Spicy Ground Beef Pizza (Printable version)

A fiery pizza topped with spiced ground beef, melted cheese, and a drizzle of hot honey for balance.

# 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)

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir in warm water and olive oil until 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 until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
02 - Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it apart, and cook until browned. 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. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - Set oven to 480°F. Place pizza stone inside if available and allow to heat fully.
04 - Punch down risen dough and roll or stretch into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet or floured pizza peel.
05 - Spread spicy ground beef evenly over dough, leaving a border. Top with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Add pickled jalapeños if using.
06 - Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese bubbles.
07 - Remove from oven and immediately drizzle hot honey over the pizza. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired. Slice and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The hot honey trick transforms ordinary beef pizza into something restaurant-worthy and memorable.
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, perfect for weeknight dinners that still feel special.
  • You can dial the heat up or down depending on who's eating, making it flexible for any crowd.
02 -
  • Don't skip preheating your oven all the way—a hot oven is what gives you a crispy crust instead of a doughy one.
  • Add the hot honey right after the pizza comes out while everything is still hot, so it soaks into the cheese instead of just sitting on top.
  • Make your own hot honey if store-bought feels too mild—it takes two minutes and tastes exponentially better.
03 -
  • If your dough is sticky and hard to stretch, give it a rest for ten minutes after punching it down—the gluten relaxes and cooperates.
  • The hot honey should be drizzled on immediately after baking while the pizza is still genuinely hot, or it won't achieve that perfect sticky-spicy glaze.
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