Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 22 Minutes
Total Time: 37 Minutes
Yield: 8 Servings (8 slices)
Category: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Intermediate
Easy Big Mac Pizza: Your New Favorite!
Love Big Macs? Love pizza? Get ready for the best of both worlds! This Big Mac Pizza brings all your favorite burger flavors to a crispy pizza crust. It’s ready in just 37 minutes, making it a fun and easy meal.
This recipe is a perfect blend of two favorites. It uses fresh ingredients for a healthier, tastier twist on fast food. It’s great for family dinners and makes mealtime exciting!
Why You’ll Love This Pizza
- Perfect Combo: A delicious mix of burgers and pizza.
- Fresh & Tasty: Uses real ingredients for better flavor.
- Fun Meal: Great for family night or parties.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Everyone who loves burgers or pizza will enjoy it!
Essential Ingredients
For the best Big Mac Pizza, grab these key items:
- Fresh Pizza Dough: The base for your pizza.
- Lean Ground Beef: Gives that authentic burger taste.
- American Cheese: Melts perfectly for gooey goodness.
- Crisp Lettuce: Adds freshness and crunch.
- Dill Pickles: Provides that signature tangy bite.
- Thousand Island Dressing: Replicates the famous special sauce.
Step-by-Step: Making Big Mac Pizza
Ready to make this amazing pizza? Follow these simple instructions!
1. Prepare the Crust:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Stretch the pizza dough to a 14-inch circle on a greased pizza pan.
- Poke holes all over the dough with a fork to prevent bubbles.
- Brush the dough with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Bake the empty crust for 15 minutes. Remove and let it cool a bit.
2. Cook the Meat:
- While the crust cools, brown the lean ground beef with ¾ cup of diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large skillet. Cook for 5-6 minutes until done.
- Drain the cooked beef very well on paper towels to remove excess grease. This prevents a soggy pizza!
3. Assemble the Pizza:
- Spread the cooked, drained beef evenly over your par-baked pizza crust.
- Top the beef with the shredded American cheese.
- Bake the pizza for another 7-11 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
4. Finish and Serve:
- Once out of the oven, immediately top the hot pizza with the shredded lettuce, remaining diced onion, and patted-dry dill pickles.
- Drizzle the Thousand Island dressing in a zigzag pattern over the toppings.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Slice into 8 pieces with a pizza cutter and serve immediately.
Chef’s Helpful Tips
- Poke Holes: Don’t skip poking holes in the dough; it stops big bubbles!
- Drain Beef: Always drain the beef thoroughly. This is key for a crispy crust.
- Cold Toppings Last: Add lettuce, fresh onion, and pickles after baking for best texture.
- Squeeze Bottle: Use a squeeze bottle for the dressing for a perfect drizzle.
- Serve Warm: Enjoy immediately for the best taste and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I use store-bought pizza crust?
A: Yes! Refrigerated or pre-baked crusts work great and make prep even faster.
Q: What if I can’t find American cheese?
A: Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese are good substitutes for American cheese.
Q: Why do I need to pre-bake the crust?
A: Pre-baking the crust ensures it gets nice and crispy on the bottom. This prevents it from becoming soggy once you add all the delicious toppings.
Q: Can I make parts of this recipe ahead of time?
A: You can prepare the seasoned beef mixture ahead of time. However, it’s best to assemble and bake the pizza just before you plan to serve it to ensure the freshest taste and best texture.
Q: What can I use if I don’t have Thousand Island dressing?
A: You can make your own “special sauce”! Just mix mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish together. Adjust the amounts to your taste.
Recipe Card: Easy Big Mac Inspired Pizza
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 22 Minutes
Total Time: 37 Minutes
Yield: 8 Servings (8 slices)
Category: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Intermediate
Ingredients:
Base:
- 1 pound fresh pizza dough
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Meat Mixture:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup yellow onion, small diced (divided)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Toppings:
- 2½ cups shredded yellow American cheese (from 8-ounce piece)
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- ⅓ cup hamburger sliced dill pickles, patted dry
- ⅓ cup Thousand Island dressing
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Instructions:
- Prepare Crust: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Stretch dough to 14 inches on a greased pizza pan. Poke holes with a fork, brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Par-Bake Crust: Bake the empty crust for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly while preparing toppings.
- Cook Beef: In a large skillet, brown ground beef with ¾ cup of the diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper for 5-6 minutes. Drain thoroughly on paper towels to remove excess grease.
- First Bake: Spread the drained beef mixture evenly over the par-baked crust. Top with shredded American cheese. Bake for 7-11 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Final Toppings & Serve: Remove pizza from oven. Immediately top with shredded lettuce, the remaining ¼ cup diced onion, and the patted-dry dill pickles. Drizzle with Thousand Island dressing and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Slice into 8 pieces with a pizza cutter and serve immediately.
Notes:
- Poking holes prevents dough bubbles during baking.
- Pat pickles dry to avoid a soggy pizza.
- Add cold toppings (lettuce, fresh onion, pickles, dressing) after baking.
