Pizza Burgers Recipe on the BBQ
How to Grill Burgers That Have the Favorite Flavors of a Great Pizza
May 25, 2009
Everybody loves grilled burgers. Everybody loves pizza.
So, why not combine the two dishes into one easy recipe to cook on an outdoor grill? (Or, for that matter, why not also make them on an indoor grill, under the broiler, in a stovetop grill pan, or with a hinged countertop device like the ever-popular George Foreman Grill?)
The following recipe mixes familiar pizza flavors right into the ground beef before it's shaped into patties. Served on crispy grill-toasted buns embellished with a lick of olive oil and a rub of garlic, these burgers are sure to become backyard barbecue favorites.
Pizza Burgers
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in halves
- 4 large fresh basil leaves
- 1 1/2 pounds good-quality ground beef
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 4 good-quality soft burger buns or sandwich rolls, split
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Preheat the grill
- Meanwhile, prepare the burger mixture. Turn on a food processor fitted with the stainless-steel blade and drop 3 of the garlic clove halves and the basil leaves through the feed tube to chop them finely. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the work bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the ground beef, Parmesan, tomato paste, oregano, and sugar. Pulse the machine on and off several times until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- With clean hands, form the mixture into 4 equal circular patties, each about 3/4 inch thick. Set the patties aside on a plate. Wash hands thoroughly with warm soapy water.
- Brush the cut sides of the buns or rolls with the olive oil. Set aside.
- Carefully oil the grill rack. Put the burgers on the grill and cook until done medium-well, 12 to 14 minutes total, turning them once. During the last 2 minutes or so, toast the roll halves cut sides down on the grill, just until golden.
- Quickly rub the toasted side of each roll half lightly with the cut side of the remaining garlic clove half. Place a burger on the bottom half of each roll and serve immediately.
Pizza Burger Tips and Variations
It's easy and fun to vary the basic Pizza Burger recipe:
- Top the burgers with sliced or shredded mozzarella or smoked mozzarella cheese about 2 minutes before they're done cooking.
- Top each burger with a slice of sun-ripened tomato or some leaves of iceberg lettuce or butter lettuce.
- Add strips of crispy bacon.
- Offer not only standard condiments like tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard, but also other complementary embellishments such as basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto.
- Go really wild and make double burgers!
Never again will it be necessary to make that tough decision between burgers or pizza for dinner! (Looking for more great, easy grill recipes? Check out Mexican Grilled Chicken Burgers or Grilled Steak Fajitas on the BBQ!)
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