Pizza Buns

Description

The elementary school I attended back in the 1950’s used to make these, and were a favorite of most everyone. My wife and I spent a lot of time trying to recreate these when we were first married. Our kids (now in their 30’s) still request these when they come to visit. We use canned pizza sauce but spice it up. Left-overs are easily reheated in the toaster oven.

Ingredients

  • 8 hamburger buns, split
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ⅓ cup onion, chopped
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pizza sauce (such as Contadina®)
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven’s broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
  2. Place bun halves
  3. crust sides down
  4. onto a baking sheet. Broil the buns until just toasted
  5. about 1 minute. Watch them carefully
  6. they burn easily. Set the toasted buns aside.
  7. Turn oven heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  8. In a large skillet over medium heat
  9. cook and stir the ground beef until the meat is browned and crumbly
  10. about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease
  11. and stir in the onion. Cook and stir the beef mixture until the onion is translucent
  12. about 5 more minutes
  13. then stir in the pizza sauce
  14. Parmesan cheese
  15. Italian seasoning
  16. garlic powder
  17. onion powder
  18. crushed red pepper flakes
  19. and paprika. Bring the sauce to a boil
  20. and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to blend the flavors
  21. stirring often.
  22. Spoon the beef sauce over the buns on the baking sheet
  23. and top each bun with about 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Return the buns to the oven
  24. and bake until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned
  25. about 10 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 35 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 8

Leave a Comment