🍕🥩 Carnivore Italian Pizza Burgers
🔥 What It Is:
A meat-based burger patty seasoned with Italian spices, topped with sugar-free marinara, melted mozzarella, and optionally finished with pepperoni, prosciutto, or sausage crumbles — no bun needed.
📝 Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the Burger Patties:
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1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 preferred)
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1 tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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1 tsp garlic powder
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1 tsp onion powder
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1 tsp dried oregano
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½ tsp dried basil
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Optional: ÂĽ tsp red pepper flakes for heat
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1 egg (optional, helps bind if beef is lean)
Toppings:
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½ cup shredded mozzarella or fresh mozzarella slices
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ÂĽ cup sugar-free marinara or crushed tomatoes (look for no added sugar)
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8 slices pepperoni, or other meats like prosciutto, cooked Italian sausage, pancetta
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Optional: fresh basil or parmesan for garnish
For Cooking:
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1–2 tbsp butter or beef tallow for searing
👨‍🍳 Instructions
1. Mix & Form Patties
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In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg (if using), salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes.
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Mix just until combined — don’t overwork the meat.
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Form into 4 even burger patties, about ½–¾ inch thick. Press a slight dent in the center of each to keep them flat while cooking.
2. Cook the Burgers
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Heat a skillet or grill to medium-high. Add butter or beef tallow.
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Sear the patties 3–4 minutes per side (or until desired doneness — 160°F internal temp for well done).
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During the last minute of cooking, spoon a little marinara on each burger and top with mozzarella. Cover the pan with a lid for 1–2 minutes to melt the cheese.
3. Add Pizza Toppings
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Place pepperoni or other meats on top of the cheese. Let them warm/melt slightly.
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Optional: broil burgers for 1–2 minutes for bubbly, browned cheese.
4. Serve
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Serve the burgers on their own or over a bed of melted cheese.
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Garnish with chopped basil or grated Parmesan if desired.
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Optional sides: scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, or just eat them plain carnivore-style!
🥩 Carnivore Tips
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Strict carnivore? Skip the marinara or use a meat-based tomato-free sauce (like reduced bone broth + spices).
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Cheese-free? Use only meat toppings like pepperoni or salami.
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Want extra fat? Add a slice of butter or bacon between burger layers.
🍽️ Nutritional Estimate (per burger, no bun, includes cheese & sauce):
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Calories: ~420
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Protein: ~28g
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Fat: ~32g
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Carbs: ~2–3g (mostly from marinara)