Pioneer woman bacon cheeseburger pizza is an easy thin-crust pizza made with seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon and melted cheddar, ready in about two hours. That makes it a fun pick for game day, weeknight dinner or a casual potluck, since the cheeseburger flavor wins over kids and adults alike.
Spreading butter on the raw dough before adding sauce is what keeps this pizza crisp, since that fat layer blocks moisture from the ketchup. Without it, the crust goes soggy under the toppings and falls apart when you try to pick up a slice.
Ketchup and mustard as the sauce base give this version its real cheeseburger taste, because most cheeseburger pizza recipes default to marinara. And the warm dill pickle slices on top seal the deal, since they soften in the oven so every bite tastes like a loaded burger.
Pioneer Woman Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium4
servings2
hours8
minutes548
kcalThin crispy crust gets brushed with butter and topped with a ketchup sauce, seasoned beef, salty bacon, tangy pickles and loads of melted cheddar. Then it bakes on a hot pizza stone until the bottom turns golden and the cheese gets bubbly.
Ingredients
1 whole Pizza Dough (for a 10-inch crust)
3 oz. ground beef
1/8 onion, finely diced
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 slices bacon
2 tbsp. butter or bacon grease
1/4 tsp. ketchup, plus extra for drizzling
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. sliced kosher dill pickles
Mustard, as needed
Directions
- Prep the beef and bacon: Cook the ground beef with diced onion over medium-low heat until no longer pink, then season with salt and pepper. While that rests, cook 3 slices of bacon until slightly underdone since they crisp up more in the oven.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 450°F about 20 minutes before the dough is done rising. Then place a pizza stone or heavy cookie sheet inside so it gets very hot.
- Shape the dough: Roll the risen dough out on parchment paper to a 10-inch circle, which makes it easier to slide onto the hot stone.
- Build the base: Spread 2 tablespoons of butter or bacon grease over the dough right to the edges, then add the ketchup on top as your sauce.
- Add the toppings: Sprinkle the cheddar over the sauce, then scatter the cooked beef, torn bacon and sliced pickles on top. Then finish with a drizzle of mustard and extra ketchup.
- Bake the pizza: Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing, so the cheese sets enough to hold the toppings.
FAQs
Can I use store-bought pizza dough instead of homemade?
Store-bought dough works fine here, and it cuts out that two-hour rising wait. Just let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before rolling so it stretches easily.
How should I store leftover bacon cheeseburger pizza?
Wrap leftover slices tightly in foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then reheat in a 375°F oven for about 5 minutes so the crust crisps back up, since the microwave makes it rubbery.
Can I prep the toppings ahead of time?
Cook the beef and bacon up to a day ahead and refrigerate them, which cuts your active time down to just assembly. Also shred the cheese early, but slice the pickles right before building so they stay crisp.
What can I use if I don’t have a pizza stone?
A heavy cookie sheet flipped upside down works as a stand-in, and you preheat it the same way for direct heat. Though the crust won’t come out quite as crispy, it holds together just fine.
Why does my cheeseburger pizza crust come out soggy?
The most common cause is skipping the butter layer under the sauce, because ketchup has lots of moisture that soaks into raw dough. So spread that fat barrier first and make sure your oven is fully preheated before the pizza goes in.
