Friday, May 29, 2026

Pizza Burgers

Food, Meat, Pork

My Grandma Knew.

Lindsay Ostrom headshot.

A crisped English muffin brushed with garlic butter, topped with a savory meat sauce and melty cheese? Oh MAN these are good.

I’m currently very obsessed with these, which is kind of making me chuckle, because it feels like a peak 90s Midwestern mom moment. HERE FOR IT!

“Pizza burgers” are a staple of my childhood. My grandma made these all the time, and whenever she would come visit our family, she’d re-up our freezer stash.

This recipe is like a collab between my grandma and me: she always did them on English muffins, and I prefer ground Italian sausage (or turkey, or chicken), and brushing all of it with garlic butter.

They’re just my favorite for the end-of-school-year madness right now:

  • They’re MINDLESSLY EASY.
  • My kids love them.
  • Fun toppings can be mixed in (my fave = pepperoncini).
  • And, importantly: they can be pulled out of the freezer and reheated one at a time – ideal for the times we are trying to get out the door to soccer or find something to eat quickly between work meetings and just questioning every life decision that led us to this moment.
Pizza burger on a plate with potatoes, cucumber, and salad.

While in the process of writing this post, I literally just ate two of them for lunch. Oh man, so good.

Pulled out of the freezer. Air-fried for 8 minutes. Drizzled them with good olive oil (DELICIOUS) and topped with some kosher salt and served alongside a pile of supremely crunchy cucumbers. It was a moment!

Hope you love these! From my Midwestern grandma, to me, to all of us. 🙂

Lindsay signature.

How To Make Pizza Burgers

1

Make Your Filling

You have options. My grandma always did ground beef, but I prefer Italian sausage or well-seasoned ground turkey!

Adding marinara sauce to cooked sausage in a pan.

2

Brush with Garlic Butter

This is obviously a very good flavor move.

Brushing english muffins with garlic butter.

3

Top the English Muffins

A spoonful of sauce, pepperoncini slices if you’re me, and a little sprinkling of cheese.

Pizza burgers with cheese on top before baking.

4

Air Fry

You can air fry these guys from fresh OR frozen! Deliciously crisped and golden brown.

Pizza burgers in an air fryer.

5

You’re Done! Yum!

Suggestion: sprinkle with more Italian seasoning, or a dollop of pesto, maybe a drizzle of good olive oil. I mean. I MEAN.

Finished pizza burgers.
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Pizza burger with melted cheese.

Pizza Burgers


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  • Author: Lindsay
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

These pizza burgers are a family favorite! Mindlessly easy, loved by my kids, and just fun to make. Great for meal prep, too!


Ingredients

Units

Meat Filling

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 lb. ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (reduce if using Italian sausage)
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce (I use Rao’s)
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped pepperoncini (optional)

English Muffins and Toppings

  • 68 English muffin halves
  • 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
  • 1 clove garlic, grated (or a few shakes of garlic powder)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

Instructions

  1. Prepare the filling: Heat oil in a large skillet. Brown the meat. Add garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. Add the tomato sauce; stir to combine. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese.
  2. Prepare the English Muffins: Mix the melted butter and garlic. Place English muffins face-up on a sheet pan. Brush with the garlic butter mixture.
  3. Arrange the Pizza Burgers: Put a few spoonfuls of the meat mixture on top of the English muffins. Cover each one with shredded Mozzarella, then a pinch of grated Parmesan.
  4. For cooking immediately: Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 5-7 minutes, and then broil as needed to get the cheese melted and browned. You can also air fry at 350 for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown and slightly crisped.
  5. For freezing: Place individual pizza burgers on a plate or small baking sheet lined with parchment and tuck it into the freezer. When they are solid, you can put them into a bag or container together. To reheat, I prefer to air fry at 350 for 6-8 minutes to get them warmed and crispy.

Notes

If you’re using Italian sausage, it’s already going to have a lot of a great flavor so you don’t need to season the meat as much as what is directed here. But if you’re using ground turkey or chicken, I would use the amounts of seasoning listed in the recipe (and/or taste and adjust so the meat takes on lots of flavor). 

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: Italian American

Keywords: pizza burgers, easy dinner, air fryer dinner

More Family-Favorite Dinners

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Friday, May 15, 2026

35 Easy Summer Dinners To Make on Repeat

Summer dinners.

Summer is my favorite time to cook – not because I want to spend hours in a hot kitchen, but because I genuinely don’t have to. That summer produce does all the work. Juicy tomatoes, sweet crunchy corn, crisp cucumbers, and fresh herbs that make everything taste like it came straight from the garden when really it came together in 30 minutes on a Tuesday night.

