Spicy Ground Beef Pizza (Printable)

Bold pizza with spiced ground beef, melty cheese, and a sweet hot honey drizzle for a flavorful bite.

# What You 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 oz 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
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 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, stirring until combined. Knead on a floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rest in a warm spot 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 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper and cook 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - Set oven to 480°F or as hot as possible. If using, place a pizza stone inside to preheat.
04 - Punch down the risen dough and roll or stretch into a 12-inch diameter 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. Layer with mozzarella and cheddar cheese and scatter jalapeños if desired.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
07 - Remove from oven, immediately drizzle with hot honey, and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired. Slice and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The heat sneaks up on you in the best way, building as you chew rather than burning from the first bite.
  • Hot honey is genuinely life-changing once you taste it melting into warm cheese.
  • You can have this on the table in under an hour, which means impressive food without the stress.
02 -
  • That hot honey drizzle is non-negotiable—it's what transforms this from a really good spicy pizza into something people will request by name.
  • The beef mixture needs to cool slightly before it goes on the dough, or the heat will start cooking the bottom before the top is ready.
  • Rising time is flexible depending on your kitchen temperature, so don't panic if it takes 75 minutes instead of exactly 60.
03 -
  • If your oven doesn't go above 450°F, just use your highest setting and add a minute or two to the baking time—it'll still turn out great.
  • Make the hot honey while the dough is rising so you're not scrambling at the end, and warm it gently right before serving.
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