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Italian Burger sits on a serving board.

Italian Burgers

These Italian Burgers marry your favorite Italian flavors with a classic cheeseburger for an easy cookout recipe that's an instant favorite.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 691kcal

Ingredients
 

Ingredients:

  • 4 ciabatta buns
  • 3 Tablespoons salted butter (melted)
  • 2 large garlic cloves
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Vegetable oil to coat
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup marinara sauce (warmed)
  • 12 basil leaves

Instructions

  • Prep the buns. In a small bowl, mix together butter and garlic cloves. Brush the mixture on both sides of all the buns. Set aside.
  • Prep the burgers. Divide the beef into four equal sections and use your hands to gently shape each section into a ball. Use the palm of your hand to press each ball into a burger shape. It doesn’t have to be perfectly round. Press your thumb into the center of each burger to prevent doming.
  • Season. Mix together the salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of the burgers with the seasoning mixture.
  • Fry the burgers. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat and add just enough vegetable oil to coat. When the oil shimmers, place the patties in the skillet. Fry about 3 minutes or until liquid starts to pool on the top of the burgers, then flip and fry an additional 2-3 minutes or until internal temperature reaches desired doneness (see temp chart below). Place a slice of mozzarella on the burgers for the last minute and cover with a lid or sheet pan to allow it to melt. Remove the burgers to a plate and loosely tent with foil.
  • Broil the buns. While the burgers are frying, place the buns buttered side up on a baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes. Some will likely brown quicker than others, so you might have to remove some sooner and let the others continue to brown another minute or so.
  • Assemble. To assemble the burgers, spread both sides of the toasted garlic buns with the marinara. Top the bottom bun with the burgers and fresh basil leaves and sandwich with the top bun.

Notes

You should be able to get 3-4 burgers per pound of ground beef.
I like to analyze the size of my bun and decide how big to make the burgers from there. Typically, you’ll want the diameter of your burger to match or be just slightly bigger than your bun. If you have a really thick bun, you might want a thicker burger to match. Smaller buns are best with thinner burgers.
When toasting your buns, keep a close eye on how they're cooking. Oven broilers are notoriously unforgiving, so you may need to rotate the baking sheet or move it down a rack if results are inconsistent.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword ciabatta burger, Italian Burger, Italian cheeseburger, Italian cookout recipe

Nutrition

Calories: 691kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 1646mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 976IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 3mg