Combine two family favorites—pizza and burgers—into one quick and utterly tasty meal!
When my kids were young, we used to go to a pizza buffet restaurant for lunch. The array of different toppings was mind-boggling. But I remember one of my favorites was cheeseburger pizza—complete with pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes. Oddly enough, I’ve never made this at home until recently.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve made pizza on a variety of different bases over the years. When I haven’t felt like making a pizza dough from scratch and don’t have any frozen ones on hand, I look to see what else I have. Bagels and English muffins have probably been my two leading go-tos over the years. In fact, I remember one year when it seemed I was almost always popping bagel pizzas into the toaster oven.
As for this recipe, any pizza crust will do. I use a gluten-free crust these days. I’ll share more about it later, along with a great recipe, in the serving suggestions at the end.
But take a moment to think about your favorite burger bun. Is it topped with sesame seeds or poppy seeds? Or perhaps it’s plain? Give your pizza crust a more authentic “burger bun” taste by brushing it with olive oil and melted butter, then sprinkling it with your favorite seeds.
Another fun addition for this pizza is to finish it with ketchup, my favorite condiment. I love to drizzle it on so that each bite gives me that authentic taste I enjoy when biting into a juicy hamburger.
Enhance your pizza with other tasty toppings
Imagine yourself walking into a gourmet burger restaurant and trying to pick from a long list of great topping combinations. You might find grilled peppers, caramelized onions, or sautéed mushrooms on the menu. Then there’s the ever-popular bacon. Chopped brisket, pulled pork, and fried eggs are often featured on high-end burgers, so feel free to take this recipe a step beyond ground beef. And who hasn’t seen a burger topped with Gluten-Free Onion Rings? As wild as it sounds, any of these items would be great additions to your pizza.
Of course, cheese is often a leading player, with Gruyère, Brie, and goat cheese adding their flavors. Then you have those fancy sauces, such as this Bacon Jam Recipe, Aioli, or even Guacamole Salsa. I’d recommend drizzling the sauces on top after you pull the pizza from the oven. Oh, and feel free to trade in this Big Mac Sauce Recipe as the base for this pizza!
How do I store leftovers?
Cheeseburger pizza is best eaten right after it’s made. If you do have leftovers, let them cool to room temperature, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I would remove any lettuce and tomato before storing, as those will likely not remain fresh. It’s best to reheat the pizza in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer. Or go ahead and enjoy it cold. After all, isn’t that the best way to eat leftover pizza?
Serving suggestions
Homemade pizza dough is incredibly easy and delicious. Because I’m gluten-free, I prefer to make my dough from scratch. I’m just not a fan of those flat cauliflower crusts at the grocery store. Here are some options for regular and gluten-free crusts. Make cheeseburger pizza with No-Yeast Pizza Dough, Gluten-Free Pizza Dough, or this Sourdough Pizza Crust.
You can also use this Focaccia Recipe or Gluten-Free Focaccia Recipe as the base for your pizza. Serve your cheeseburger pizza with a Caesar Salad, Tossed Salad, or Chopped Salad.
Ingredients
- 1 ball pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup diced onion
- 8 ounces lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt plus more, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup dill pickle slices drained
- Fresh tomato slices and shredded lettuce for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F. Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface and transfer it to a lightly greased pizza pan.
- If you like a crisp edge, you can brush a little olive oil along the perimeter of the dough.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and lean ground beef. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, mayonnaise, and yellow mustard to form a simple burger sauce.
- Spread the sauce evenly over the rolled-out dough. Sprinkle a thin layer of mozzarella cheese, then add the cooked beef-onion mixture. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and arrange dill pickle slices evenly across the pizza.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, let cool for a minute, then garnish with fresh tomato slices and shredded lettuce if using. Slice and serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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