One of my favorite Italian appetizers is our family Meatball Recipe, these burgers are similar in flavor except gourmet topped with Marinara Sauce, melted cheese, and some favorite pizza toppings.
Topped with homemade marinara sauce, and loaded with a blend of provolone, mozzarella, and grated cheese, it's a gourmet Italian masterpiece.
The burger bursts with garlic and Italian flavors however you can even dress it up with classic American toppings if you would like a traditional style burger just seasoned Italian style.
Growing up sometimes we would use any leftover fried meatballs, with our Traditional Sunday Sauce and make this delicious pizza burger.
Whether you use hard-crusted Italian bread, a ciabatta roll, or make this into a panini sandwich, this is one of the best Italian burgers you'll ever sink your teeth in.
The homemade ciabatta bread rolls are pillow soft and make a big difference giving this Italian burger the "wow" factor!
Pizza Burgers from an Italian Household
All food no matter what it was turned Italian in our household some like their burgers plain with sauce and mozzarella or all dressed up with peppers, mushrooms, onions sauce and cheese.
Grandma from Rome, Italy at 17 years old came to America, and mom's family from Bari, Italy, Italianized it!
These are the perfect example of how they transformed hamburgers into a delicious Italian juicy burger, the best ever!
Of course, you will also need to make Italian Style French Fries of Dad's Home Fries, or try Grandma's favorite Salt and Vinegar Potatoes, for a side dish!
Pick your own toppings (set up a serving station)
- sauteed mushrooms,
- any kinds of peppers, onions, raw onions, peppers, mushrooms
- sliced tomato
- fresh tomatoes pureed
- more marinara sauce
- chopped crinkled black olives
- mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup(for the classic style)
- thick-sliced provolone, mozzarella, or another kind you prefer
- pickles
- bean salad
- romaine lettuce, arugula, butter, or iceberg chopped
- hard-boiled or fried eggs
- pepperoni, capicola or a slice of soppressata
- crispy bacon, prosciutto, or cooked pancetta
- Italian cooked sliced sausage, peppers, and onions all together
- red pepper flakes and grated Pecorino Romano cheese for garnishing
Tools
- measuring cups
- knife
- chopping board
- iron skillet or griddle
- a hamburger press is optional
- saucepan
- use a cupcake tin for assorted condiments for serving
Italian Style Ingredients (scroll down to the recipe card for the exact measurements)
- Ground chuck or sirloin
- Italian bread crumbs
- Eggs
- Italian fresh herbs or seasonings
- Garlic
- Wine is Optional
- Cheese
- Olive oil
- Rolls
- Marinara sauce
- Homemade ciabatta bread rolls,
- see Topping Suggestions
Cooking Methods
- air fryer: set the air fryer to 400 degrees on an oil-sprayed basket see the meat chart for cooking times. Add the sauce and cheese 3 minutes before the burgers are completed cooking just to melt the cheese
- grilled: oil sprays the grates, heat the grill to medium heat, and grill to the desired doneness. Add the sauce and cheese and place the cover down for 2 minutes after the burgers are cooked. and cheese is melted
- oven: bake at 400 degrees for around 20 minutes in a cast iron gridded skillet sprayed with cooking oil Add sauce and cheese until cheese melts for another 5 minutes or broil the tops until cheese melts.
More Burgers We Love
Mom's Baked Italian Burgers
Cabernet Venison Burgers
Lamb Burgers
Chili Cheese Dog Burgers
Provolone Alfredo Burgers
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Building Pizzaiola Burgers
The easiest way to please everyone is by setting up a serving bar.
We use assorted cheese slices on ours, olives, crispy cooked bacon, roasted peppers, sauteed mushrooms, sliced tomatoes, and arugula, just to name a few!
Pizza burgers no matter what time of the year it is are a true comfort food and certainly will make any pizza and burger lover happy.
Making Grandma's meatballs mixture is our favorite burger, just adapt to your family's homemade meatballs recipe or use ours to get the true taste of Italian Pizzaiola Burgers!.
Pizzaiola Burgers
Yield: 6
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 27 Min
Italian Pizzaiola burgers, topped with sauce and cheese and your favorite pizza toppings.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Ground Chuck or ground sirloin
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley
- 3 tablespoons Pecorino Romano grated cheese
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons of Merlot wine is optional
- 3 small clove garlic minced fine
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup of homemade marinara sauce or store-bought in a jar
- sliced provolone or whole milk mozzarella from the deli
- Rolls Suggestions for Serving:
- Ciabatta rolls, French Rolls, Italian thickly sliced bread or Hard Rolls
- Tools: gridded cast iron pan, panini maker or indoor grill, outdoor gas grill
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix all ingredients together with your hands until is evenly blended.
- Shape the beef into round patties:
- Heat a gridded cast iron pan until hot oil is sprayed or use some olive oil.
- Place the patties into the hot pan and cook on both sides following a chart on the desired doneness.
- In the meantime preheat the oven to 400 degrees and oil spray a large baking dish.
- Place the seared patties in a baking dish.
- Top with sauce, or any pizza toppings a slice of cheese you prefer, and sprinkle with more grated cheese.
- Bake at 400 degrees until the cheese melts.
- When melted, place on desired toasted or plain rolls.
- Garnish with red pepper flakes and more cheese if desired.
- More Cooking Methods:
- air fryer: set the air fryer to 400 degrees on an oil-sprayed basket see meat chart for cooking times.. add the sauce and cheese 3 minutes before the burgers are completed cooking just to melt the cheese
- grilled: oil spray the grates, heat the grill to medium heat, and grill to the desired doneness. Add the sauce and cheese and place the cover down for 2 minutes after the burgers are cooked. and cheese is melted
- oven: bake at 400 degrees for around 20 minutes in a cast iron gridded skillet sprayed with cooking oil Add sauce and cheese until cheese melts for another 5 minutes or broil the tops for until cheese melts.
Notes
Pick your own toppings (set up a serving station)
- sauteed mushrooms,
- any kinds of peppers, onions, raw onions, peppers, mushrooms
- sliced tomato
- fresh tomatoes pureed
- more marinara sauce
- chopped crinkled black olives
- mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup(for the classic style)
- thick-sliced provolone, mozzarella, or another kind you prefer
- pickles
- bean salad
- romaine lettuce, arugula, butter, or iceberg chopped
- hard-boiled or fried eggs
- pepperoni, capicola or a slice of soppressata
- crispy bacon, prosciutto, or cooked pancetta
- Italian cooked sliced sausage, peppers, and onions all together
- red pepper flakes
- grated Pecorino Romano cheese for garnishing
- pepperoncini
- sliced olives
Nutrition Facts
Calories
1050.01Fat (grams)
66.02Sat. Fat (grams)
22.81Carbs (grams)
37.82Fiber (grams)
4.88Net carbs
32.94Sugar (grams)
11.62Protein (grams)
68.15Sodium (milligrams)
1722.17Cholesterol (grams)
300.96Pin for later
More Recipes We Love
Simple Reuben Sandwich
Antipasto Sandwich
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2018. It was edited and re-published in 2023.