If you’ve never had a cheeseburger pizza before, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a sesame seed pizza crust is smothered in a “special sauce” and topped with sharp cheddar cheese. Then, it’s topped with savory ground beef—seasoned just as you would your juicy burgers—plus pickles, fresh tomato slices, and more cheese. Because pizza Fridays are my family’s thing, we’ve made cheeseburger pizzas more times than I can remember, but we’ve never made it the same way twice. Start with the classic recipe, but experiment with the toppings, crust, or cooking method as you become more familiar with it.
The Best Ground Beef Ratio
I prefer to use the same type of ground beef when making this pizza that I use for my burgers. Ground chuck (80/20) is my go-to burger meat because it has a good amount of fat (where that “20” comes from) which helps flavor the meat while also keeping it juicy. Since the ground beef will be cooked twice, first in the pan to brown it and second in the oven while baking on the pizza, it’s important to use ground meat with at least 10 percent fat in it. No one wants bone-dry burger meat on their pizza. Another key to its flavor is seasoning the meat before it’s browned to seal in the spices. Cooking it with the onions adds even more flavor. Once the seasoned ground beef is fully cooked, it’s ready to top the pizza dough.
Swaps, Subs, and Variations
Your cheeseburger pizza is your masterpiece, so customize it with your favorite toppings. I’m always down for a bacon cheeseburger, but maybe your pizza looks like a bacon and mushroom cheeseburger pizza. Use a homemade, store-bought, or packaged mix pizza dough for this recipe. One of the appealing parts of this pizza is its convenience, especially when you get some help from the store. The secret sauce can be swapped out for a Thousand Island dressing. If your favorite burger joint has its own sauce, pick up a bottle and use that instead. Because dill pickles impart a more savory flavor, that’s what I prefer to top my pizza with. However, if you’re into a sweeter contrast, use bread and butter pickles instead. Replace the sharp cheddar cheese with Colby jack, mild or medium cheddar, or Swiss cheese. Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, or poppy seeds on the crust instead of sesame seeds. The rest of the toppings really are endless. Well, I mean, within reason, you still need to pick up the slice, after all. Add cooked, crumbled bacon, sliced mushrooms, pickled jalapeño slices, or sautéed green peppers with the burger meat and onions to vary your cheeseburger pizza. Baking your cheeseburger pizza in an oven is delicious, but grilling this pizza is clutch!
Beefy Dinners for Busy Families
Chopped Cheese Sandwich Hamburger and Macaroni Cheeseburger Soup Cheeseburger Empanadas Stovetop Double-Stack Cheeseburgers
For more texture on the pizza, top the pizza with the lettuce after it’s baked. You can throw on more pickles and tomatoes then, too.
3 tablespoons cornmeal
Secret Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup yellow onion, minced 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon yellow mustard 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika 1/4 teaspoon salt
Pizza
1 pound ground chuck 1/2 yellow onion (about 1 cup), minced 2 teaspoons burger or steak seasoning 1-pound ball pizza dough, fully risen Flour, as needed for shaping the dough 1 egg yolk 1 tablespoon cold water 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups Secret Sauce (or Thousand Island dressing), divided 2 1/2 to 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese 3/4 cup dill pickle slices 10 cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
Once the stove has been turned on, start breaking up the meat and mixing in the onions and spices with a spoon or spatula. Cook until the meat is fully cooked and no pink remains, about 10 minutes. Use a large spoon to drain off most of the fat; discard the fat. Set the skillet aside, off the heat. Prepare the egg wash in a small bowl by whisking together the egg yolk and cold water. Brush a 1 1/2-inch border around the outer rim of the pizza dough with the egg wash. Roll the edges of the pizza in 2 inches towards the center of the circle to create the pizza crust. Brush a light layer of the egg wash onto the crust you’ve just formed and sprinkle the sesame seeds onto the egg wash. Use the tines of a fork to prick holes in the dough in the center of the pan. Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Use the back of a wide spoon to spread 1 1/4 cups of the secret sauce onto the pizza crust. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese over the sauce, then top the cheese with the seasoned burger-onion mixture. Next, arrange the pickles and halved tomatoes on top of the beef and top with the remaining cheese. Bake the pizza until the cheese is fully melted and the pizza crust is golden brown in color, 10-12 minutes. Cut and serve while hot. This pizza is best when eaten on the same day it’s prepared. Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!
