Meatball Pizza Thick Crust (Print Version)

Golden crust, saucy meatballs, and a double helping of cheese bring a whole new feel to pizza nights.

# Ingredients:

→ Meatball Ingredients

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - ⅓ cup seasoned bread crumbs (Italian-style)
03 - 2 tablespoons milk
04 - 1 teaspoon minced garlic
05 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
06 - 8 ounces ground pork
07 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
08 - ½ medium white onion, diced finely
09 - 8 ounces ground beef
10 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
11 - ½ teaspoon salt
12 - 1 large egg
13 - ½ teaspoon black pepper

→ Stuff for the Deep Dish

14 - ½ large yellow onion, chopped up
15 - 1½ teaspoons Italian herb blend
16 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
17 - 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
18 - 16 ounces pizza dough
19 - 1 jalapeño, de-seeded and chopped (optional)
20 - 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
21 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
22 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
23 - 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
24 - ½ cup tomato-based pizza sauce

# Steps:

01 - Crank your oven up to 400°F. Put parchment on a baking tray and keep it ready nearby.
02 - Pour milk over the bread crumbs in a big bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
03 - Warm up olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Toss in the finely diced white onion and stir for 5-6 minutes until soft. Move the cooked onions to the bread crumb bowl.
04 - Into the bowl, add the pork, beef, egg, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir just enough to combine everything, but don't overdo it.
05 - Split the mixture into 24 even pieces. Roll into balls and space them about half an inch apart on the baking tray. Cook for 15-17 minutes, ensuring they're all the way done.
06 - Bump up the oven temp to 450°F.
07 - Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion and jalapeño (if using). Cook for 6-7 minutes to soften, then toss in garlic, the Italian seasoning mix, and salt. Keep cooking another minute.
08 - Flatten the dough into an 11-inch round and spread it in a greased 9-inch springform pan, letting it come an inch up the sides.
09 - Smear the pizza sauce on the dough. In a separate dish, mix up cooked meatballs, sautéed onion mixture, Monterey Jack cheese, and cheddar cheese. Spread the mix onto the sauced dough.
10 - Pop the pizza into the 450°F oven for 20 minutes. Cover loosely with foil and give it another 5-7 minutes. Rest it 10-15 minutes, then remove the pan and cut into pieces.

# Notes and Tips:

01 - Be gentle when mixing meatball ingredients to keep them tender.
02 - Save extra meatballs by freezing for easy future meals.

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