Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie
Got 25 minutes and a craving for something that’ll make your whole family rush to the dinner table? This Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie is about to become your new weeknight hero. It’s basically all the flavors of a perfect cheeseburger wrapped up in a magically simple pie that forms its own crust!
What makes this recipe truly special is how the Bisquick mixture transforms during baking, creating a golden, fluffy crust that cradles seasoned ground beef, gooey melted cheese, and savory onions. The best part? You don’t have to fuss with making an actual pie crust – the ingredients do all the work for you while you kick back and enjoy those incredible burger-joint aromas filling your kitchen.
Ingredients
For the filling:
- Cooking spray
- 1 pound lean (at least 80%) ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
For the batter:
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup Original Bisquick® mix
- 2 large eggs
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Spray a 9-inch glass pie pan thoroughly with cooking spray, making sure to coat the sides to prevent sticking.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion, breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is well browned and crumbly with no pink remaining, about 8-10 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the onions are translucent and the beef has a caramelized appearance.
- While the beef mixture cooks, prepare the batter. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk, ½ cup Bisquick, and 2 large eggs until smooth with no lumps. The consistency should be similar to pancake batter – pourable but not too thin.
- Once beef is cooked, carefully drain off excess fat using a colander or by tilting the pan and removing fat with a spoon. Transfer the drained beef and onion mixture to the prepared pie pan, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
- Sprinkle the beef layer evenly with ½ teaspoon salt, then top with 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, distributing it evenly. Pour the Bisquick mixture over the top, making sure to cover all the meat and cheese. The batter will seep through during baking, creating that “impossible” crust.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. The pie should have a slight wobble in the center but not appear liquid.
Recipe Tip: If you’re baking at a high altitude (3500 to 6500 ft), increase baking time to 30-35 minutes as the lower air pressure affects how quickly the pie sets up.
Smart Swaps
- Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter version (still use 80/20 ratio for best flavor)
- Swap in pepper jack cheese for cheddar to add a spicy kick
- Add ½ cup diced bell peppers with the onions for extra vegetables and color
- Try ¼ cup chopped pickles sprinkled on top after baking for authentic cheeseburger flavor
Make It Diabetes-Friendly
- Use Carbquik (6g net carbs per ½ cup) instead of Bisquick (24g carbs per ½ cup) to reduce carbs by 18g per serving
- Replace regular milk with unsweetened almond milk (1:1 ratio) to save 11g carbs per cup
- Choose extra-lean ground beef (93/7) to reduce saturated fat content
- Add 1 cup riced cauliflower to the beef mixture to increase fiber and reduce the glycemic load
- Portion into 8 slices instead of 6 to reduce carb impact per serving (approximately 12g carbs per slice versus 18g)
Pro Tips
- Let the pie rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing for cleaner, more defined pieces
- Top with classic burger condiments like a small dollop of ketchup, mustard, or relish before serving
- For a crispy top, switch the oven to broil for the final 2 minutes of cooking (watch carefully to prevent burning!)
- Prepare the beef mixture up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate to make dinner assembly lightning-fast
- For a complete meal, serve with a simple side salad dressed with 2 tablespoons of vinaigrette to balance the richness