make-ahead pizza burgers

Ingredients

• Servings: 72
• 1 onion, minced
• 3 stalks celery, minced
• 4 pounds ground beef
• 1 (32 ounce) bottle ketchup
• 1/2 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
• 1/2 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened (optional)
• 36 english muffins, split
• 72 slices american cheese, cut into strips

Recipe

Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Ready Time: 50 mins


• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c).
• place onion and celery into a pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. simmer until tender, about 3 minutes. drain.
• heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir beef until it is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. drain and discard any excess grease. stir in onion mixture, ketchup, tomato soup, 1/2 can tomato paste, garlic salt, salt, and pepper; set aside to cool.
• mix remaining 1 1/2 cans tomato paste, oregano, and sugar in a small bowl. season with salt and pepper.
• butter each english muffin half, then spread with tomato paste mixture. divide ground beef mixture over each muffin half and top with strips of american cheese. place open-faced sandwiches on large baking sheets.
• bake in the preheated oven until cheese melts, about 15 minutes.