Burger Pizza

This burger pizza flips the concept inside out. Instead of dough, the crust is a seasoned ground beef patty pressed into a pie plate and loaded with classic pizza toppings. It’s a mashup that works surprisingly well, especially if you’re cutting carbs or just want something different on pizza night.

The meat base gets flavor from Worcestershire sauce, oregano, crushed crackers, and finely chopped onion and celery. Those cracker crumbs act like breadcrumbs in a meatloaf, binding everything together while absorbing moisture so the “crust” holds its shape and doesn’t crumble when you slice it.

Toppings go on raw and bake right along with the meat. Mushrooms, pepperoni, fresh tomato slices, and green pepper all cook through in the time it takes the beef to finish. Mozzarella and Parmesan melt over everything into a bubbly, golden layer that makes it look and taste like proper pizza.

Pro Tips

• Pat the meat mixture evenly across the pie plate with no thin spots. Thin areas cook faster and can dry out or crumble.
• Don’t skip the celery. It adds moisture to the meat base during baking and keeps it from getting dense and dry.
• Let it rest for 5 minutes after pulling from the oven. The juices redistribute and it slices much cleaner.
• Drain any excess grease before slicing if the meat releases a lot of fat.

Variations

• Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the meat base before adding toppings for a saucier bite.
• Use Italian sausage instead of ground beef for a spicier, more herbaceous base.
• Go all out with olives, banana peppers, and hot pepper flakes for a supreme-style version.