Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 35 minutes | Serves: 6-8 people | Calories: 320 per slice
This amazing giant burger pizza combines the best of both worlds – juicy burger flavors on a crispy pizza crust! Loaded with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and classic burger toppings, this easy recipe is perfect for family dinner, game day, or when you can’t decide between pizza and burgers.
Why This Burger Pizza is Perfect
- Family favorite – Kids and adults love it
- Easy to make – Simple steps anyone can follow
- Budget-friendly – Uses common ingredients
- Great for parties – Feeds a crowd
- Customizable – Add your favorite burger toppings
- Quick dinner solution – Ready in 35 minutes
- Perfect for leftovers – Tastes great reheated
Shopping List – Everything You Need
For the Pizza Base:
- 1 large pizza dough (buy ready-made from grocery store OR make your own)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing the crust)
- ½ cup pizza sauce (store-bought tomato sauce works too)
For the Meat and Cheese:
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend works best – not too lean)
- 1½ cups shredded cheese (mix of cheddar and mozzarella)
- Salt and black pepper for seasoning the meat
Burger-Style Toppings:
- ½ cup dill pickle slices (the small round ones work best)
- ¼ cup red onion (sliced very thin)
- Ketchup for drizzling
- Yellow mustard for drizzling
- Sesame seeds (optional, makes it look like a burger bun)
Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Get Your Oven Ready
- Turn your oven to 475°F (that’s pretty hot – about 245°C)
- Put a pizza stone or large baking sheet inside the oven while it heats up
- Wait 15-20 minutes for the oven to get fully hot
- Tip: A hot oven makes crispy crust!
Step 2: Cook the Ground Beef
- Heat a large pan over medium heat (no oil needed)
- Add the ground beef and break it up with a spoon
- Cook for 6-8 minutes stirring often until no pink shows
- Season with salt and pepper while cooking
- Drain the grease by tilting the pan and spooning it out
- Set aside to cool while you prepare the dough
Step 3: Prepare Your Pizza Dough
- Sprinkle flour on your counter or large cutting board
- Roll out the pizza dough into a big circle (12-14 inches wide)
- Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – rustic looks good too!
- Brush olive oil around the edges with a pastry brush or spoon
- This helps make golden, crispy crust
Step 4: Build Your Burger Pizza
- Spread pizza sauce evenly, leaving 1 inch around the edges bare
- Sprinkle half the cheese over the sauce
- Add the cooked ground beef evenly across the pizza
- Top with remaining cheese – this seals in the meat
- Press toppings down gently so they stick
Step 5: Bake Your Pizza
- Carefully slide pizza onto the hot stone or baking sheet
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until crust is golden brown
- Cheese should be bubbly and melted
- Crust edges should look toasty
- Remove from oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes
Step 6: Add the Burger Touches
- Scatter pickle slices over the hot pizza
- Add thin red onion slices if you like onions
- Drizzle ketchup and mustard in zigzag patterns
- Sprinkle sesame seeds around the crust for burger bun look
- These go on after baking so they stay fresh and crunchy
Step 7: Slice and Serve
- Cut into 6-8 big wedges with a pizza cutter or large knife
- Serve immediately while hot and cheese is melty
- Provide extra ketchup and mustard on the side
- Enjoy your burger-pizza creation!
Helpful Tips for Perfect Results
For Beginners:
- Buy pre-made pizza dough from grocery store bakery section
- Use a pizza stone if you have one – makes crispier crust
- Don’t overload with toppings or crust gets soggy
- Let cooked beef cool slightly before adding to prevent melting cheese too fast
Make It Even Better:
- Season ground beef with garlic powder and onion powder
- Mix different cheeses – try adding some American cheese for burger taste
- Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes for extra flavor
- Use burger sauce instead of just ketchup and mustard
Storage and Leftover Tips
Keeping Leftovers Fresh:
- Store in refrigerator up to 3 days in covered container
- Reheat in oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes (better than microwave)
- Freeze slices wrapped individually up to 2 months
- Add fresh pickles after reheating for best crunch
Make-Ahead Ideas:
- Cook ground beef up to 2 days ahead and store in fridge
- Assemble pizza completely and freeze before baking
- Bake frozen pizza at 400°F for 18-20 minutes
Easy Recipe Changes
Different Meat Options:
- Ground turkey instead of beef (cook the same way)
- Ground chicken for lighter option
- Cooked bacon pieces for bacon cheeseburger pizza
- Mix ground beef and sausage for extra flavor
Cheese Variations:
- All cheddar for sharp cheese taste
- Add American cheese slices torn into pieces
- Swiss cheese for different burger style
- Pepper jack for spicy kick
Extra Toppings:
- Sliced tomatoes (add after baking)
- Lettuce pieces (add fresh after baking)
- Crispy bacon bits
- Mushrooms (cook with the ground beef)
- Jalapeño slices for heat
Nutrition Information Per Slice
What’s In Each Slice:
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 18g (keeps you full)
- Carbs: 28g (from pizza crust)
- Fat: 16g
- Calcium: 20% daily needs (from cheese)
- Iron: 15% daily needs (from beef)
Health Benefits:
- High protein helps build muscles
- Calcium for strong bones
- Iron for healthy blood
- B vitamins from beef for energy
Perfect Times to Make This Pizza
Great For:
- Friday night family dinner
- Kids’ birthday parties
- Game day watching sports
- Casual dinner with friends
- When you can’t decide what to eat
- Rainy day cooking project
What to Serve With Burger Pizza
Side Dishes:
- French fries (keeps the burger theme)
- Simple green salad to balance the richness
- Coleslaw like you’d have with burgers
- Onion rings for extra indulgence
- Fresh fruit to cleanse the palate
Drinks:
- Ice-cold soda – classic with pizza and burgers
- Iced tea or lemonade
- Cold beer for adults
- Chocolate milk for kids
Common Questions and Answers
Q: Can I use frozen ground beef? A: Yes, but thaw it completely first and drain extra water after cooking.
Q: What if I don’t have pizza stone? A: Use a large baking sheet or even a clean cookie sheet – works fine!
Q: Can I make this ahead of time? A: Assemble everything except pickles and sauces, then bake when ready to eat.
Q: My crust got soggy – what happened? A: Too much sauce or wet toppings. Use less sauce next time and drain beef well.
Q: Can kids help make this? A: Absolutely! They can help spread sauce, sprinkle cheese, and add toppings.
Why This Recipe Works So Well
This giant burger pizza brings together two favorite foods in one delicious dish. The seasoned ground beef gives you that burger taste, while the melted cheese and crispy crust provide classic pizza satisfaction. The pickles and onions add crunch and tang, just like a real burger. The ketchup and mustard drizzle ties it all together with familiar burger flavors.
Best of all, it’s simple enough for beginning cooks but impressive enough for company. Kids love helping make it, and adults love eating it. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or hosting friends, this burger pizza is guaranteed to be a hit.
The recipe uses everyday ingredients you can find at any grocery store, and the steps are straightforward with no fancy techniques required. In just 35 minutes, you’ll have a restaurant-style pizza that tastes like your favorite burger and pizza had a delicious baby!