Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza
Who says pizza is only for dinner? This tasty Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza is perfect for weekend brunch!
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Since my birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, I decided to give myself an early present – pizza. Pizza for breakfast. Yup, you read that right! While I typically go with cereal or oatmeal for breakfast, sometimes it’s fun to mix things up a bit. This Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza is fairly easy to make, so it’s perfect for a savory weekend breakfast!
Before we get into the pizza, I want to take a moment to thank all of the farmers and ranchers out there. Cattle farming is hard work. I didn’t grow up on a ranch, although I kinda wish I did! (Instead of chasing cows, I grew up chasing pirates’ ghosts on the cobblestone streets of Charleston, SC.) I’ve visited a bunch of farms and ranches from Colorado to Nebraska to New York, and I’ve noticed a similar thread across each and every one. Ranchers work hard. And ranchers love their herds.
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes in the beef community. I used to just swing by the grocery store and pick up ground beef or steaks whenever I was in the mood. I still do that, but now I stop and quietly thank the farmers and ranchers who helped supply that beef for me and my family. As might be expected, my Instagram feed is full of pictures of food. And pictures of cows. Seriously. Just take a look at some of these amazing photos I’ve come across on Instagram:
I met Caroline from Holt Farms back in January, and she’s amazing! Not all calves are bottle-fed, but it’s necessary on occasion. It’s time consuming as the calves need to be bottle-fed twice a day at the same time each day.
This photo was obviously taken back in the colder months, but it’s just one example of what ranchers and farmers do on a daily basis. Did you know that a cow’s body temperature is 102°F? They prefer temperatures between 40°-60°F, but they grow thick winter hair to stay warm in the colder months.
The birth weight of calves can vary quite a bit, but 65-75 pounds is an approximate average. That’s heavy liftin’!
Just a fun photo that really struck the Dad chord with me. Ranching truly is a family operation!
Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza
Switching gears over to the recipe today, this Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza really is delicious! I work with the New York Beef Council quite a bit, and this pizza (or some variation of it) has made several appearances at morning meetings. It’s packed with flavor, and it’s not too difficult to make at all. Plus, who really gets sad when you announce that breakfast will be pizza?? Not this guy!
One of the fun flavor boosters in this breakfast pizza is the fact that the ground beef gets seasoned and then cooked with salsa verde. The liquid mostly evaporates (I did drain a little bit from the pan), and you’re left with delicious southwestern seasoned beef. I am totally repurposing this idea for taco night soon!
So let’s mix up breakfast this weekend…with a pizza. This Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza makes for a fun and tasty breakfast, and it even reheats well for lunch! As for me, I’m off to look at more pictures of cows on Instagram. Cheers!
Did you make this Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza at home? Leave a comment. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog)!
Looking for more tasty ground beef recipes? Check out these other family favorites:
Cheesy Beef Manicotti
Southern Meatloaf Sandwiches
Meatball Parm French Bread Pizza
Mediterranean Meatball Kabobs
Classic Spaghetti & Meatballs
Southwestern Beef Breakfast Pizza
Ingredients
For the Beef
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp dried sage
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
- ½ cup salsa verde
For the Breakfast Pizza
- 1 batch/can refrigerated pizza dough
- 3 Roma tomatoes diced
- ¾ cup Mexican-blend shredded cheese
- 6 large eggs
- ¼ cup green onions sliced
Instructions
For the Beef
- Using a large bowl, add all ingredients except for salsa verde; mix until well combined. (Tip: Do not overmix as it will cause sausage to become tough.)
- Stir in salsa verde.
- Place large skillet over medium-low heat. Once hot, add sausage mixture. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break mixture into ¾” crumbles. Drain any excess liquid from the skillet.
For the Breakfast Pizza
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Meanwhile, spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Press/roll pizza dough evenly into the pan. Bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove dough from oven and spread sausage mixture evenly on top, leaving a ½” border on all sides. Sprinkle diced tomatoes and shredded cheese on top of sausage.
- Make 6 “wells” in the sausage mixture and crack one egg into each of the wells. (Tip: Instead of over-easy eggs, you can scramble eggs and spread evenly on top of pizza.)
- Bake for 14-18 more minutes, or until eggs are cooked to desired doneness.
- Remove pizza from oven and sprinkle with green onions.
- Cut pizza into 6 slices and serve hot.
Notes
First of all, HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!! Super exciting! Secondly, I can totally get behind pizza for breakfast! Love that it reheats well…though, wondering would there even be any leftovers 🙂 Not around me, that’s for sure! Hope you have a wonderful week ahead, David! Have fun looking at those cow pictures 😉
Haha…thanks, Dawn! I’ve got a couple more weeks until my birthday, but it’s coming. 🙂 In other news, pizza for breakfast is pretty much the coolest thing ever!
Loved those photos, especially the one with the Dad – super special moment right there. So exciting that you have a birthday coming up soon 😀 And I agree – Pizza is a good idea, any time of the day. This one sounds like the ideal way to start off any day!
