Spicy Ground Beef Pizza (Print Version)

Bold pizza featuring chili-spiced beef, melty cheeses, and a sweet, spicy honey drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pizza Dough

01 - 2 cups bread flour
02 - 1 tsp instant yeast
03 - 1 tsp sugar
04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - 2/3 cup warm water
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Spicy Ground Beef

07 - 9 oz ground beef
08 - 1 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
10 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
11 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1 tsp chili powder
14 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
15 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, adjust to taste
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Toppings

17 - 7 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
18 - 2 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese
19 - 2 tbsp pickled jalapeños, sliced (optional)
20 - 2 tbsp hot honey
21 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add warm water and olive oil, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
02 - Knead dough on a floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add ground beef and brown, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and black pepper, cooking 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
04 - Set oven to 480°F (250°C) or highest setting, allowing pizza stone or baking sheet to heat if using.
05 - Punch down risen dough and roll or stretch into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet or floured pizza peel.
06 - Spread spicy ground beef evenly over dough surface, leaving a border. Top with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Scatter jalapeños if desired.
07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese bubbles.
08 - Remove from oven, immediately drizzle with hot honey, and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Slice and serve hot.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The hot honey drizzle creates this shocking sweet-and-burn moment that makes you reach for another slice immediately.
  • Your kitchen will smell like a spice market mixed with caramelizing beef, and that aroma alone is worth the effort.
  • It's impressive enough to serve guests but simple enough that you won't spend the evening stressed in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time for the beef; if you spread it hot, it releases moisture that makes the crust soggy and defeats the whole project.
  • Your oven's actual temperature matters more than what the dial says, so if your crusts always burn before the cheese melts, it's running hotter than advertised.
  • Hot honey should be drizzled the moment the pizza emerges from the oven while the crust can still absorb it.
03 -
  • If your dough keeps shrinking when you try to stretch it, let it rest for five minutes and try again, and it'll cooperate like it suddenly remembers how to relax.
  • Spread the beef right up to the edge of the cheese, not under it, so the edges get a little caramelized and crispy.
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