This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.
The biggest question here is: what do you like on your burger? Err… pizza? For me, it really depends on my mood. I do love a specialty burger. What I love even more is a good mashup.
The Essentials
This cheeseburger pizza brings all the flavors of a classic burger onto a crispy, cheesy, perfectly stacked slice. It’s a little messy, a lot delicious, and guaranteed to be a hit.
Once you’ve got everything ready, it’s just a matter of assembling, baking, and devouring. For all the step-by-step details, check out the full printable recipe below!
- Flatbread Or Pizza Crust – This is the foundation of this delicious mashup. Use a pre-made crust for a quick fix or make your own dough if you have a few extra minutes.
- Cheddar Cheese – What’s a cheeseburger pizza without cheese? Cheddar gives it that melty, tangy goodness that pairs perfectly with the beef.
- Ground Beef – Be sure to fully cook and drain the ground beef before combining it with the other ingredients. Want to switch it up? Use taco meat for a little spice or chili for a saucy, messy masterpiece.
- Bacon – Because everything’s better with bacon! Smoky, crispy bits of bacon add a layer of crunch and rich, salty flavor.
- Tomatoes – These give the pizza a fresh pop of juicy goodness that complements the other savory ingredients. We like Roma or cherry tomatoes at our house, but you can experiment, too.
- Lettuce – The cool, crisp crunch of iceberg or romaine lettuce gives classic cheeseburger vibes.
- Red Onion – Be sure to mince the onion finely so no one gets a huge chunk of onion surprise!
- Mayonnaise – While this is optional, you can drizzle it on top or mix it with the ketchup and mustard for a bit of creaminess.
- Ketchup – A little bit of this classic burger condiment adds some tangy sweetness.
- Mustard – Mustard gives the dish a zippy kick that ties everything together.
How to Whip This Up
Cheeseburger pizza is as easy to make as it is fun to eat. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a crispy, cheesy, fully loaded pizza that tastes just like your favorite burger, minus the bun.
- Prep The Crust. Follow the instructions on your pizza crust or flatbread package to get it ready to go.
- Layer The Cheese. Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the crust, making sure to get all the way to the edges.
- Add The Beef And Bacon. Scatter the cooked ground beef and crispy bacon crumbles over the cheese.
- Bake. Pop it in the oven and bake according to your crust’s package instructions. You’ll know it’s ready when the cheese is bubbling and the edges are golden brown.
- Top It Off. As soon as it’s out of the oven, pile on the fresh toppings — chopped tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and minced red onion.
- Drizzle The Sauces. Squeeze on some mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. For a fun finish, put the mayo in a small plastic bag, snip the corner, and pipe it on like a pro.
- Slice And Serve. Cut into squares or slices, grab a napkin (or two), and dig in!
5S Philosophy 👩🏻🍳
- Salt – Crispy, smoky bacon adds all of the salty goodness you need to make this dish satisfying.
- Seasoning – Feel free to jazz this up by adding your favorite seasoning blend to the beef. Try Italian or Cajun seasoning or your own blend.
- Sauces – We keep it simple with standard burger condiments but you can get fancy, too. Try spicy aioli, hot sauce, or Sriracha.
- Swaps – Trade out the beef for other ground meats or add other toppings you might find on pizza like bell peppers or olives.
- Senses – The crunchy crust is the perfect base for the tender beef and crisp veggies. Want even more crunchy goodness? Bake the crust for a few minutes before adding the toppings and baking again. And don’t forget about presentation — the veggies are already colorful but you can sprinkle with spices like cayenne or smoked paprika for an even prettier finish.
Round it Out
This is a hearty meal already but if you want to pair it up with some tasty sides, there’s plenty to choose from. Try adding classic burger side dishes like tater tots, In-n-Out animal style fries, beer battered onion rings, or parmesan garlic sweet potato fries.
For something light, serve up veggies like a simple side salad or grilled corn, tomato, and cucumber salad. And if you really want to take the dish up a notch, try serving it with garlic sauce for dipping!
Storage
If you somehow have leftovers, they’re an absolute a cinch to store!
Make Ahead
Making this dish ahead of time is a breeze. Just cook up the beef and bacon and prep your veggies. Store it all separately, then assemble and bake when ready!
Refrigerator
Store the pizza in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for 3-4 days in the fridge.
Freezer
Flash freeze slices before transferring them to a freezer bag or airtight container. If stacking, place parchment paper in between the layers. You can reheat it straight from frozen in the microwave or oven.
Helpful Tips & Answers
Absolutely! Cheeseburger pizza can be amazing straight from the fridge. The cheese firms up nicely, and the flavors actually intensify overnight, making it taste like a fantastic cold cheeseburger sandwich but with a pizza twist. Just remove any cold lettuce toppings first, so they’re not wilted.
Cheddar is our preference for channeling classic cheeseburger flavor but you can switch it up or use a combination. Try mozzarella, American, and even a sprinkle of parmesan.
This is totally up to you! But if ever there was a pizza that would work well with pickles as a topping, it’s definitely cheeseburger pizza!
More Fun Takes on Burgers and Pizza
If you can’t get enough burgers or pizza in your life (we’re guilty, too!) you’ll want to check out these delicious recipes that everyone will love!
Fabulous!
We adapted a bit. We used a parbaked homemade crust and topped it with ketchup, slices of american cheese, ground beef, and grated cheddar. Baked and then added chopped lettuce, tomato and onion. Skipped the drizzle of mayo and mustard. Super gooey and yummy!
Sounds fabulous! Thanks for coming back to let us know!
I tried your recipe last night and loved it! Can’t wait to make it again!
Yummy! Friday night is pizza night at our house. And this is going to be our dinner. What a unique take on pizza! It looks wonderful.