Looking to add some extra flavor to your burger night? Try these juicy Italian Burgers that bring the bold and delicious flavors of Italy to your plate. These juicy patties are perfect for casual family dinners or backyard BBQs with friends because they feel a little special, but take just about 20 minutes to prepare.
No matter what the situation, burger night is always one of my favorite days of the week.
It is casual, easy to do all the prep-work ahead, and most of all, everyone is happy.
Since we eat burgers on a regular basis in the summer, now and then, I get the urge to mix things up.
These Italian Burgers are just the way to do it!
Follow along and I'll show you how.
Ingredients
For the Pesto Mayonnaise:
- Mayonnaise: For a lighter alternative, feel free to swap in Greek yogurt or a vegan mayo!
- Pesto: Homemade or store-bought both work. If basil isn't your thing, try using sun-dried tomato pesto for a sweet, tangy twist.
For the Burgers:
- Ground Beef: Lean towards a higher fat content for more flavor. For a lighter option, ground turkey or chicken can be excellent substitutes.
- Pesto: Adding pesto directly into the meat infuses every bite with Italian goodness.
- Italian Seasoning: This blend of dried herbs brings classic Italian aromas to the patty. No Italian seasoning in the pantry? No problem! A mix of oregano, thyme, and basil will do the trick.
- Crushed Red Pepper/Cayenne: Adjust the heat to your family's liking, or omit it entirely for the little ones.
- Sea Salt & Ground Black Pepper: Adjust the amount to your liking.
- Provolone Cheese: Its mild, smoky flavor melts beautifully over the burgers. Feel free to use your preferred cheese.
For Serving:
- Hamburger Buns: Use your favorite bun, or make your own!
- Arugula, Tomato, Red Onion: Swap arugula for spinach if preferred, or explore with other toppings like roasted bell peppers or caramelized onions for a twist.
Tips and Tricks
- Get Creative with Your Meat: A blend of beef and pork, or even ground turkey for a lighter option, can add an interesting depth of flavor.
- Toast Those Buns: Trust me on this one – toasting your hamburger buns (like my bread machine burger buns) adds not just a satisfying crunch but also prevents them from getting soggy once you add your juicy burger and toppings. A light brush with olive oil before toasting brings out an incredible flavor.
- Pesto Perfection: Whether homemade or store-bought, a good quality pesto makes all the difference. If you're up for it, making your own pesto allows you to adjust the garlic, nuts, and cheese to your taste. Give my pesto without pine nuts a try.
- Don’t Overmix: When combining your patty ingredients, mix just until everything is incorporated. Overworking the meat can lead to tough burgers, and we're all about that tender, juicy bite.
Step by Step
- When your burgers are almost ready, top each with two slices of provolone cheese and let it melt right onto the meat.
- Toast your buns and then add the pesto mayo to them.
- Assemble your burgers by placing each patty on a bun bottom, then stack on arugula, tomato, and red onion for that fresh, flavorful crunch.
More Burger Fun 🍔
- Blackstone Smash Burgers: There's something truly magical about a perfectly smashed burger, with its crispy edges and juicy center. My journey with the Blackstone Griddle turned this simple technique into an art form, offering a crunchy outside and a tender inside that's just irresistible.
- Air Fryer Burger: On those nights when you're craving a burger but looking for a lighter touch, the Air Fryer comes to the rescue. This recipe is a game-changer, delivering that delectable burger taste with less oil, and it's become a weeknight favorite in our household.
- Ninja Foodi Grill Burger: The Ninja Foodi Grill has revolutionized indoor grilling for me, allowing for that char-grilled flavor year-round, rain or shine. It's perfect for creating succulent burgers that make you feel like a backyard BBQ hero, even if you're cooking in your kitchen.
- Bread Machine Burger Buns: There's nothing quite like homemade buns to elevate your burger experience, and my trusty bread machine makes it so easy. These buns are soft, fluffy, and just waiting to cradle your favorite burger creation, making every bite truly special.
- Black Bean Quinoa Burgers: For a delightful vegetarian twist, these Black Bean Quinoa Burgers have won over even the most dedicated meat lovers in my family. Packed with flavor and texture, they're a testament to how versatile and satisfying plant-based burgers can be.
Italian Burgers
Ingredients
Pesto Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup pesto
Burgers
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons pesto
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper or ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 Sargento® Blends™ 5 Cheese Italian Slices
For Serving
- 4 hamburger buns gluten-free if necessary
- For Serving: arugula tomato, red onion
Instructions
- Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- In a small bowl combine mayonnaise and pesto. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix meat with pesto, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper.
- Divide meat into 4 patties, about an inch thick.
- Grill burgers, flipping them once to the desired doneness. (About 6 to 8 minutes for medium-rare.)
- Melt 2 slices of cheese on each burger.
- Toast buns if desired. Spread pesto mayonnaise on the buns.
- Divide the patties among the bun bottoms. Top with arugula, tomato, red onion and bun tops.
Notes
Variations for Italian Burgers:
- In place of the pesto in the burger mixture, use marinara.
- If you have a little extra time, caramelized onions are great on these Italian Burgers.
- For an extra kick, add a tablespoon of minced garlic to the meat mixture. (Sadly, my kids won't go for this one.)
Stacie
Winner, winner, burger dinner! I cannot wait to make these! They sound AH-mazing!
Shannon Gurnee
I love it when my husband grills up cheeseburgers on the bbq. These look and sound like some amazing ones! I'll have to try out Sargento cheese sometime!
Rose Ann Sales
Wow! It looks really delicious and seeing this makes me really hungry again. I will definitely try to make this and I am sure they will love it!
Trina
This looks amazingly delicious! I am craving a big burger now!
Melissa Dixon
That looks really good, I could go for some of those right about now. I love a good burger, so this is perfect for me.
Kathy
These look amazing. I love a great burger. I've been looking for a new burger recipe too, so I can't wait to try this one.
Lynndee
We love burgers over here. And we love it grilled. I love the addition of pesto in your recipe. I am definitely going to try this.
Hempextract
Wow it looks very delicious can't wait to eat i am a big fond of to eat good and healthy food i really like it thanks for share.