Of course! Mini Pizza Burgers are the ultimate fun-sized fusion food, perfect for parties, game day, or a kid-friendly dinner. They combine the juicy satisfaction of a slider with the cheesy, saucy goodness of pizza.
Here’s a delicious and easy-to-follow recipe.
Mini Pizza Burgers (Pizza Sliders)
These sliders are baked as a whole tray and then pulled apart, making them incredibly easy to serve to a crowd.
Yields: 12 mini burgers
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the Meat Layer:
· 1 lb ground beef (80/20 is best for flavor and juiciness)
· 1 tsp garlic powder
· 1 tsp onion powder
· 1 tsp dried oregano
· ½ tsp salt
· ¼ tsp black pepper
· ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Assembly:
· 12 slider buns or small Hawaiian rolls (like King’s Hawaiian)
· ½ cup your favorite pizza sauce
· 12 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese (or 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella)
· 30-40 slices of pepperoni
· ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
· ½ tsp garlic powder
· ½ tsp Italian seasoning
· Optional for serving: extra pizza sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Without separating the individual rolls, slice the entire sheet of slider buns in half horizontally. Place the bottom half in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Make the Meat Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Mix with your hands until just combined (don’t overwork it).
- Form the Patty: Press the meat mixture evenly over the bottom layer of slider buns in the baking dish, creating one large, thin patty that reaches the edges.
- Bake the Meat: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the beef is mostly cooked through.
- Drain Fat (Important!): Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Tip the pan slightly and use a baster or spoons to remove the excess fat that has rendered out. This prevents soggy buns.
- Add Toppings: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the cooked meat layer. Arrange the slices of mozzarella cheese over the sauce, followed by a layer of pepperoni.
- Top with Bun: Place the top half of the slider buns over the pepperoni layer.
- Add Buttery Topping: In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, ½ tsp garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Brush this mixture generously over the top of the buns.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake, uncovered, for another 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly and the tops of the buns are golden brown.
- Serve: Let them rest for 2-3 minutes before using a sharp knife to cut along the roll lines and separate them into individual sliders. Serve immediately with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
🌟 Flavor Variations & Pro-Tips:
· The Meat: You can use ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage for a different flavor.
· “The Works” Version: Before adding the cheese, sprinkle on finely chopped green bell peppers, sliced black olives, or sautéed mushrooms.
· Cheese Choices: Provolone is a fantastic melter with a great flavor. You can also use a pre-shredded pizza blend for convenience.
· Don’t Skip Draining the Fat: This is the key step to ensuring your bottom bun doesn’t become a greasy mess.
· Make it Spicy: Use spicy Italian sausage or add sliced jalapeños or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes under the cheese.
· Air Fryer Method: You can make individual mini burgers. Form small patties, cook them in the air fryer at 370°F (188°C) for 6-8 minutes, then assemble on toasted buns with the sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Pop them back in for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese.
These Mini Pizza Burgers are guaranteed to be a massive hit. They’re easy, cheesy, and packed with flavor! Enjoy.