Here’s a dinner that makes everybody happy: Cheeseburger Pie. It’s an old-fashioned hamburger pie with a savory ground beef and onion filling, a light, fluffy buttermilk batter poured right over the top, and a blanket of melted cheddar. As it bakes, the batter puffs up and turns golden, and you end up with something that slices like a pie and tastes just like a cheeseburger.
No crust to roll, no fancy ingredients. Just a skillet, a pie plate, and about 40 minutes from start to finish. It’s the kind of supper you can pull together on a busy weeknight with what’s already in your fridge.
If ground beef dinners are your thing, you’ll find plenty more in my beef recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- All the cheeseburger flavor: Beef, onion, Worcestershire, and cheddar, baked into one easy dish.
- No crust needed: The simple batter bakes into its own fluffy layer, so there’s nothing to roll out.
- Ready in about 40 minutes: Ten minutes of prep and the oven takes it from there.
- Kid-friendly: Serve it with pickles and ketchup and let everyone top their own slice.
- Flexible: You can use a Bisquick shortcut, swap the meat, or make your own buttermilk if you’re out.
Ingredients Breakdown
Here’s what goes into this cheeseburger pie. You’ll find exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Olive oil: Just a tablespoon to get the beef and onion going in the skillet.
- Lean ground beef: One pound makes the hearty filling. Leaner beef means less to drain.
- Yellow onion: Chopped and cooked with the beef until soft and sweet.
- Kosher salt: Seasons the filling.
- Worcestershire sauce: This is what gives the filling that savory, burger-joint flavor.
- Eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter: These make the batter. Use room-temperature buttermilk so it whisks up smooth.
- All-purpose flour and baking powder: They give the batter structure and make it puff up light and fluffy in the oven.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: A full cup goes on top, because it’s not a cheeseburger without the cheese!
- For serving (optional): Pickle slices, ketchup, and burger sauce, just like the real thing.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Heat the oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Cook the beef and onion
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil, ground beef, onion, and salt, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the beef is browned and crumbly and the onion is soft. Drain off any extra fat if you like.
3. Add the Worcestershire
Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and cook for about 2 more minutes, until it’s been soaked up.
4. Fill the pie plate
Spray a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray and spread the beef mixture evenly across the bottom.
5. Make the batter
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter until smooth. Add the flour and baking powder and whisk again until there are no lumps. Pour the batter evenly over the beef.
6. Add the cheese and bake
Sprinkle the cheddar all over the top. Bake for about 25 minutes, until the top is browned and the center is set.
7. Slice and serve
Cut into wedges and serve with pickles, ketchup, or burger sauce if you like.
Tips and Variations
- Bisquick shortcut: Use 1/2 cup of Bisquick in place of the flour, baking powder, and melted butter, then make the recipe as written.
- No buttermilk? No problem: Put 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a measuring cup, add milk up to the 1-cup line, stir, and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Choose your beef: Any ground beef works. Fattier ground round or chuck may need draining, while sirloin or lean beef won’t.
- Try another meat: One pound of ground bison or ground turkey works too.
- Whisk until smooth: Lumps in the batter can bake into floury pockets, so give it a good whisk.
- Check the center: The pie is done when the top is browned and the middle no longer looks wet.
How to Serve This Recipe
Slice your cheeseburger pie into wedges and set out the toppings: pickle slices, ketchup, and burger sauce. Everybody can dress their slice the way they like their burger.
For sides, go with classic burger-night favorites. Air Fryer Carrot Fries are a fun swap for regular fries, and Boiled Corn on the Cob or The Best Potato Salad round out the plate perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Bisquick in cheeseburger pie?
Yes. Replace the flour, baking powder, and melted butter with 1/2 cup of Bisquick and make the rest of the recipe as written.
What can I use instead of buttermilk?
Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a measuring cup, fill it to the 1-cup line with milk, stir, and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before using.
Do I need to drain the ground beef?
It depends on the beef. Fattier ground round or chuck may need draining, while lean beef or sirloin usually doesn’t.
How do I know when it’s done?
Bake it at 400°F for about 25 minutes, until the top is browned and the center is set.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
Cover the pie plate tightly and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat slices in the microwave.
You May Also Love
- Easy Smash Burgers
- One-Pan Lighter Hamburger Helper
- Classic Tater Tot Casserole
- Sloppy Joe Pasta Casserole
- Easy Ground Beef Quesadillas
Cheeseburger Pie
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9-inch pie plate
- Medium bowl and whisk
- Nonstick cooking spray
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Batter and topping
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole buttermilk room temperature
- 1 Tbsp salted butter melted
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
For serving (optional)
- pickle slices, ketchup and/or burger sauce
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil, ground beef, onion and salt and cook, stirring now and then, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the beef is browned and crumbly and the onion is soft. Drain any extra fat if you like.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and cook for about 2 minutes more, until it has been absorbed.
- Spray a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray and spread the beef mixture in it.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk and melted butter until smooth. Add the flour and baking powder and whisk again until smooth. Pour evenly over the beef.
- Sprinkle the cheese all over the top. Bake for about 25 minutes, until the top is browned and the centre is set.
- Cut into slices and serve with pickles, ketchup or burger sauce if you like.
.
- Bisquick shortcut: Use 1/2 cup Bisquick in place of the flour, baking powder and melted butter, then make the recipe as written.
- No buttermilk? Put 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a measuring cup, add milk to the 1-cup line, stir and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Meat: Any ground beef works; fattier ground round or chuck may need draining, while sirloin or lean beef won't. Ground bison or turkey (1 pound) also work.
- Storage: Cover the pie plate tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat slices in the microwave.
- Nutrition: Estimated per serving from the ingredients (90% lean beef), without serving toppings.
