Recently, I’ve really adored using red pepper and chipotle together. I used them together in my most recent cheesesteak recipe and I loved the results. So as I was making this pizza, I figured I’d give those two spices another go. Holy cow guys. I couldn’t have been happier with the results. There’s something really great about the almost sweet tang, the flavors of the meat blending with the cheese and the just right heat of this pizza. I call it my meat lovers pepper jack chipotle pizza. And if the name sounds delicious (which, let’s face it, it does), then just imagine how the actual thing tastes.
I recommend that you make this pizza with as thin a crust as is humanly possible. Maybe even thinner. That way you can put as much meat as possible on top. And that’s the real reason why anyone eats meat lovers pizza, right?
Second recommendation: use my bacon chive pizza crust. It’s honestly a delicious addition to the pizza. By flavoring the dough, you get a new dimension of flavor. You’ll understand as soon as you try it.
Third recommendation: don’t skimp on the veggies just because it’s a meat lover’s pizza. Why? Because they add diversity of flavor, a bit of extra crunch, and they make the pizza at least a little bit more healthy.
I’ve been reflecting lot recently about how I got from cooking quesadillas to making my own pizzas. And how I went from photographing this to photographing what you see in front of you now. It’s all just quality practice. I’ve practiced a lot of things in my life. I practiced french horn and baritone until I could play with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps. I practiced singing until I wasn’t completely terrible. I practiced writing until writing came as naturally as speaking.
I practiced until I got as close to perfect as I could. And I’m not the only one.
Practice is the key to greatness at just about anything. Food, photography, music, anything. So go practice something! Make yourself a little more awesome. In the words of Steve Kamb from Nerd Fitness, level up your life! And make this pizza, because being awesome requires some serious fuel.
- 1 bacon chive pizza crust
- 6 oz. bacon
- 8 oz. either bottom round steak or ground beef
- 4 oz. pepper jack cheese
- ½ - 1 onion, sliced thinly (amount varies according to personal preference)
- 1 bell pepper (preferably green or red or a combination of the two)
- *Red Pepper Chipotle Seasoning*
- 2 Tbsp ground chipotle
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
- Caramelize onions
- Cook beef and bacon and season generously with the Red Pepper Chipotle Seasoning
- Roll out pizza dough
- Place all ingredients onto pizza dough
- Bake for 12 minutes (or slightly less -- a pizza peel and a pizza stone are highly recommended).
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