the pizza burger face up, and cover. The indirect heat will melt the cheese beautifully while the skillet crisps the English muffin base. The oven is another fantastic choice, especially if you’re reheating multiple burgers. Preheat your oven to a moderate temperature (around 350°F or 175°C) and bake until heated through and the cheese is bubbly. An air fryer also works wonders for achieving that desirable crispness and quick reheating.
While the microwave offers the quickest reheating solution, it’s important to note that you’ll sacrifice the delightful crispness of the English muffin crust. The microwave tends to soften the bread, resulting in a less textural experience. For the ultimate enjoyment, I highly recommend using the oven, air fryer, or skillet to bring these pizza burgers back to life, ensuring that irresistible combination of soft, savory topping and a slightly crisp base.
Simple Steps to Homemade Open-Faced Pizza Burgers
Crafting these delicious open-faced pizza burgers is surprisingly easy, making them a fantastic option for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun cooking project with the family. The process begins with browning a pound and a half of lean ground beef in a skillet. As the beef cooks, add a finely chopped small onion, along with a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Remember to go easy on the salt initially, as the cheeses will add their own savory kick later on. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onions are tender, then drain any excess fat.
Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the heat. This is where the magic really starts! Stir in a can of your favorite pizza sauce, two teaspoons of oregano, and a generous medley of cheeses: shredded cheddar, shredded mozzarella, and fresh Parmesan. The combination of these cheeses ensures a wonderfully gooey, stretchy, and flavorful topping once baked. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined.
While your meat mixture is ready, pre-bake your English muffins. Split six English muffins in half horizontally, placing the cut sides up on a baking sheet. A quick five-minute stint in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) will give them a head start, ensuring they’re perfectly toasted and sturdy enough to hold the rich topping without becoming soggy.
Next, divide the flavorful beef and cheese mixture evenly among the 12 English muffin halves. Don’t be shy – pile it high to ensure every bite is bursting with flavor! Return the loaded muffins to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the topping is piping hot and the cheese has melted into a glorious, bubbly, golden-brown state. Serve immediately and prepare for an explosion of ooey, gooey, cheesy pizza goodness that everyone will rave about!
Serve these Open-Faced Pizza Burgers with a simple green salad for a balanced meal, or alongside a bowl of your favorite soup. For a more indulgent experience, a side of crispy fries or onion rings would be absolutely delicious. These burgers are versatile and pair well with many classic American sides.
Show Your Love: Pin This Recipe for Later!
Did you fall in love with this Open-Faced Pizza Burger recipe? Don’t let it get lost in your bookmarks! Make sure to save it for easy access whenever that pizza craving hits. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board today so you can quickly pull it up when you’re ready to whip up this fantastic meal. Sharing is caring, and your friends and family will thank you for introducing them to this delightful dish!
The Universal Appeal of Pizza: More Delicious Pizza-Inspired Recipes
Seriously, has anyone ever truly met a person who doesn’t love pizza? It seems to be a universally adored dish, and for good reason! Its comforting blend of savory sauces, gooey cheese, and endless topping possibilities makes it a favorite across generations. That’s why I’m always looking for creative ways to infuse those irresistible cheesy pizza flavors into all sorts of recipes. If you’re as passionate about pizza as I am, you’ll love exploring some of my other top pizza recipe favorites. From hearty main courses to unique appetizers, there’s a pizza-inspired dish for every occasion!
- Pizza Meatloaf Minis
- Dorothy’s Pizza Pockets
- Pizza Dip (Pictured Above)
- Pizza Monster Sandwiches
- Copy Cat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
- Pizza Pasta
- Blueberry Streusel Dessert Pizza
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- Breakfast Hashbrown Pizza
- Spinach Artichoke Alfredo Pizza
- Reuben Pizza
- Supreme Pizza Soup
Now that we’ve explored the delicious world of open-faced pizza burgers, it’s time to dive into the full recipe! Get ready to enjoy a fantastic, easy-to-make meal that will satisfy everyone at your table. I know I’m starving just thinking about it!
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Print Recipe
Open Faced Pizza Burgers
Equipment
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13×18 Half Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 small onion chopped (approximately 1/2 cup)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt & Pepper to taste go easy on the salt, because the cheese makes it salty, too!
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese shredded or grated
- 1 15 ounce can pizza sauce
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 6 English muffins cut in half
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat for easy cleanup.
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In a large skillet, brown the lean ground beef together with the chopped onion, garlic powder, and onion powder over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste, remembering to be mindful of the salt content from the cheese. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is softened. Drain any excess grease.
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Cut the English muffins in half horizontally, exposing the textured interior. Place them, cut-side up, on the prepared cookie sheet.
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Pre-bake the English muffin halves for 5 minutes. This step helps to lightly toast them and prevents them from becoming soggy under the topping.
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Meanwhile, remove the browned ground beef mixture from the heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, the entire can of pizza sauce, and oregano until all ingredients are well combined and the cheese starts to slightly melt from the residual heat.
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Carefully spoon and divide the savory meat and cheese mixture evenly over the 12 pre-baked English muffin halves, making sure each one is generously topped.
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Return the pizza burgers to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until they are heated through, and the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy the gooey, cheesy goodness!
Nutrition
This beloved recipe was first published on September 9, 2015. It received a comprehensive update to enhance user experience, improve clarity, and was re-shared on July 24, 2020.