Spicy Ground Beef Pizza (Printable)

Bold pizza featuring chili-spiced beef, mozzarella, cheddar, jalapeños, and a drizzle of hot honey.

# What You 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)

# Directions:

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 area for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it up and cooking until browned. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until aromatic. Remove from heat and let cool briefly.
03 - Set oven to 480°F (250°C), or the highest temperature available. Place a pizza stone inside if using, to preheat.
04 - Punch down the risen dough and roll or stretch into a 12-inch (30 cm) circle. Transfer onto 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 mozzarella and cheddar cheeses on top. Add sliced jalapeños if desired.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
07 - Remove from oven and immediately drizzle with hot honey. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired. Slice and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The hot honey drizzle adds a glossy, sweet kick that makes every bite different from the last.
  • It's bold enough to impress but forgiving enough for a weeknight if you skip the dough and use store-bought.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully, and the beef stays juicy even the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip preheating the oven fully, a hot oven is what makes the crust crisp instead of doughy.
  • Let the beef cool slightly before topping or it'll start cooking the dough unevenly and make the cheese slide off.
  • Drizzle the hot honey right after baking, if you add it before, it'll burn and turn bitter.
03 -
  • Taste your beef mixture before topping the pizza so you can adjust the spice level while it's still in the pan.
  • Use a pizza stone if you have one, it mimics a brick oven and gives you a crispier bottom crust.
  • Let the pizza rest for a minute or two after baking so the cheese sets slightly and doesn't slide off when you slice.
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