These 35 recipes are my tried-and-true summer go-tos – the ones I come back to year after year when I want dinner to feel bright, fresh, and flavorful without a ton of effort. They’re the recipes I genuinely make for my own family that never disappoint. Hope you love them, too!


The Best Summer Dinner Recipes

Salmon with Basil Sauce and Tomato Salad

We’re making a summery salmon with a beautiful, big-flavored basil sauce that is so good, you’re going to want to just drink it. Perfectly-spiced, fresh, and a dinner for everyone!

64 reviews / 4.9 average

Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Garlic Cilantro Lime Slaw

THE BEST shrimp tacos loaded with avocado, spicy shrimp, and a homemade creamy lime slaw? HELLO YUMMY!

309 reviews / 4.8 average

Grilled Chicken with Pepperoncini Garlic Butter

This is such a fun one! Grilled marinated chicken, a quick tomato cucumber salad, tangy bits of feta, and a zippy pepperoncini garlic butter sauce poured over the whole thing.

63 reviews / 5 average

Smash Burgers with House Sauce

The famous Smash Burger! Deeply crisped, craggy, juicy, squashed patties covered with melty cheese, piled on a buttery bun, and topped with a dreamy zip of secret sauce.

52 reviews / 4.9 average

The Best Pasta Salad

Super easy Pasta Salad – with pasta, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, pepperoncini, olives, and easy Italian dressing. DANGEROUSLY GOOD.

127 reviews / 4.5 average

Thai Shrimp Curry with Yummy Shallot Crispies

This shrimp curry is the curry of my dreams! Incredible flavor, just a few simple ingredients, and easy enough for a weeknight!

22 reviews / 4.7 average

Burger Bowls with House Sauce and Ranch Fries

A burger in a bowl! Ranch-seasoned fries topped with a burger patty and all the fixings, with a drizzle of house sauce to take it over the top!

38 reviews / 5 average

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Restaurant-level pasta, easy enough to be SOS! Caramelized shallots folded into a silky red pepper sauce, and tossed with noodles. Heaven!

34 reviews / 4.8 average

BBQ Salmon Bowls with Mango Avocado Salsa

BBQ Salmon Bowls with Mango Avocado Salsa! An easy and impressive dinner with yummy smoky-sweet flavor and a zip of zesty homemade salsa to take it over the top. The BEST weeknight dinner.

187 reviews / 4.9 average

Summertime Fried Chicken Sandwiches with Tangy Slaw

All my friends raved about these fried chicken sandwiches! This recipe for fried chicken is surprisingly easy and SO GOOD. Just soak, dredge, and fry!

33 reviews / 4.8 average

Miso Crunch Salad

Shredded cabbage and kale, shrimp, avocado, cilantro and chili-flavored peanuts, and the perfect sweet miso dressing.

35 reviews / 4.9 average

Chipotle Salmon with Orange Salsa and Aji Verde

Sweet-and-smoky chipotle salmon topped with fresh orange salsa and creamy aji verde! An easy, delicious, restaurant-level salmon dinner.

62 reviews / 5 average

Trader Joe’s Chicken Shawarma with Lemon Rice

Easy Trader Joe’s chicken shawarma bowls with fluffy lemon rice, crunchy cabbage, and creamy feta sauce. Fast, flavorful, and perfect for weeknights!

11 reviews / 4.8 average

Thai Peanut Chicken Bowls

I love a shortcut dinner hack! These bowls feature caramelized peanut chicken, a tangle of vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs and cucumber salad, and peanut sauce all over top.

28 reviews / 4.9 average

Bang Bang Salmon with Avocado Cucumber Salsa

Bang Bang Salmon! Creamy, sweet, savory, and punchy. Served with some steamy rice and an avocado cucumber salsa. Weeknight perfection!

58 reviews / 4.9 average

Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini

This Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini is the perfect end-of-summer song! It doesn’t get much better than fresh summer zucchini coated in a crispy, cheesy breading piled high on top of spaghetti with fresh herbs. YUM!

47 reviews / 4.9 average

Cashew Crunch Salad with Sesame Dressing

This Cashew Crunch Salad is loaded up with crunchy veg, chow mein noodles, edamame, and roasted cashews and it’ll make you ACTUALLY WANT TO EAT A SALAD. And the sesame dressing – OMG!

122 reviews / 4.9 average

Roasted Tomato Puttanesca

The easiest Roasted Tomato Puttanesca with all the silky, all the briney, and all the zippy summer freshness.

