This WOW Patty Melt Pizza is my favorite focaccia bread, topped with a tangy mayo-ketchup sauce, followed by seasoned ground beef, caramelized onions, and a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Then, once baked, more sauce is drizzled over the top of the pizza or served on the side for dipping. Each bite gives you all of the delicious flavors of a patty melt in a deep dish pizza form!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Crust: The crust is my homemade focaccia bread recipe, which is delicious on its own! But, it just adds so much flavor when any toppings are added! And, when cooked in an oven-safe skillet, you get the golden crisp edge that I love!
- Onion: Caramelize a yellow onion to bring out the sweetness and depth of flavor. Onions are a key component of a patty melt, so I couldn’t leave it out! Sauteed onions would also be delicious!
- Ground Beef: It’s best to use ground beef with a higher fat content, like 80/20 (80% lean meat and 20% fat). The fat keeps the beef juicy and adds flavor. Ground chuck works well too. You can also use ground sirloin, but it may be a little leaner and not as juicy. The ground beef is seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cheese: I added both mozzarella and mild cheddar cheese to the pizza because they melt beautifully and add rich flavor. Just like I can’t skip the caramelized onions (an important part of a classic patty melt!), I can’t leave cheese off a pizza (or a patty melt) either! If you want to mix things up, provolone, Swiss, American, or Gouda cheese would all be great choices, too!
- Mayo-Ketchup Sauce: To give the pizza the flavors of a patty melt, I added a mayo-ketchup sauce. It is made with mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley. Brush some of the sauce onto the pizza crust before adding the toppings and baking. Then, drizzle the rest over the baked pizza. Or, serve it as a dipping sauce! It will make about a cup of sauce.
Best Substitutes For Mayo-Ketchup Sauce On A Patty Melt Pizza
If you’re all set to make the pizza but realize you’re missing ingredients for the mayo-ketchup sauce, don’t worry! Here are some great substitutions you can use instead:
- Thousand Island Dressing (often used in patty melts)
- Russian Dressing (for a little extra kick compared to Thousand Island dressing)
- Burger Sauce
- BBQ Sauce
- Ranch Dressing
Can I Use Regular Pizza Dough Instead Of Focaccia For Patty Melt Pizza?
Sure! If preferred, you can make patty melt pizza with a homemade pizza crust dough like my easy pizza crust, pizza dough, or a store-bought crust. We did test this recipe with regular pizza crust, and it was great, but, the focaccia crust brings this pizza to a whole new level of deliciousness (and more of a deep dish pizza)! If using a homemade crust, preheat oven to 400°F. Or, for a store-bought crust, preheat the oven according to package instructions. Then, follow the instructions as written, adjusting the cook time as needed.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have An Oven-Safe Skillet?
No worries! If you don’t have a cast iron or oven-safe skillet, a 9×13-inch metal or glass baking dish works well. Just make sure to coat it generously with oil to get that golden, crispy focaccia-style crust. You may need to add a couple extra minutes to the bake time since baking dishes heat differently than cast iron.
Can I Freeze This Patty Melt Pizza Before Baking?
Yes, you can freeze the patty melt pizza before baking! Here is how:
- Assemble the pizza up to the point of baking with the toppings. (Spread the sauce, add the cooked beef and onions, and top with cheese.)
- Place the assembled pizza (on a baking sheet or pizza pan) in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until the pizza is firm.
- Once firm, wrap the pizza tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also place it in a freezer-safe bag or container for extra protection.
- Store the wrapped pizza in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. (You might never buy a frozen pizza from the store again once you see how easy it is to make your own ‘frozen’ pizza at home!)
- When ready to bake it, no need to thaw—just bake the pizza straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time. Keep an eye on it to make sure the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
How To Store Patty Melt Pizza
If you have any leftovers of the patty melt pizza, store it to enjoy it later! To store the pizza, first, let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, wrap the pizza tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also place it in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag for extra protection. Store the wrapped pizza in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
How To Reheat Pizza: Best Methods For A Crispy Crust and Melty Cheese
Yes, you could grab a cold slice straight from the refrigerator (this brings back memories from my younger days…), but these days, I prefer to warm it up and crisp that crust to perfection!
- Skillet (Best Method): Heat a skillet over medium heat, place the pizza inside, and cover it with a lid. Cook for 2–5 minutes, or until the crust is crisp and the cheese is melted.
- Oven: Preheat to 375°F. Place the pizza on a baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
- Microwave: For a quicker option, cover the slice with a damp paper towel and microwave for 30–60 seconds. The crust won’t be crispy, but the cheese will melt nicely.
Patty Melt Pizza
Ingredients
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
Instructions
Focaccia Dough
- In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, and salt. Add half of the oil mixture to the yeast mixture. Reserve the rest to oil the skillet before baking.
- Stir in the flour until a soft dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- During the last 30 minutes of rising, start preparing the toppings.
Patty Melt Toppings
- To a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and butter.
- Once the oil is hot and the butter has melted, add sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15–20 minutes, until soft and golden brown. Transfer the onions to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease. Add Worcestershire, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Set aside.
Patty Melt Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, pepper, parsley, and garlic. Set aside.
Assembly
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Pour the remaining garlic oil mixture into a 12-inch cast iron skillet and brush to coat the bottom and sides. Add the risen dough to the oiled skillet. Use your fingers to press it to the edges and dimple the surface.
- Bake for 12 minutes, until slightly puffed.
- Carefully remove the crust from the oven. Spread half of the patty melt sauce (about ½ cup) evenly over the crust, reserving the rest for drizzling after baking.
- Layer the seasoned beef and caramelized onions on top. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 13–15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Drizzle the remaining sauce over the pizza just before serving, and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
- Slice and serve warm.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This pizza is so good! It’s like a burger on a pizza. The beef and cheese go so well together, and the sauce on top is awesome! And, of course, the focaccia makes it even better.
Elizabeth
I don't usually order a patty melt, but I might now after trying this pizza! I loved it, especially on the focaccia!
Annabelle
I like that this pizza lives up to its name and tastes like a patty melt. The ground beef is so flavorful, and the focaccia crust is perfect.
Bella
What a fun and delicious twist on pizza! The beef and cheese make it taste just like a burger, and the sauce is so tasty.
Stephanie
Wow, the focaccia crust takes this pizza to a whole new level! This might be one of the best pizzas I have had!
