Spicy Ground Beef Pizza (Printable)

Fiery ground beef and melty cheese combine with hot honey for a bold pizza flavor.

# What you'll need:

→ Pizza Dough

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

→ Spicy Ground Beef

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

→ Toppings

17 - 7 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
18 - 2 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
19 - 2 tablespoons pickled jalapeños, sliced (optional)
20 - 2 tablespoons 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, mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and brown thoroughly. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - Set oven to 480°F, or highest temperature available. If using a pizza stone, place it inside to preheat.
04 - Punch down the risen dough and roll or stretch it into a 12-inch circle. Transfer dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet or floured pizza peel.
05 - Spread the spicy ground beef evenly over the dough, leaving a border around the edges. Sprinkle with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Add pickled jalapeños if desired.
06 - Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the crust turns golden and cheese bubbles.
07 - Remove pizza from oven and immediately drizzle with hot honey. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired. Slice and serve hot.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • The hot honey hits right as the cheese is still bubbling, creating this addictive sweet-spicy-melty moment on your tongue.
  • Ground beef cooks faster than waiting for a traditional pizza sauce to simmer, so dinner comes together in about 40 minutes total.
  • It's impressive enough to serve at a casual dinner party but simple enough that even a weeknight craving can be satisfied.
02 -
  • Don't skip the hot honey—it's not just a garnish, it's what balances the savory beef and makes each bite feel complete.
  • Your oven's actual temperature matters more than the setting; if yours runs cool, give it a few extra minutes and watch for the crust to turn golden rather than just timing it blindly.
03 -
  • A pizza stone preheated for 15 minutes makes a noticeably crispier crust, but a regular baking sheet works just fine if that's what you have.
  • If you can't use bread flour, all-purpose works, but the crust won't have quite the same chew and structure—just accept it and move forward.
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