When you cannot decide between a cheeseburger or a pizza, this cheeseburger recipe lets you have both. A true win-win.
Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe photo by Taste of Home

If you love pizza and burgers, this recipe will be a dream come true. Made with tender ground beef, melty cheese and classic hamburger toppings, cheeseburger pizza is almost like an open-faced burger, only in perfect handheld slices.

By using a premade crust, this cheese-topped hamburger pizza comes together in a snap, so it’s a great pick for weeknight meals. Plus, it’s super customizable, so you can ensure even the most finicky eaters will want to dig in.

Ingredients for Cheeseburger Pizza

Ingredients for Cheeseburger on tableTMB STUDIO

  • Ground beef: Any ground beef will work for this recipe. However, if you’re concerned about greasy pizza, opt for leaner beef. There will be less fat to drain off, and less chance for a soggy pizza.
  • Prebaked pizza crust: This is a wonderful shortcut for a quick pizza night. Not sure which to buy? Our Test Kitchen picked the best premade pizza crust.
  • Ketchup and mustard: It’s the classic match made in cheeseburger heaven. Sweet ketchup and tangy mustard make a perfect base sauce for any hamburger pizza.
  • Cheddar cheese: Sharp, rich cheddar cheese is flavorful, melts beautifully and makes the perfect gooey addition to this pizza. While grating your own is always better, these are our the Test Kitchen’s picks for best cheddar cheese brands when you want to go the pre-shredded route.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the beef

Preheat the oven to 425°F. On the stovetop, cook the beef in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s no longer pink, three to four minutes. Break the cooked beef into crumbles, and drain the fat off it.

Editor’s Tip: Be sure to drain the beef well. Removing the excess fat and moisture will prevent an overly greasy or soggy pizza.

Step 2: Bake the pizza with sauce and beef

Spreading Sauce and meat on Cheeseburger PizzaTMB STUDIO

Place the pizza crust on an ungreased baking sheet or pizza pan. Mix the ketchup and mustard together, then spread over the crust. Top evenly with the crumbled beef. Bake the pizza for five minutes, then take it out of the oven.

Step 3: Add the cheese, and bake

Sprinkling cheese on pizza baseTMB STUDIO

Sprinkle the pizza with cheese, and bake it for 8 to 10 minutes longer. It’s done when the cheese is bubbly and the crust golden brown.

Editor’s Tip: If your oven tends to run hot, check the pizza at the lower end of the bake time. You want the cheese to have a glossy, bubbly appearance—not dry and burnt. A trusty oven thermometer is a great tool for knowing your oven temperature, regardless of the number on the dial or panel.

Step 4: Add the fresh toppings

lettuce and mayonnaise on Cheeseburger TMB STUDIO

Top the pizza with the lettuce, pickle and onion. Then whisk the mayonnaise and pickle juice together, and drizzle over the pizza.

Editor’s Tip: If you’re worried about making the mixture too thin for drizzling over the pizza, begin with 1 to 2 tablespoons pickle juice, then add from there until you reach your desired consistency.

Recipe Variations

  • Make it tangy: For an extra layer of flavor, mix 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce into the ketchup and mustard base. It will add a slight sweet-tang flavor and complement the savory meatiness of the beef.
  • Change the cheese: If you don’t want to use cheddar cheese on this pizza, try other types of cheese that melt and bubble up beautifully. Think mozzarella, fontina and Monterey Jack. Avoid dry or hard cheeses like feta, Halloumi and Parmesan because they’re lower in moisture.
  • Use a different meat: As with homemade burgers, you can swap in ground turkey or chicken for the beef.
  • Spice things up: Add hot sauce to the ketchup and mustard mixture before spreading over the prepared pizza crust. Then sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes into the beef, and top the pizza off with sliced jalapeno if you can handle the heat!
  • Pick your fave toppings: The beauty of cheeseburger pizza is that you can add whatever burger toppings you love on your normal cheeseburger and it’s sure to be a hit. Adding bread-and-butter pickles or this fry sauce are just a couple of options. Just don’t overdo it. Overloading too many toppings is one of the biggest pizza mistakes.

How to Store Cheeseburger Pizza

Store cheeseburger pizza in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to three days. Here’s how to reheat pizza when you’re ready for the leftovers. For the best results, store the lettuce and other fresh toppings on the side.

Can you make cheeseburger pizza ahead of time?

Cheeseburger pizza is best assembled and baked when you’re ready to serve it. However, you can get some prep work out of the way ahead of time. Prepare the beef and sauce mixtures up to one day in advance. Prep all the fresh toppings the day you will serve the pizza. Store everything, covered, in the fridge until you’re ready to bake the pizza.

Can you freeze cheeseburger pizza?

You can freeze the baked cheeseburger pizza without its fresh toppings. Make the pizza through Step 3, and let it cool. Wrap the pizza tightly in aluminum foil, and store in a freezer-safe resealable plastic bag or an airtight container for up to two months. To serve, unwrap the pizza, and reheat in a 425° oven until it’s warmed through and the cheese has melted. Top with the fresh toppings, and serve.

Tips for Making Cheeseburger Pizza

Baked Cheeseburger on TableTMB STUDIO

Can you make your own pizza dough for cheeseburger pizza?

You can definitely make your own pizza dough for cheeseburger pizza, or use your favorite store-bought pizza dough. To give it a classic cheeseburger look, brush the edges with melted butter, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

What can you serve with cheeseburger pizza?

You can serve any favorite side dish with cheeseburger pizza, from a crisp and cool Caesar salad to french fries. You can even top your pizza with fries! Or make these In-N-Out-inspired animal fries. Why stop at just plain ol’ fries when you can smother them with sauce and cheese?!

Cheeseburger Pizza

My husband's favorite foods are pizza and cheeseburgers, so I combined the two in a pie with mayo and dill pickle juice. People who try this cheeseburger pizza always laugh in surprise because it's so good. —Angie Zimmerman, Eureka, Illinois
Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Makes

6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1 prebaked 12-inch pizza crust
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup prepared mustard
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded lettuce
  • 1/2 cup chopped dill pickle
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons dill pickle juice

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink, 3-4 minutes, breaking it into crumbles; drain.
  2. Meanwhile, place crust on an ungreased baking sheet or pizza pan. Mix ketchup and mustard; spread over crust. Add ground beef; bake 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; bake until cheese is bubbly and crust is lightly browned, 8-10 minutes longer.
  3. Top with lettuce, pickle and onion. Whisk mayonnaise and enough pickle juice to reach desired consistency; drizzle over pizza.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 508 calories, 31g fat (10g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 1132mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 21g protein.