Spicy Ground Beef Pizza (Printable)

Bold chili-spiced beef blends with mozzarella and cheddar on a golden crust with hot honey drizzle.

# Components:

→ 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
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 sliced pickled jalapeños (optional)
20 - 2 tablespoons hot honey
21 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

# Method:

01 - Combine flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in warm water and olive oil 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 place 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 cook until browned. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - Preheat oven to 480°F (250°C) or the highest setting your oven allows. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat.
04 - Punch down the risen dough and roll or stretch into a 12-inch (30 cm) circle. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or floured pizza peel.
05 - Spread the spicy ground beef evenly over the dough, leaving a border around edges. Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly. Scatter jalapeños if desired.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
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 spice builds slowly instead of hitting you all at once, letting the beef and cheese shine through.
  • Hot honey on pizza is genuinely life-changing once you try it—sweet and heat dancing together.
  • Making your own dough sounds intimidating until you realize it's mostly just waiting for it to rise while you handle the fun part.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step for your beef—hot meat will start cooking the cheese before the dough has a chance to bake properly.
  • Your oven's temperature matters more than you'd think; use an oven thermometer if you have one, because ovens lie.
  • Hot honey applied to a cold pizza won't have the same magic—timing this drizzle right at the moment it leaves the oven is the secret.
03 -
  • If you have a pizza stone, preheat it in the oven—it creates a dramatically crispier crust than a baking sheet.
  • Don't stretch the dough too thin; a little thickness gives you something to bite into and holds the toppings better.
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