Patty Melt Pizza Recipe
This Patty Melt Pizza combines the classic flavors of a patty melt sandwich with a delicious focaccia-style pizza base. Featuring homemade focaccia dough topped with savory ground beef, caramelized onions, a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese, and a tangy patty melt sauce, this recipe offers a comforting and flavorful twist on pizza night.
- Author: Joe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices 1x
- Category: Pizza
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Focaccia Dough
- 1 cup warm water, 110°F–115°F
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ½ cups (312.5 g) all-purpose flour
Patty Melt Toppings
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cheese
- 1 cup (113 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
Patty Melt Sauce
- ⅔ cup (155 g) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- Prepare the Focaccia Dough: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is activated. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, and kosher salt. Add half of this oil mixture to the yeast mixture and stir. Gradually add the all-purpose flour and mix until a soft dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Patty Melt Toppings: When the dough has 30 minutes left to rise, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and unsalted butter. Once the oil is hot and butter melted, add the thinly sliced onions. Cook them for 15–20 minutes while stirring occasionally, until they are soft and golden brown. Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess grease. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Set aside the cooked beef mixture.
- Make the Patty Melt Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, black pepper, freshly chopped parsley, and minced garlic until smooth. Set the sauce aside for later use.
- Assemble and Bake the Pizza – First Bake: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Pour the remaining garlic-olive oil mixture into a 12-inch cast iron skillet and use a brush or your fingers to coat the bottom and sides evenly. Transfer the risen dough to the skillet and use your fingers to press it out to the edges, creating dimples on the surface. Bake the dough for 12 minutes until it is slightly puffed and lightly golden.
- Add Toppings and Bake Again: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Spread half of the patty melt sauce (about ½ cup) evenly over the baked dough. Layer the cooked ground beef mixture and caramelized onions on top of the sauce. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses evenly over the toppings. Return the skillet to the oven and bake for an additional 13–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Once baked, remove the pizza from the oven. Drizzle the remaining patty melt sauce over the top and sprinkle with additional freshly chopped parsley for garnish. Slice the pizza and serve warm to enjoy the gooey, savory flavors of this patty melt-inspired creation.
Notes
- The dough rising time is essential for a soft and airy focaccia crust; do not skip it.
- Caramelizing the onions slowly ensures they develop rich sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Use a cast iron skillet for the best crust texture and even baking.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture or sauce.
- Leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: patty melt pizza, focaccia pizza, caramelized onion pizza, ground beef pizza, homemade pizza, cast iron skillet pizza