Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza

Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza

5 slices bacon
8 ounces ground sirloin
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup pizza or marinara sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt and fresh ground black pepper
cornmeal, for dusting
12 ounces prepared whole-wheat pizza dough (I used our favorite recipe)
3 ounces (about 3/4 cup) shredded mozzarella
3 ounces (about 3/4 cup) shredded sharp white cheddar

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees with a pizza stone placed on the lowest rack.

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel lined plate and drain off all but 2 teaspoons of the drippings. Add beef and onions to the remaining drippings in the skillet - cook, stirring to crumble, until the beef has cooked through and the onions have softened, about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in pizza or marinara sauce and crushed red pepper - simmer, stirring, until thoroughly heated through, about 4 to 6 minutes. Season lightly with salt and fresh ground black pepper, if desired. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Sprinkle enough cornmeal to lightly cover a pizza peel. Stretch and roll out dough to a rough 12" to 13" circle and transfer to the cornmeal-dusted peel. Slide the crust onto the stone and cook until the bottom begins to crisp up, about 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and place the crust, uncooked side down, onto a cutting board.

Pour sauced beef mixture onto the partially baked crust and evenly spread to cover. Scatter the top with the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Crumble bacon and sprinkle evenly over the top. Slide pizza back onto the stone - cook until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden and crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and place onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

Makes about 4 servings.

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