We made an 8lb version of Burger King's cult-favorite Pizza Burger

Pizza Burger — Thrillist Recipes
Drew Swantak
Drew Swantak

Back in the halcyon days of 2010 when everyone was listening to Taio Cruz on their iPhone 4Gs, Burger King unveiled its 2,500cal Pizza Burger masterpiece: a 9.5in sesame-seed bun topped with four quarter-pound beef patties, covered in pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and marinara.

Much like the people who tried to eat it alone, the burger lived and died only at the Times Square location, but the concept was brilliant enough for me to resurrect it. My mighty 8lb version features smashed beef patties, smothered in pizza toppings atop a foot-wide sesame-seed brioche bun. Unlike the long-expired BK version, now that you have the recipe, the Pizza Burger will never again Break Your Heart (that's a Taio Cruz song).

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There's a pizza AND a burger under there.
Drew Swantak

Pizza Burger Recipe

Total Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Yield: One 12-inch pizza burger

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 1 cup warm whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 7 - 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 6 large eggs
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 2 ounces pepperoni
  • 1/2 head of lettuce, shredded
  • 2 tomatoes, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pizza sauce

  • Stand mixer
  • 2 pizza stones or large baking sheets
  • 14-inch cast-iron skillet
DIRECTIONS:
  • Combine water, milk, sugar, and yeast in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
  • Combine 7 cups flour and salt in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment. Add the milk mixture and mix on medium-low speed until combined. With mixer running, add 4 eggs, one at a time, waiting for eggs to become fully incorporated between additions. Add butter one tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated.
  • Continue to mix on medium-low speed for 2-3 minutes. If dough appears too sticky, add flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it pulls away from sides of mixer (it will still stick to bottom). Continue kneading until dough is smooth and elastic, 5-6 minutes longer.
  • Dust your hands with flour and grab the dough. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough in half and knead each one into a ball. Place each ball in the center of its own greased pizza stone or large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Adjust racks to upper and lower positions.
  • Remove plastic wrap from the dough. Whisk remaining eggs with 2 tablespoons of water and brush a layer over the entire exposed surface of the buns. Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Remove buns from oven and brush with remaining egg wash. Return to oven, switching buns from the upper and lower racks, and bake until golden brown, 10-15 minutes longer. Transfer buns to wire racks to cool.
  • Add oil to a 14-inch cast-iron skillet and spread it around with a paper towel. Set skillet over medium heat and allow to preheat for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, season the beef generously with salt and pepper.
  • Increase heat to high until skillet is smoking. Add beef to skillet and press down with a large metal spatula to spread and flatten the beef until it fills the entire bottom of the skillet in an even layer. Cook until a brown crust develops on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the patty over with the spatula (you may need an assist from a second spatula). Cover the patty with mozzarella and pepperoni. Continue to cook the other side about 2 minutes for medium-rare.
  • Cover the bottom bun with lettuce and tomatoes. Spread pizza sauce on the underside of the top bun. Transfer patty to the bottom bun. Cover with the top bun. Cut into 6 slices.
Pizza Burger — Thrillist Recipes
Drew Swantak
Pizza Burger — Thrillist Recipes
Drew Swantak