5.0 from 24 votes
Zesty Italian Burgers
A fun take on a classic summer burger. How to grill a burger with pancetta, smoked mozzarella, grilled onions, and pesto piled on a ciabatta roll.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 809 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 8 lices pancetta
- 4 ounces basil pesto (or make your own!)
- 1 large ball smoked mozzarella
- 1 red onion, cut into thin rounds
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- baby arugula
- ripe tomato slices
- 4 ciabatta buns
Instructions
- Heat the grill to high. Divide the ground beef into 4 portions. Salt and pepper the patties. Layer each patty with a slice of pancetta on top and bottom. Press the pancetta into each patty.
- Cut the onion and mozzarella into rounds. Melt the butter and mix it with the tomato paste and anchovy paste. Cut the ciabatta buns and brush the insides with tomato-butter.
- Carefully brush the grill with oil or use non-stick grill spray. Grill the patties and onions at the same time. Grill the patties for 3-5 minutes per side and the onions for 1-2 minutes per side.
- Once you flip the burgers, lay the onion rounds over the top of each patty, followed by the mozzarella slices. The cheese will melt while the burgers finish cooking.
- Place the buns on the open grill and toast for 1 minute. Once the buns are toasted, slather them with pesto. Layer arugula leaves, tomato slices and a patty on each bun. Top and serve!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Basic Pesto Ingredients (if making pesto from scratch):
- Basic Pesto Ingredients (if making pesto from scratch):
- Combine the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and pecorino in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and pecorino in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Nutrition Information
Serving
1burger
Calories
809kcal
(40%)
Carbohydrates
32g
(11%)
Protein
39g
(78%)
Fat
56g
(86%)
Saturated Fat
19g
(95%)
Cholesterol
144mg
(48%)
Sodium
925mg
(39%)
Potassium
585mg
(17%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
635IU
(13%)
Vitamin C
2.7mg
(3%)
Calcium
86mg
(9%)
Iron
3.8mg
(21%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 809
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1burger | |
| Calories | 809kcal | 40% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 39g | 78% |
| Fat | 56g | 86% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Cholesterol | 144mg | 48% |
| Sodium | 925mg | 39% |
| Potassium | 585mg | 12% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 635IU | 13% |
| Vitamin C | 2.7mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 86mg | 9% |
| Iron | 3.8mg | 21% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.