Meat Pizza

/5

PRESENTATION

When you think meat pizza, what's the first image that pops into your head? Probably some classic crispy-crust number, right? But, oh boy, this Italian twist is something else. It swaps out the dough for a base made from moist ground meat. Really, it's like a giant polpetta (meatball)—flattened, of course. This tender layer holds onto rich tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella. I mean, it’s comforting, really.

In Italy, this homemade meat pizza is a kid favorite. It blends the familiar flavors of meatballs and pizza night—pretty much a win-win. Some adventurous folks switch out the meat for cauliflower or even polenta, but let’s be real, the original is where it’s at. If you're after something juicy and satisfying, this is it.

And listen, unlike your regular pepperoni or sausage pizza, the meat pizza stands out with its meaty foundation. It's flavor-packed, no question, and hearty. Often dubbed a meat lovers pizza, it’s perfect for piling on more toppings like crispy bacon or spicy sausage. It's not just a quick weeknight fix; it’s the ultimate comfort food. And look, this dish suits any occasion.

The easy meat pizza recipe is a lifesaver for last-minute dinners since there’s no need for yeast or rising dough. The result? A dish that's golden outside, cheesy on top—seriously good. In lots of Italian homes, it's the go-to meal when you need something fast yet special. Really really good. It's no wonder the meat pizza dough recipe is a staple, thanks to its tender bite and melty cheese—perfect for any gathering.

You might also like:

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for a 10-inch pan
Beef 0.7 lb (300 g) - ground
Pork 5.3 oz (150 g) - ground
Stale bread 1.67 cups (100 g)
Eggs 2 oz (55 g) - (about 1 medium)
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese 1 oz (30 g)
Fine salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
For garnishing
Tomato purée ¾ cup (200 g)
Mozzarelline ciliegine cheese 2.6 oz (75 g)
Basil to taste
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Fine salt to taste
Preparation

How to prepare Meat Pizza

To prepare the meat pizza, start by cutting the bread into pieces 1 and place it in a bowl. Cover with plenty of cold water and let it soak well 2. Meanwhile, prepare the dough. Gather the ingredients in a bowl, adding the beef first, then the pork 3

the egg 4, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and the bread 5. The latter should be crustless and then squeezed 6.

Begin kneading for a few minutes 7 until the mixture is compact 8. Tear a sheet of parchment paper and crumple it, then place it inside a scalloped baking dish and pour in the meatball mixture. Grease it well with some oil 9

and flatten it well 10. Then form a border about 0.8 inches wide by pressing with your thumb near the edge of the pan 11. Finally, prepare the topping. Pour the tomato sauce into a bowl and season with oil, salt, and pepper, and mix 12.

Spread the tomato sauce on the surface 13 and bake in a preheated static oven at 355°F for about 30-35 minutes 14. Cut the mozzarella balls in half 15

as soon as the oven timer goes off, remove the pan and garnish with the cherry mozzarella balls 16. Add a pinch of pepper 17 and put it back in the oven for another 4-5 minutes, in grill mode, and serve your meat pizza immediately. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving with some fresh basil added 18.

Storage

Once your meat pizza is ready, you can store it in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
If you prefer, you can freeze it, both raw and cooked, only if you have used very fresh ingredients.

Tip

Since it is a Margherita pizza, it would be good to respect tradition, but since it's not a real pizza, let your palate inspire you. First of all, you can enrich the dough of your meat pizza with some aromatic herbs or spices to taste: parsley, garlic, and smoked paprika. Just to begin with. The cheeses can also be varied, why not try provolone or scamorza? Finally, if you want to make a very flavorful variation, go for 'diavola'! Spicy salami, or Calabrian spianata, will make your 'pizza' special!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.