Description
This Big Mac Pizza recipe creatively combines the iconic flavors of a classic Big Mac burger with a deliciously crispy homemade pizza crust. Featuring a par-baked crust topped with seasoned ground beef, melted yellow American cheese, shredded lettuce, diced onions, dill pickles, Thousand Island dressing, and sesame seeds, this pizza is a fun and indulgent twist perfect for burger and pizza lovers alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough & Base
- 1 pound prepared fresh pizza dough
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided (1 tablespoon to brush the dough and 1 tablespoon to cook the ground beef)
Ground Beef Topping
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup small diced yellow onion, divided (¾ cup for beef, ¼ cup for toppings)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cheese & Additional Toppings
- 2½ cups shredded yellow American cheese (from an 8-ounce piece sliced at the deli counter)
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- ⅓ cup hamburger sliced dill pickles, patted dry
- ⅓ cup bottled Thousand Island dressing
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Lightly spray a large 15 to 16-inch round pizza pan with nonstick spray and set aside to get ready for the dough.
- Roll out dough and poke holes: On a clean surface, stretch or roll your fresh pizza dough to about 14 inches in diameter. Transfer it to the prepared pan and use a fork to poke holes all over the dough except for about a half-inch border around the edges. This prevents bubbles during baking.
- Brush dough with oil and par-bake: Brush the dough’s surface evenly with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake the plain dough in the oven for 15 minutes to par-bake it, then remove and let it cool slightly while you prepare toppings.
- Cook the ground beef mixture: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef, ¾ cup diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes.
- Drain the cooked beef: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked beef to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess grease, helping prevent soggy pizza crust.
- Assemble pizza base with beef: Spoon the drained ground beef evenly over the par-baked pizza dough, leaving approximately a 1-inch border around the edges for the crust.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the 2½ cups of shredded yellow American cheese evenly over the beef layer to cover the surface.
- Finish baking the pizza: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 7 to 11 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted completely.
- Add fresh toppings: Remove the pizza from the oven and scatter the shredded iceberg lettuce evenly over the melted cheese, followed by the remaining ¼ cup diced yellow onion.
- Garnish and dress the pizza: Distribute the dill pickle slices randomly across the pizza. Drizzle the Thousand Island dressing over the top in a decorative pattern, then sprinkle with sesame seeds for that authentic Big Mac finish.
- Slice and serve: Use a pizza cutter to slice the pizza into eight pieces by cutting in half, then quarters, and then halving each quarter. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Storage: Leftover pizza is not recommended for storage as the fresh toppings and crust texture are best enjoyed immediately.
- Tip on dough: Fresh pizza dough is often available at grocery store bakery counters or local pizzerias that sell dough balls.
- Alternative pans: If you lack a round pizza pan, use a large rimmed sheet pan (12×17 inches); the pizza shape will be rectangular and cut into squares instead.
- Cheese substitution: If yellow American cheese is unavailable, mild cheddar or Colby Jack are great substitutes to mimic the classic Big Mac flavor.
- Easy dressing drizzle: Use a squeeze bottle or a zip-top bag with a cut corner to drizzle Thousand Island dressing neatly over the pizza.
- Drain grease from beef thoroughly: Removing excess fat from the cooked beef keeps the crust from becoming soggy and ensures thorough cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of pizza)
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 630mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
