One bite into these open-faced pizza burgers and I was immediately struck with a sense of nostalgia. If you grew up eating English muffin pizzas like I did, these cheesy burgers will be right up your alley. They taste like a beefed-up version of the childhood favorite.

This recipe is like a pizza-burger hybrid: It borrows the very best traits from each to form a comforting family-friendly meal. With some basic ingredients and 20 minutes on the clock, you too can sit down to this deliciousness.

How to make pizza burgers in just 20 minutes

This kid-friendly dinner comes together in three simple steps. Before getting started, position an oven rack to about six inches under the broiler. You won’t use the broiler until the end of cooking, but it’s easiest to do it before the oven heats up.

The first step is to toast the split English muffins on a sheet pan in the oven. While they’re crisping, you’ll brown the ground beef on the stovetop, and mix in a couple spices and just enough marinara to make it saucy. Spoon the saucy beef over the toasted English muffins and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella, then broil for just a minute or so to melt the cheese.

Open-Faced Pizza Burgers

Serves 4

1 small yellow onion

4 English muffins

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound lean ground beef

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup pizza or marinara sauce

1 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese

1. Arrange a rack 6 inches below the broiling element and heat the oven to 350 F. Meanwhile, dice 1 small yellow onion.

2. Split 4 English muffins in half. Place cut-side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast in the oven until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Set aside and set the oven to broil.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 1 pound lean ground beef and 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned, beginning to crisp, and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.

4. Stir in 1 cup pizza or marinara sauce and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Divide the mixture between the English muffins. Sprinkle each muffin using the 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.

5. Broil until the cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes.

Recipe notes: The beef mixture can be made a day in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. Reheat before assembling the burgers.

(Kelli Foster is the food editor for plan and prep content for TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)