This Cheeseburger Pie is a delightful marriage of savory beef, gooey cheddar cheese and a tender, custard-like crust holding it all together. This easy-to-make pie goes into the oven and comes out effervescent, golden brown and deep with flavor; a family favorite that gasps with the optimism of a cheeseburger but slices into family-friendly squares. Dress with your favorite burger fixings for a hearty meal that’s made to order!
Why You’re Gonna Like This Cheeseburger Pie:
Kid-Friendly: It’s the kind of dinner that kids and grown-ups can both get into, with its classic flavors and cheesy, comforting texture.
Quick and Simple: There are just a handful of steps to get this pie into the oven, so you won’t be spending an eternity finessing it.
Dress Down Your Slice: The optional toppings mean that everyone can adorn their slice exactly as they like.
One-Dish Wonder: That also means less cleanup and fewer dishes, so even better for frantic weeknights.
Key Ingredients:
Ground Beef: I’ve always used lean ground beef (85% lean) as it gives you a nice a balance of flavor without all that grease.
Cheese: You can certainly add in Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese if you would like some spice!
Milk: Whole milk makes it richer, but you could use 2% milk, too. Do not use skim milk; the texture will be too watery.
Flour: All-purpose flour creates a nice light crust that mimics traditional pie.
Optional Add-Ons: If you’d like to also make this more of a cheeseburger experience, add some chopped pickles or jalapeños to the beef mixture before baking.
Full ingredients list with amounts and method is in the recipe card below
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Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat and Prep
Oven: Contextualizing the instructions to be performed in an oven.
Prep the Pie Dish: Lightly grease a 9-inch pie dish, to keep the pie from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
Cook the Beef
Brown the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking, as it cooks, with a spoon so that the meat browns evenly.
Chop and Mix the Aromatics and Seasonings: Add your chopped onion; and 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes or until the onion is soft, translucent, and the beef is fully cooked.
Drain grease: Tip out excess grease from the pan so the pie isn’t greasy.
Assemble the Pie
Beef Layer: In the greased pie dish, spread the ground beef and onion mixture into an even layer on the bottom.
Sprinkle cheese over top: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over beef layer. The cheese will ooze into a gooey center during the baking of the pie.
Prepare the Pie Filling
To Make the Filling: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup flour, 2 large eggs and 1/2 tsp baking powder until completely smooth. This batter will be the pie’s “crust.”
Add the Filling: Slowly pour the batter over the beef and cheese layers, covering well.
Bake
Baking the Pie: Slide the pie into the hot oven, and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and filling is set. To test for doneness, poke a toothpick into the middle; it should come out clean.
Cool and Serve
Cool Slightly: Allow pie to cool for a few minutes to let filling set up a bit to make for easier slicing.
To serve and customize: Serve warm slices with chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pickles, ketchup and mustard, as you wish. Those toppings add fresh, crunchy contrasts to the savory pie, allowing for a diverging of flavors.
Serving Suggestions:
This Cheeseburger Pie goes great with traditional sides like:
French Fries: Keep it diner-style with side of crispy fries.
Simple Salad: A bright green salad cuts the richness.
Baked Beans: Or if you like your grill with a touch of sweetness, have some baked beans.
Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw adds a nice crunch and coolness to the dish.
Storage and Reheating Tips:
And this pie keeps well and is great leftovers!Here’s how to store it and reheat it:
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Freeze: And you can freeze it for 3 months. Individually wrap each piece in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container, to reheat.
To Reheat: Microwave slices for 1 to 2 minutes, or put in a 350-degree oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until warmed throughout.
Recipe Variations:
Cheeseburger Pie is so easy to make! Some tasty options to road test:
Bacon Cheeseburger Pie: For a smoky savory number, sprinkle 4 to 6 pieces of cooked, crumbled bacon on top of the beef layer.
Southwest Style: Add in diced green chilies or jalapeños, and use pepper jack cheese for a little spicy kick.
For vegetarian, go ahead and replace the ground beef with your favorite meat substitute and add some extra veggies — mushrooms, bell peppers or zucchini all do nicely!
If you’re in the mood for Italian flavors, use one cup of mozzarella in place of one cup of cheddar, a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, and stir in a handful of fresh spinach (very roughly chopped) into the meat mixture.
Double Cheese Delight: Stack on slices of various cheeses, like mozzarella or Monterey Jack, alongside the cheddar for a richer, cheesier pie.
Conclusion:
This cheeseburger pie inspired by The Pioneer Woman is comfort food at its best—an all-too-easy way to get a cheeseburger fix in pie form! And be sure to play around with the optional toppings and variations to make it your own. This is one of those recipes you’ll want in your back pocket for busy weeknights and family get-togethers.
Pioneer Woman Cheeseburger Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- to taste salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Optional toppings chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch pie dish.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks. Add onion, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the onion is soft and the beef is cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the greased pie dish. Spread it evenly. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the beef.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, flour, eggs, and baking powder until smooth. Pour this batter over the beef and cheese layers, covering the surface.
- Place the pie in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is set. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
- Allow the pie to cool for a few minutes before slicing. Serve warm with optional toppings for added flavor and crunch.