Imagine the ultimate comfort food mashup: the juicy, flavourful goodness of a hamburger meets the cheesy, saucy delight of pizza. This Hamburger Pizza is the culinary fusion you never knew you needed, but won’t be able to live without!
I think it’s a pretty fair assumption that most people love a good burger. Piled high with pickles, onions, and, of course, cheese. Traditional burger condiments like mustard, ketchup, and mayo are found in most people’s home fridge and although seem pretty basic, make the world of difference on a burger. Am I right?
On the same note, I think we can go ahead and assume, yet again, that pizza is a food that several people around the whole entire world just love. I mean, the cheesy goodness, the perfect fluffy dough and, of course, the best tomato sauce that ties it all together. Loaded with toppings and perhaps even dipped into some ranch sauce. You know what I’m sayin’?
So if you’re like what we can assume is at least half of the world who just loves cheeseburgers and pizza, have you ever thought of what it might be like to combine the two together?! Like in one harmoniously FLAWLESS dish that’ll have you salivating time and time again. A dish so good, you’ll wonder why you’ve never done this mashup sooner.
The first time I made this pizza after pretty much dreaming of a version of it in my sleep, my boyfriend was HOOKED. He now swears up and down that hamburger pizza is his new favourite and has since requested me to make it at least a dozen times (the first time I made it wasn’t that long ago…lol). It freezes well, reheats beautifully, and is even good cold!
I know this might sound (and even look) like a weird one at first. But trust me, once you give this hamburger pizza a try, something tells me that you’ll be joining my boyfriend in saying that there’s a new favourite pizza in town!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER PIZZA
A simple combination of ingredients come together to create a unique and flavourful pizza that pays homage to the classic hamburger. What could be better?! Let’s discuss each ingredient in a little bit more detail down below:
- Ground Beef: This will be cooked and crumbled to replicate the taste and texture of a traditional hamburger. It’s the star protein of your pizza, bringing a hearty, savoury flavour. If you want to switch things up a bit, feel free to use a different ground meat instead. Chicken, turkey, pork, or bison all make great options.
- Onions: Add sweetness and depth to the pizza and complement the beef perfectly. I like using white or yellow onions for this hamburger pizza recipe. However, if all you have on hand are red or green, those would also work just fine.
- Olive Oil: Just a splash for for sautéing the onions and browning the ground beef adding a touch of healthy fat and extra flavour. You can use a different oil instead, such as avocado, if you prefer.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the flavour of the beef, onions, and overall pizza. A simple but crucial addition to bring out the best in each ingredient.
- Pizza Dough: The base of your pizza, it provides the canvas for all your toppings. It can be homemade or store-bought, rolled out to your desired thickness. Click HERE for my favourite pizza dough recipe of all time.
- Pickles: Nothing quite screams burger like good ol’ pickles… Am I right?! They add a tangy crunch and do a nice job of replicating the classic burger experience. Thinly sliced pickles scattered over the pizza give each bite a burst of acidity. To save on time and for convenience, you can use pre-sliced pickles or pickle ‘chips’.
- Pepperoncini: These mild, tangy peppers bring a slight heat and extra zing to the pizza, balancing the richness of the beef and cheese. My secret weapon and my boyfriend’s favourite ingredient on this entire hamburger pizza! Therefore, don’t skip ’em!
- Mustard: A drizzle of mustard adds a sharp, tangy flavour reminiscent of a cheeseburger. It pairs wonderfully with the beef, pickles, and pizza dough.
- Ketchup: Mixing ketchup into the base sauce gives it a sweet and tangy profile, while a final drizzle on top adds extra burger-like flavour.
- Mayonnaise: Adding mayo to the sauce gives it a creamy texture and richness, creating a unique and delicious base for your toppings. If you have an extra minute, why not try making your own homemade mayonnaise from scratch to use in this recipe?!
- Hot Sauce: Adds a bit of heat to your pizza sauce, giving it an extra kick and balancing the other flavours. Feel free to use your favourite hot sauce or whichever one you have on hand for this recipe.
