One night I wanted burgers, but I really did not want to stand outside flipping patties. The couch was winning that argument. A ground beef flatbread saved dinner.
Somewhere between homemade hamburger pizza and an easy cheeseburger pizza dinner, this became a regular thing at my house. Nobody seems tired of it yet.
The mix of cheeseburger pizza sauce, melty cheese, and cheeseburger pizza with pickles turns dinner with ground beef into one of those fast family dinners. Not a bad deal for a Tuesday.
Cheeseburger Flatbread Pizza
EQUIPMENT (PAID LINKS)
- Baking sheets
- Box grater
Ingredients Â
- 2 premade stone-fired flatbreads
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 pound ground beef
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 6 slices American cheese
- Ketchup for drizzling
- Mustard for drizzling
- 1 pound whole milk mozzarella freshly shredded
- 2 Roma tomatoes sliced ½ inch thick
- 2 pickles very thinly sliced
- Garlic aioli for drizzling
- Baby arugula for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so the flatbreads bake evenly and cleanup stays painless.
- Prep the Flatbreads: Place the premade flatbreads on the prepared baking sheets. Brush the melted butter around the edges, then sprinkle the sesame seeds over the buttered crusts.2 premade stone-fired flatbreads, ¼ cup unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
- Par-Bake the Crusts: Bake the flatbreads for 10 minutes. This helps the edges get golden and sturdy enough to hold the beef, cheese, and toppings.
- Brown the Beef: While the flatbreads bake, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, season it with salt and black pepper, and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.1 pound ground beef, Salt, Black pepper
- Add the American Cheese: Drain any excess grease from the skillet, then return the beef to the pan. Add the American cheese slices and stir until melted into the beef.6 slices American cheese
- Build the Flatbread Pizzas: Drizzle ketchup over the center of each par-baked flatbread, then add a drizzle of mustard. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the sauce, then top with the cheesy ground beef and sliced tomatoes.Ketchup, Mustard, 1 pound whole milk mozzarella, 2 Roma tomatoes
- Bake Until Golden: Bake the flatbread pizzas for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the mozzarella is melted and bubbly and the crusts are deeply golden around the edges.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle the flatbread pizzas with garlic aioli, then top with thinly sliced pickles and baby arugula. Slice into 16 pieces and serve warm.2 pickles, Garlic aioli, Baby arugula
Cheeseburger Flatbread Pizza and Other Excellent Ways to Avoid Grilling
I’ve made enough versions of this to learn a few things the easy way and a few things the smoky kitchen way. Might as well save you the trouble.
Don’t Overcook the Beef Just Because You’re Distracted
Ground beef goes from juicy to disappointing faster than you’d think. The second it looks done, stop cooking it. Remember, it’s heading back into a hot oven anyway.
Shred Your Own Cheese If You’re Feeling Ambitious
Freshly shredded mozzarella melts better and tastes creamier. That said, I have absolutely used a bag of pre-shredded cheese on a Tuesday and slept just fine afterward.
Pickles Belong at the End
Adding pickles before baking sounds efficient until they come out warm and sad. Keep them fresh and crunchy by adding them after the flatbread comes out of the oven. Hot pickles and cold pickles are basically two different vegetables.
The Sauce Rules Are Flexible
Ketchup and mustard are classic, but don’t let tradition bully you. A little burger sauce, barbecue sauce, or even spicy mayo works surprisingly well. This is flatbread, not a legally binding cheeseburger contract.
Sneak In Extra Toppings
Thinly sliced red onions, crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, or jalapeños all fit right in. This recipe is one of those rare dinners that welcomes refrigerator clean-out duty without complaining.
Keep a Flatbread in the Freezer
Whenever I find flatbreads on sale, I buy extra. They freeze beautifully and thaw quickly. Future-you will feel suspiciously organized for once.
Let the Cheese Be the Glue
If the toppings seem eager to slide off, make sure the mozzarella goes down before the beef. The melted cheese helps everything stay where it belongs instead of launching itself onto the plate.
Leftovers Reheat Better Than You’d Expect
Store slices in the fridge and reheat them in an oven, air fryer, or skillet. Avoid the microwave if possible. Nobody deserves a floppy crust when a crispy one is only a few minutes away.
Arugula Is Optional, Not a Personality Test
The peppery bite is great, but if you don’t have arugula, don’t make a special trip. Shredded lettuce added after baking gives it even more cheeseburger energy and works just as well.
