This Meat Lovers Pizza is piled high with melty cheese, spicy pepperoni, crispy bacon, juicy sausage crumbles, and herby Italian seasoning! Learn how to make this hearty pizza quick and easy in your very own kitchen!
There’s no meal more perfect than a slice of hot, crisp, and cheesy, pizza. If you feel me, you’ve come to the right place! I love making homemade pizza; it’s so much fun and I can get the whole family involved (most of the time).
Sure, takeout pies are delicious and convenient but being in control of your own flavors and textures is such a great experience. The best part is, once you’ve done it a few times pizza making is a breeze!
Today, we’re making one of my favorite pizza varieties: Meat Lovers. Smoky bacon, tender ham, spicy pepperoni, and well-seasoned Italian sausage crumbles are spread out onto a fluffy crust coated in sweet marinara and freshly shredded mozzarella cheese in this deliciously classic recipe. Let’s get to cooking y’all!
For this post, I’ve partnered with Fleischmann’s® Yeast and am using their Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Instant Yeast. If you’ve never tried it, it’s great because while most yeast requires you to activate it in warm water, RapidRise® Yeast is actually mixed with the dry ingredients. Yes, no activation is required which means you don’t have to wait around for an extra 5-10 minutes for your yeast to activate.
A meat lover’s pizza topping will vary from place to place. For my version, I’m using my favorite pepperoni cups, chopped bacon, and Italian sausage. They sit atop the perfect amount of pizza sauce and lots of melty mozzarella cheese. You can get creative and modify the toppings to your liking, adding more pepperoni, no bacon, or whatever toppings your heart desires.
This Meat Lovers Pizza, topped with melty cheese, pepperoni cups, Italian sausage, and bacon, is the perfect weeknight meal because it comes together in just 30 minutes! This means you can have pizza any day of the week. With this recipe, the ultimate meat lover’s homemade pizza is quick and easy.
This crust is just how I like it: crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside. Using the bottom side of a clean baking sheet that has been well dusted with cornmeal, you can slide your pizza onto a preheated baking steal or pizza stone with ease. Making direct contact with the hot surface helps to ensure that you get that amazing crispy bottom on your pizza. Brushing your crust with melted butter and sprinkling it with shredded parmesan also adds that desirable crisp crunch to the top of your crust. This paired with the soft and airy interior makes for the dreamiest pizza dough (IMO).
How to Make Meat Lovers Pizza
The difficulty of this recipe will depend on whether or not you decide to make a homemade dough. I often make large batches of my pizza dough recipe and freeze the leftovers for later on.
There’s nothing wrong with going the pre-made dough route! I do it quite often and still get amazing results. Either way, be patient with the dough and don’t worry if you don’t get that perfect circle- it takes practice, people!
I recommend spooning the pizza onto the dough and spreading it, rather than dumping it on all at once. That’ll make the dough heavy and soggy.
Layer on the toppings however you’d like! Use this recipe as more of a guideline and feel free to make it your own: use different meats, adjust the measurements, etc.
Watch the pizza closely as it cooks. Not just because it cooks quickly but also because it’s fun! The crust rises, the cheese bubbles, and the pepperonis curl and crisp. It’s the best sight to see.
Ultimate Meat Lovers Pizza | Quick and Easy Pizza Crust
What is a meat lovers pizza?
Cheese is an essential component of the pizza, and mozzarella is usually the cheese of choice. A meat lovers pizza is an excellent option for a party or a gathering, as it is sure to satisfy both meat lovers and pizza fans alike. When it comes to meat toppings on pizza, there’s always been a debate over what constitutes a perfect meat lovers pizza.
What toppings are on a meat lovers pizza?
The typical topping options that you can find on a meat lovers pizza include pepperoni, sausage, bacon, beef, ham, and sometimes even chicken. The crust of a meat lovers pizza is usually thick and crispy to support the weight of the toppings.
How to make a meat lovers pizza?
Meat lovers pizza should be made using your favourite method of making pizza dough. For the sauce, follow my recipe here: Tomato sauce for pizza. Next, get all your toppings for a meatlovers pizza ready. Start by peeling the outer skin from your Italian fennel sausage and cut it in half and slice the pancetta into strips.
Does meat lovers pizza have cheese?
Of course, meat lovers pizza – or any pizza for that matter – isn’t pizza without cheese. You’ve got to have an ooey gooey base for all your toppings to meld into. As such, this pizza is loaded with about equal parts Canadian cheese and meats. It’s truly a feast for the meat – and cheese – lover in your life.