By Sabine Venier
Updated Dec 9, 2024
If you’re a real meat lover (my husband Pat sure is!), then you’ll love this homemade pizza piled high with 4 types of meats. Heaps of pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, and pancetta mean you’ll never have a topping-less bite, and that’s the just way I like it. The fluffy pizza dough, the zesty marinara sauce, and the salty meats are perfectly balanced. I love that I can make pizza just like my favorite take-out spot in under an hour!
Have you gotten a pizza out that’s light on toppings? I hate it when that happens! The last time we went out for pizza, the pie had most of the toppings on only one side, and it was such a bummer. But now that I know how to make homemade pizza dough and marinara sauce, I knew that I could make Pat’s favorite pizza at home for less. This meat lovers pizza recipe is super simple and way better than take-out.
What’s in This Meat Lover’s Pizza Recipe?
- Meat: Italian sausage (hot or mild), diced pancetta or thick-cut bacon, thin-sliced ham, and pepperoni are the classic toppings for a meat lover’s pizza.
- Pizza Dough: I like to make homemade pizza dough , but store-bought works just as well and saves time, too.
- Sauce: I also like to make my own marinara sauce , but jarred works in a pinch and saves time.
- Cheese: Mozzarella cheese creates a classic cheese pull and helps hold all those meats on top!
Tips for Success
- Rolling out pizza dough can be tricky. I like to let my dough sit out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before working with it so the gluten is relaxed and it’s nice and flexible. If you stretch it and it keeps shrinking back, just let it sit for about 10 minutes, then try again.
- As much as I love and adore the sauce, I must say you have to resist the temptation to overload this pizza. Too much sauce will leave you with an undercooked, soggy center!
- For extra crispy cheese, I like to broil my pizza for about 5 minutes at the end of the bake time.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover meat lovers pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat slices in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes or in a covered dry skillet with 1 teaspoon of water until warmed through.
Freeze meat lovers pizza slices in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or resealable bag to store for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
At our fav pizza spot, we always order garlic knots ! They’re so yummy, and they’re a great way to use up leftover pizza dough (if you have any!). I like a garden salad to make me feel like I’m at least being sort of healthy. Plus, the tangy dressing is a welcome break from all that juicy, fatty meat!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 8 ounces Italian sausage mild or spicy
- ▢ 4 ounces diced pancetta or thick-cut bacon
- ▢ 1 pound pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- ▢ Semolina flour optional, for dusting pizza peel
- ▢ ½ cup marinara sauce or pizza sauce; store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- ▢ 1 ounce thin-sliced ham
- ▢ 8 slices pepperoni
- ▢ Chili oil or garlic oil; optional, for drizzling
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500°F. If you have a pizza stone, warm it up for about 30 minutes.
- Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it turns light brown and is no longer pink. This takes around 3 minutes. Break it into pieces as it cooks. Then, drain it and put it on a plate with paper towels. 8 ounces Italian sausage
- In the same skillet, cook the pancetta or bacon until it’s golden brown, about 2 minutes. Then, place it on a plate with paper towels. Set aside. 4 ounces diced pancetta
- Roll out or gently stretch your pizza dough into a big circle. If you’re not using a pizza stone, put the stretched dough on a baking sheet with parchment paper. But if you have a pizza stone, put a bit of semolina flour on a pizza peel and place the dough there. 1 pound pizza dough, Semolina flour
- Spread the pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about an inch empty around the edges. ½ cup marinara sauce
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Add the cooked sausage, pancetta/bacon, and the ham (tear the ham into pieces). 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 ounce thin-sliced ham
- Lay the pepperoni slices on top and put your pizza into the oven. 8 slices pepperoni
- Bake for 6-9 minutes until the crust’s edges are golden brown and the cheese melts.
- Serve it with chili or garlic oil if you like. Enjoy! Chili oil
Equipment
- Pizza Stone OR
- Baking Sheet
- Rolling Pin
Becky’s Tips
- For extra spice, sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes over the sauce in step 5.
- Keep an eye on the pizza while it’s in the oven. It’s ready when the crust’s edges are golden brown, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Meat Lover’s Pizza Step by Step
Cook the Sausage: Preheat your oven to 500°F. If you have a pizza stone, warm it up for about 30 minutes. Cook 8 ounces of mild or hot Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it turns light brown and is no longer pink. This takes around 3 minutes. Break it into pieces as it cooks. Then, drain it and put it on a plate lined with paper towels.
Cook the Pancetta: In the same skillet, cook 4 ounces of diced pancetta (or bacon) until it’s golden brown, about 2 minutes. Then, place it on a plate with paper towels and set aside.
Shape the Dough: Roll out and gently stretch 1 pound of pizza dough into a big circle. If you’re not using a pizza stone, put the stretched dough on a baking sheet with parchment paper. But if you have a pizza stone, put a bit of semolina flour on a pizza peel and place the dough there.
Spread the Sauce: Spread ½ cup of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about an inch around the edges.
Add the Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Then add the cooked sausage, pancetta/bacon, and 1 ounce of thin-sliced ham (tear the ham into pieces).
Top with Pepperoni: Lay 8 slices of pepperoni on top and put your pizza into the oven.
Bake and Serve: Bake for 6-9 minutes until the crust’s edges are golden brown and the cheese melts. Serve it with chili or garlic oil if you like. Enjoy!
More Pizza Recipes To Try
- New York Style Pizza
- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
- White Pizza
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Taco Pizza
- Veggie Pizza
- Mushroom Pizza
- … Even More Pizza Recipes
Meat Lovers Pizza Recipe
Equipment
- Pizza Stone OR
- Baking Sheet
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Italian sausage mild or spicy
- 4 ounces diced pancetta or thick-cut bacon
- 1 pound pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- Semolina flour optional, for dusting pizza peel
- ½ cup marinara sauce or pizza sauce; store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 ounce thin-sliced ham
- 8 slices pepperoni
- Chili oil or garlic oil; optional, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500°F. If you have a pizza stone, warm it up for about 30 minutes.
- Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it turns light brown and is no longer pink. This takes around 3 minutes. Break it into pieces as it cooks. Then, drain it and put it on a plate with paper towels. 8 ounces Italian sausage
- In the same skillet, cook the pancetta or bacon until it’s golden brown, about 2 minutes. Then, place it on a plate with paper towels. Set aside. 4 ounces diced pancetta
- Roll out or gently stretch your pizza dough into a big circle. If you’re not using a pizza stone, put the stretched dough on a baking sheet with parchment paper. But if you have a pizza stone, put a bit of semolina flour on a pizza peel and place the dough there. 1 pound pizza dough, Semolina flour
- Spread the pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about an inch empty around the edges. ½ cup marinara sauce
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Add the cooked sausage, pancetta/bacon, and the ham (tear the ham into pieces). 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 ounce thin-sliced ham
- Lay the pepperoni slices on top and put your pizza into the oven. 8 slices pepperoni
- Bake for 6-9 minutes until the crust’s edges are golden brown and the cheese melts.
- Serve it with chili or garlic oil if you like. Enjoy! Chili oil
Video
Notes
- For extra spice, sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes over the sauce in step 5.
- Keep an eye on the pizza while it’s in the oven. It’s ready when the crust’s edges are golden brown, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