45 reviews / 4.8 average

Coconut Lime Grilled Chicken and Rice

Grilled marinated chicken, fluffy rice, and excessive handfuls of mint and cilantro, finished off with a generous drizzling of big and flavorful creamy coconut lime sauce.

28 reviews / 4.8 average

Creamy Vegan Red Pepper Pasta with Blistered Tomatoes

This Creamy Vegan Red Pepper Pasta is seriously delicious and seriously vegan! Perfectly chewy rigatoni, blistered juicy tomatoes, a creamy-but-cream-less roasted red pepper sauce, all sprinkled with fresh chives and basil.

59 reviews / 4.9 average

Honey Chipotle Chicken Skewers

These chicken skewers are a family favorite! Very easy, deliciously smoky, nice and sweet, with a good amount of spice and bite. Air fryer, grill, and oven-friendly!

28 reviews / 4.9 average

Spicy Shrimp with Peach Salad

This is summertime in a bowl! Spicy shrimp with all the delicious heat, smoke, and sweetness we want, alongside a fresh peach and cucumber salad.

13 reviews / 4.9 average

Salmon Tacos with Mango Corn Salsa

Super easy salmon tacos loaded with a mango, sweet corn, and cucumber salsa!

30 reviews / 5 average

Summer Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette

This juicy salad tastes like summer! With chipotle chicken, sweet corn, avocado, cilantro vinaigrette, bacon crumbles, and fresh strawberries for a pop of sweetness.

81 reviews / 5 average

Banza Chicken Bowls with Calabrian Chili Sauce

This bowl has it all! The crunch of the tomato cucumber salad, the thin slips of bitey red onion, the golden crisped air fryer chicken cut into tender little strips, a big pile of perfectly chewy Banza, and a dollop of tangy calabrian chile sauce on top.

20 reviews / 5 average

Spicy Shrimp Veracruz

Shrimp Veracruz – my new favorite recipe!! Juicy shrimp in a pepper / tomato spicy, briny sauce served over rice. Oh my gosh, THIS IS SO GOOD.

31 reviews / 4.9 average

Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Lime Drench

These lettuce wraps are a SUMMER DREAM. Mountains of crumbled-crisp ground chicken, fluffy quinoa, and/or rice for added satisfaction, and garlicky gingery sautéed veggies in crisp butter lettuce leaves.

32 reviews / 4.8 average

Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Corn and Tomatoes

Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Corn and Tomatoes! A seriously delicious fresh summer pasta. Creamy, silky noodles, garlicky shrimp, and a punch of fresh corn, cherry tomatoes, and basil.

57 reviews / 4.9 average

Crunchy Roll Bowls

A block of tofu, nicely browned in teriyaki sauce, served on a bed of sticky rice with edamame, cucumber, avocado, jalapeño, and a handful of crushed-up crunchy onions, buried under a thick drizzle of extra teriyaki and spicy mayo. 

475 reviews / 4.9 average

One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale

This One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale is a straight-up DREAM! Rustic farro cozied up to cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic, and kale. So good and so wholesome!

39 reviews / 4.9 average

Ginger Chicken Meatball Sandos

Golden brown chicken meatballs cozied up next to fixings like cucumbers, shallots, kewpie mayo, mint, a bit of chili crisp, and some fresh cilantro to make the ultimate chicken sando!

45 reviews / 4.8 average

Roasted Peanut Kale Crunch Salad

OOOH BABY, this salad is so good! Crunchy kale and cabbage, fresh herbs and fresno peppers, chopped peanuts, and a perfect roasted peanut vinaigrette that tucks into all the salad nooks and crannies.

34 reviews / 4.9 average

Gochujang Chicken Burgers with Kimchi Bacon Jam

Wow wow wow! These Gochujang Chicken Burgers are next-level good. And a perfectly sweet-spicy kimchi bacon jam piled high on top? Yes, please!

99 reviews / 5 average

Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes with Parmesan Orzo

Shrimp laced with buttery garlic and thyme and a burst tomato sauce served on a creamy Parmesan orzo.

18 reviews / 4.9 average

Burst Tomato Pappardelle with Zucchini, Sweet Corn, and Pan-Fried Chicken

Meet your next fave summertime pasta! Egg pappardelle tossed in a luscious cream sauce with fresh, bursty summer veg and the best crispy pan-fried chicken. Here we goooo!

19 reviews / 4.8 average

More Summer Recipes – Desserts, Apps, and More!

Summer Desserts

Summer Appetizers

Summer Drinks

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