Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe

preheat and prepare dough

Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it heats. Lightly dust a work surface with the all-purpose flour. Let the 1 lb pizza dough sit at room temperature for 20 minutes if chilled. Stretch or roll the dough into a 12-inch round (about 1/4-inch thick). Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or a pizza peel dusted with flour/semolina. Brush the edge/crust lightly with 1 tbs olive oil and, if desired, sprinkle sesame seeds on the crust edge.

Make the cheeseburger-style sauce by whisking together 3 tbs ketchup, 1 tbs tomato paste, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt in a small bowl until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning; sauce should be tangy and slightly sweet. Spread an even layer (about 3/4 cup) of this sauce over the stretched dough, leaving a 1/2-inch rim for the crust.

Cook the beef: heat 1 tsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely diced 1/2 cup onion and sauté 2–3 minutes until translucent. Add 12 oz ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Drain any excess fat if necessary and remove from heat. Spread the cooked beef and onions in an even layer over the sauce on the pizza.

Assemble cheeses: sprinkle 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the beef layer, then top with 1 cup shredded cheddar. Add the torn pieces of 2 American cheese slices distributed across the pizza for that classic melt and flavor burst. If you like heat, scatter 1 tbs pickled jalapeño slices and arrange the 4 thin dill pickle slices over the cheese (or add the pickles after baking if you prefer them crisper).

Bake: Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven or stone. Bake 10–14 minutes, rotating halfway, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown. Baking time varies by oven and stone; watch for a deeply golden crust and melted cheese.

Finish and garnish: Remove pizza from oven and let rest 2–3 minutes. If you did not add pickles before baking, place dill pickle slices on now. Top with shredded fresh lettuce (about 1/2 cup) and thin tomato slices (1/4 cup) to mimic a cheeseburger’s fresh toppings. Cut into 8 slices and serve immediately. Offer extra ketchup, mustard, or a drizzle of burger sauce if desired.