Start by positioning an oven rack about six inches from the heat source. Turn on your oven’s broiler. You want it to get nice and hot for those bun tops!

Take your sliced hamburger buns and lay them cut-side down on a baking sheet. Pop them under the broiler for about one minute. Keep a close eye; they can go from toasty to burnt in a flash! Once they're golden brown, set them aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the pound of ground beef. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, cook and stir this juicy goodness for around 10 minutes until it’s browned and crumbly. Drain any excess fat from the skillet to keep things from getting too greasy.

Toss in the chopped onion into the skillet with the ground beef. Stir and cook for about five more minutes until the onion is soft and translucent. Now it’s time to bring in the pizza sauce and all those delicious seasonings: Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Make sure to mix everything well! Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to let those flavors meld.

Spoon the hearty meat and sauce mixture generously over each toasted bun half on the baking sheet. Top each one with about a quarter-cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Don’t be shy; that gooey cheese makes all the difference!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake the bun pizzas in the preheated oven until the cheese is bubbling and lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure you catch that perfect melt!