Pizza and Burger Lovers Rejoice in Vegetarian “Cheeseburger” French Bread Pizza
This Cheeseburger-inspired twist on French bread pizza swaps traditional pizza sauce & mozzarella for a special sauce and cheddar for a quick weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
Serves4
Prep20 minutes
Cook20 minutes to 25 minutes
“Pizza or burgers” seems to be an eternal debate in my house. One kid is always fighting for the portability of pizza — perfect for continuing a board game — while the other argues for the delight of a messy burger. I would just like an easy dinner, preferably with minimal clean up. Enter this cheeseburger-inspired take on the classic French bread pizza, with all the components of a cheeseburger topping toasted bread and a special sauce.
The Best of Both Worlds
You can make this recipe with ground beef, but we’ve been experimenting with more plant-based protein alternatives like Impossible Burger. For this quick weeknight meal, I can grab everything — from the fluffy French bread and tangy shredded cheddar, to my animal or non-animal protein of choice — at my local Walmart.
Their big selection saves me time on shopping, and their low prices are always appreciated. Fast and easy pickup and delivery from Walmart is also a game changer on busy weeks. And if you’re a fan of classic ground beef, just make sure to put that in your cart — you can swap in a 16-ounce package without changing the recipe at all.
Once your French bread pizzas are nice and melty, you have the option to top them with crisp, shredded lettuce or juicy tomatoes and pickles just before serving. Having the hand-held ease of pizza with the satisfying flavors of a cheeseburger is a win-win. Bring on the family game night!
Plant-Based “Cheeseburger” French Bread Pizza
This Cheeseburger-inspired twist on French bread pizza swaps traditional pizza sauce & mozzarella for a special sauce and cheddar for a quick weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
Prep time 20 minutes
Cook time 20 minutes to 25 minutes
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons
olive oil
- 1 (12 ounce) package
Impossible Beef or 1 (16 ounce package) All Natural 93% Lean Ground Beef Tray
- 1 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon
garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
onion powder
- 1 (12-ounce) loaf
soft French or Italian bread
- 1 (8-ounce) bottle
Thousand Island dressing (about 1 cup)
- 2 cups
shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
- 2
medium Roma tomatoes
- 1/2
medium head romaine lettuce (optional)
- 20 to 24
hamburger dill pickle chips (optional)
Instructions
Arrange a rack in the top third of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to make clean up easier.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1 (12-ounce) package Impossible Beef, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Cook, breaking up the beef into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through and beginning to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
Cut 1 (12-ounce) loaf soft French or Italian bread in half crosswise with a serrated knife, then cut each half lengthwise so you have 4 pieces. Place the bread cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet and press down firmly and evenly with your hands until compressed by about half. Flip the bread so that it's cut-side up. Bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Divide 1 cup Thousand Island dressing evenly onto the bread (1/4 cup per piece) and spread into an even layer. Top evenly with the seasoned beef. Sprinkle each piece of bread with 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, halve 2 medium Roma tomatoes and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Finely chop the tomatoes. Cut 1/2 medium head romaine lettuce into fine shreds if desired.
Top the pizzas with the tomatoes, 20 to 24 hamburger dill pickle chips, and lettuce if desired. Cut each pizza in half.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be wrapped and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350ºF for about 5 minutes.