Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe

Preheat and prepare dough

Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat. Let dough come to room temperature for 20–30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll dough into a 12-inch circle (or desired shape). Transfer to a pizza peel or parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the dough edge lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil mixed with the minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.

Mix the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, dried oregano and black pepper in a small bowl until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. Spoon and spread an even layer (about 3 tbs) onto the prepared dough, leaving a 1/2–3/4-inch rim.

Cook beef

Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onion and a drizzle (about 1 tsp) of olive oil; cook 1–2 minutes until softened. Add the ground beef to the skillet, break it up with a spoon, sprinkle 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary and set beef aside on a paper towel-lined plate to remove additional fat.

Cook bacon

In the same skillet (wipe out if burnt), lay bacon slices and cook over medium heat until crisp, 6–8 minutes, turning as needed. If you prefer bacon bits instead of full slices, chop cooked bacon into small pieces. Optional: during the last minute of cooking, sprinkle 1 teaspoon brown sugar over the bacon to lightly candy it. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and chop into bite-sized pieces.

Evenly distribute the cooked ground beef over the sauce layer. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the beef, then add the shredded sharp cheddar, creating an even cheese layer. Tear or place the American cheese slices in a few spots if using for extra melty pockets. Scatter the chopped bacon pieces evenly across the pizza. Arrange thin pickle slices and a few thin rings of red onion over the top if desired (these can also be added after baking if you prefer them crisper).

Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake at 500°F (260°C) for 8–12 minutes, until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown. Rotate once halfway through baking for even color.

Remove pizza from oven and let rest 2–3 minutes. Drizzle ketchup and mustard in thin lines across the top (or serve on the side). Sprinkle chopped parsley or chives if using. Slice into 6–8 pieces and serve immediately.