- Sesame Seeds: Sprinkling sesame seeds on the crust mimics the look and taste of a sesame seed hamburger bun, adding a nutty and flavourful crunch.
- Marble Cheese: A blend of white and orange cheddar cheese that melts beautifully, offering a creamy and slightly tangy flavour. It’s the perfect topping to tie all the ingredients together. PRO TIP: Use cheese that you grate yourself and not the pre-packaged pre-shredded ones from the grocery store. Those contain an anti-caking agent which in turn don’t melt properly.
HOW TO MAKE A HAMBURGER PIZZA (KEY TIPS)
You can find full instructions for how to make this easy cheeseburger pizza in the recipe card down below, but here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:
- Pre-cook the ground beef. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Season it with salt and pepper, then drain any excess fat. This ensures the beef is cooked thoroughly and doesn’t make the pizza greasy.
- Similarly, sauté the onions in olive oil (I just throw it in with the beef) until they are soft and golden brown. This brings out their natural sweetness and adds depth to the flavour profile of your pizza.
- Use quality pizza dough. Whether homemade (I promise, it’s EASY!!!) or store-bought, ensure your pizza dough is fresh. Allow it to come to room temperature before stretching to make it easier to work with.
- Finely shred the cheese. I like using the very small hole side on my box grater. I find this is better than your typical larger grade for a pizza of this style. It covers more surface and melts evenly over the toppings.
- Make sure the ketchup, mayo, and hot sauce are well combined to create your special sauce. Spread it evenly over the pre-baked crust to ensure every bite has a balanced flavour.
- Layer the toppings thoughtfully. Distribute the cooked ground beef, caramelized onions, and other toppings evenly over the sauce. Avoid piling them up too high or just blindly throwing them on there to ensure even cooking.
- Press the sesame seeds gently into the crust with your fingers in order to get them to adhere while baking. You can brush the crust with egg or olive oil if you so choose, but it’s really not necessary.
- Once out of the oven, let the pizza rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the cheese to set slightly and makes for cleaner more even slices.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, cook the hamburger before putting it on the pizza. Brown the ground beef in a skillet until fully cooked, then drain any excess fat. This ensures the meat is safe to eat and prevents the pizza from becoming greasy.
For this particular recipe, spread the sauce first, then add the cooked ground beef. Next, sprinkle on the cheese, followed by the pickles and pepperoncini. This layering ensures even cooking and balanced flavours all throughout the pizza.
Yes, cheeseburger pizza is delicious! It combines the savoury taste of ground beef, tangy pickles, and zesty pepperoncini with melted cheese and a flavourful burger sauce. The result is the best of both worlds and an explosion of flavours that has made it my boyfriend’s new favourite pizza (and I’m sure it’ll be yours, too!)
Store leftover hamburger pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place slices on a baking sheet and warm in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.
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LOVE THIS RECIPE? PIN IT FOR LATER!
HAMBURGER PIZZA
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Ground Beef
- 1/2 White Onion diced
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup Mayo
- 2 tbsp Ketchup plus more for drizzling
- 1 tsp Hot Sauce
- 2 cups Marble Cheese finely grated (small holes on box grater)
- 1/3 cup Pickles sliced
- 1/2 cup Pepperoncini seeds removed and sliced
- Drizzle of Mustard
- 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
- 1 recipe Homemade Pizza Dough*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper and then add your rolled out pizza dough.
- Add the olive oil to a skillet along with the ground beef and diced onions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, over medium heat, until browned and no pink parts remain. Drain any excess fat, if necessary then set aside to cool slightly.
- Combine the mayo, ketchup, and hot sauce in a bowl. Spread it evenly over your pizza dough, leaving about an inch of space around the perimeter for the crust.
- Add the ground beef mixture evenly over top.
- Add the grated marble cheese then drizzle on some ketchup and mustard over the top of the whole pizza.
- Add the sliced pickles and pepperoncinis. Sprinkle the sesame seeds around the crust (gently push them down with your fingers to adhere).
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden. Let it sit for a few minutes before slicing it into even slices. Serve hot and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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