I’m with ya, Alexandra! That photo with the Dad helping get his son dressed for a day on the ranch is priceless. I loved it! In other news, this pizza is quite tasty. Turns out an egg baked onto a pizza is a pretty fun addition! 🙂
Hi David! Pizza, like cake, is permissible any time of day! I would certainly be happy to see this on my plate in the morning and I’m not a breakfast person. I think I’ve told that we have cow neighbors on two sides of us and across the road and I love it! Happy early birthday my friend, best wishes from TN!
You know, you make a great point here, Dorothy! I’m never gonna turn down a good slice of cake. Same goes for pizza. You can totally play with the toppings (eggs!) and make a pizza that’s acceptable for breakfast. In other news, I’m totally jealous of where you live! I think you pretty much live exactly where I want to be right now. 🙂
First of all, Happy Birthday. Secondly, I would absolutely love this as a treat breakfasts but I’d need more cheese!
Hey, more cheese is never a bad thing! I say add in that cheese and enjoy pizza for breakfast. 🙂 Thanks, Mimi!
Your birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks…interesting, David! I think we should introduce a new tradition. For examplee, you can make some delicious gifts and give them away to your food blogger’s friends. Yup, that’s a different way to celebrate your birthday, but it’s fun to mix things up a bit, right? 🙂
Breakfast pizza is a great idea for a weekend breakfast. I’ve got an embarrassing confession to make. When we’ve got some pizza leftovers from the previous day, I enjoy eating COLD pizza for my breakfast. I know, I’m a monster haha. Excellent pizza idea!
Wait. Are you trying to con me into giving YOU something for MY birthday!? Very tricky move there, Ben. I support your efforts, but I think it works the other way around. Haha! Also, I happen to love cold pizza, too. The problem is we never have enough leftovers when it’s a pizza night! (I’ve totally contemplated making 2 pizzas just for the sole purpose of leftovers. Haha!)
David, you really nailed breakfast with this breakfast pizza! My kids will love this! It looks so good- and just the kind of food we would crave!
This breakfast food is totally craveable, Kelly! It’s surprisingly easy, and it’s a fun way to mix up breakfast/brunch. 🙂 Thanks so much, my friend!
I’m always up for pizza – even for breakfast! And this southwestern beef version looks fantastic!
I agree with you completely about appreciating ranchers. One of our closest friends was once a cattle rancher in Montana and oh the stories! Such hard work!
Yes! This pizza really is delicious, Marissa. That southwestern ground beef mixture is tasty, and it would be great on tacos, too. I didn’t realize you have a connection to cattle ranchers in Montana! That’s so cool. It’s amazing how hard ranchers work. Every time I step foot on a farm, I get so inspired! 🙂
Well, Happy early birthday! And why not a pizza for breakfast. I’ll admit I eat cold leftover pizza for breakfast when it’s available. So why not a specially made pizza! Looks delish!!!
Why thank you very much, Kathy! Hey, I’m totally ok with cold leftover pizza for breakfast. The problem is we never have leftover pizza anymore! But this breakfast pizza totally works. It’s packed with fun flavors, and everyone will be happy when pizza shows up for breakfast! 🙂
Yum! I wouldn’t have thought of this combo and I love it. Such a hearty and delicious brunch. Can’t wait to see and hear what you have on your actual birthday! You’ll have to somehow top this. 🙂 ~Valentina
Oh man, I don’t know if I can top this breakfast pizza, Valentina…at least not for breakfast! Every birthday around here, we go to a local dive bar that gives you free wings (one for every year you are old) and free beer on your birthday. We’ve started going for lunch, and then we go home and take a nap! Haha…we’re so old. 🙂
Very clever idea! I think it will make a great brunch menu as well.
Yes! This would be great for brunch. Thanks so much for stopping by, Kankana! 🙂
Happy Birthday to you David when it comes! A pizza for breakfast for your birthday? What a great present to yourself and well deserved too. What a great way to serve lots of people for breakfast as well. And the addition of that egg on the pizza. Yum! I’m with you. Pizza for breakfast rocks. Shall I bring the cheesecake dessert for breakfast? 🙂
Hey, pizza for breakfast on my birthday is totally allowed, right? I decided to get an early start by a couple of weeks here. This pizza is seriously tasty, and who doesn’t love a good brunch pizza!? Bring that cheesecake over, and we’ll get started on Sunday brunch today! Thanks, Neil! 🙂
Looking for a URL for an image of mine and your post popped up in the search results! My husband and I own and operate BAR UC Cattle Co. (the second Instagram snapshot you listed). This was a fun post and looks to be a delicious recipe. Anyhow, hello from the Colorado plains!
Hey Lexi! Hello right back at ya from upstate New York. 🙂 I hope you’re ok with me using that photo from your Instagram feed. I should’ve reached out to you first. I absolutely love the beef industry, and I salute the hard work that you do each and every day. Keep it up!
It’s usually nothing more than a cup (or two) of coffee, but if this were typical breakfast fare, I’d eat it more often! And early Happy Birthday. Hope you have a blast.
Thanks so much, Frank! I’ve still got about 2 weeks ’til the birthday, but it’s coming soon! As far as pizza for breakfast, though, I’ll never turn that one down. 🙂 I’m sitting here drinking my morning coffee right now, too, although I wish a slice of this pizza was sitting on my desk as well. Cheers, my friend!