Cheeseburger Pizza

1. Stage

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).  Sprinkle a 12 to 14-inch pizza pan with the cornmeal. This will keep your pizza crust from sticking to the pan later. Set the pan aside.

2. Stage

Prepare the secret sauce:  In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yellow onion, ketchup, yellow mustard, lemon juice, sweet paprika, and salt until smooth. Once the mixture is smooth, allow it to sit at room temperature or in the fridge to allow the flavors to combine while you start cooking the ground meat. You’ll have between 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 cups of sauce.

3. Stage

Brown the ground beef and onions: Add the ground meat and onions to a large skillet. Turn the stove up to medium-high heat and sprinkle the burger seasoning over the beef and onions. Cooking the meat this way eliminates the need for additional oil in the pan, as the fat will render from the meat. Once the stove has been turned on, start breaking up the meat and mixing in the onions and spices with a spoon or spatula.  Cook until the meat is fully cooked and no pink remains, about 10 minutes. Use a large spoon to drain off most of the fat; discard the fat. Set the skillet aside, off the heat.

4. Stage

Par-bake the pizza crust:  Lightly flour your hands and a rolling pin. Roll the pizza dough out into a circle that's 1 to 2 inches larger than your pizza pan.  Prepare the egg wash in a small bowl by whisking together the egg yolk and cold water.  Brush a 1 1/2-inch border around the outer rim of the pizza dough with the egg wash. Roll the edges of the pizza in 2 inches towards the center of the circle to create the pizza crust. Brush a light layer of the egg wash onto the crust you've just formed and sprinkle the sesame seeds onto the egg wash. Use the tines of a fork to prick holes in the dough in the center of the pan.  Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.

5. Stage

Assemble and finish baking:  Once the pizza dough is lightly browned and has blistered slightly, remove the pan from the oven.  Use the back of a wide spoon to spread 1 1/4 cups of the secret sauce onto the pizza crust. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese over the sauce, then top the cheese with the seasoned burger-onion mixture. Next, arrange the pickles and halved tomatoes on top of the beef and top with the remaining cheese.  Bake the pizza until the cheese is fully melted and the pizza crust is golden brown in color, 10 to 12 minutes. 

6. Stage

Garnish and serve:  Once the pizza is fully baked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes before sprinkling it with the shredded lettuce and drizzling the remaining 1/4 cup of secret sauce over it.  Cut and serve while hot. This pizza is best when eaten on the same day it's prepared.  Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!