Description
This Meat Lovers Pizza recipe is a deliciously hearty and satisfying pizza loaded with Italian sausage, pancetta, ham, and pepperoni atop a crispy crust with melted mozzarella and tangy marinara sauce. Perfect for a family dinner or casual get-together, it combines savory meats with classic pizza flavors and a hint of optional chili or garlic oil for an extra kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats
- 8 ounces Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 ounces diced pancetta (or thick-cut bacon)
- 1 ounce thin-sliced ham
- 8 slices pepperoni
Pizza Base and Sauce
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup marinara sauce (or pizza sauce; store-bought or homemade)
- Semolina flour (optional, for dusting pizza peel)
Cheese
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional
- Chili oil or garlic oil (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to warm for about 30 minutes to ensure a crispy crust.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage until it turns light brown and is no longer pink inside, about 3 minutes. Break the sausage into smaller pieces as it cooks. Drain excess fat and transfer the sausage to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Cook Pancetta or Bacon: Using the same skillet, cook the diced pancetta or bacon until golden brown, approximately 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare Dough: Roll out or gently stretch the pizza dough into a large circle. If you do not have a pizza stone, place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If you have a pizza stone, lightly dust a pizza peel with semolina flour and place the dough on it for easier transfer to the stone.
- Add Sauce: Spread the marinara or pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving about an inch border around the edges free of sauce to allow the crust to rise nicely.
- Add Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the sauce. Then evenly distribute the cooked sausage, pancetta or bacon, and torn pieces of ham over the cheese layer.
- Add Pepperoni: Arrange the pepperoni slices on top of all the other toppings for a classic finishing touch.
- Bake Pizza: Transfer the pizza to the oven—onto the pizza stone if using, or simply on the baking sheet. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes, or until the crust edges turn golden brown and the cheese has melted completely.
- Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and drizzle with chili oil or garlic oil if desired to add an extra layer of flavor. Slice and serve hot to enjoy the savory meat lovers feast.
Notes
- Preheating the pizza stone ensures a crispier crust.
- Use semolina flour on the pizza peel to prevent the dough from sticking during transfer.
- Feel free to adjust the meat toppings to suit your preference or dietary needs.
- Cooking the sausage and pancetta beforehand reduces excess grease and ensures toppings are fully cooked.
- Chili or garlic oil drizzles add a nice flavor boost but are optional.
