Jack-o'-Lantern Pizza with Ground Beef and Bisquick Crust
A festive Halloween pizza featuring a homemade Bisquick crust topped with seasoned ground beef, salsa, corn, and melted cheese. The fun comes from arranging colorful bell peppers, olives, and tomatoes to create jack-o'-lantern faces on top. Perfect for Halloween parties or family dinners when you want something playful yet satisfying. The quick Bisquick dough makes this accessible for busy weeknights, while the customizable toppings let kids get creative with their Halloween designs.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup salsa
- ¾ cup frozen corn
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cups Original Bisquick mixpizza dough1 poundconvenience
Store-bought or homemade
- ⅓ cup very hot water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese, 8 ouncesmozzarella1:1classicadds dairy
Better melting cheese
- orange bell pepper strips(optional)
- green bell pepper strips(optional)
- sliced ripe olives(optional)
- cherry tomato wedges(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Move oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450°F
- 2
Grease 12-inch pizza pan
- 3
Cook ground beef in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until brown then drain
- 4
Stir salsa, corn and water into beef and heat to boiling then remove from heat
- 5
Mix Bisquick, hot water and oil until soft dough forms then beat vigorously 20 strokes
- 6
Let dough stand 5 minutes
- 7
Press dough in pizza pan using fingers dipped in Bisquick and pinch edge to form 1/2-inch rim
- 8
Spread beef mixture over dough and sprinkle with cheese
- 9
Bake 11 to 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted
- 10
Arrange toppings on pizza to form jack-o'-lantern faces
Tips
Dip your fingers in extra Bisquick mix when pressing the dough to prevent sticking and achieve an even crust thickness.
Let the beef mixture cool slightly before spreading to prevent the cheese from melting too quickly during assembly.
Use cookie cutters to create uniform shapes from bell peppers for more precise jack-o'-lantern features.
Good to Know
Store leftover pizza covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in 350°F oven for 5-8 minutes.
Beef mixture can be prepared up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Dough is best made fresh.
Serve immediately while cheese is melted and crust is crispy for best texture and appearance.
Common Mistakes
Don't skip the 5-minute rest for the dough to avoid a tough crust
Drain beef thoroughly to prevent soggy pizza bottom
Substitutions
FAQ
Can I use a different cheese blend?
Yes, any melting cheese works well. Mozzarella, Mexican blend, or even pepper jack would be delicious alternatives.
What if I don't have Bisquick mix?
You can substitute with store-bought pizza dough or make your own. Adjust water and oil amounts accordingly.
How long will this keep in the refrigerator?
Leftover pizza will stay fresh for up to 3 days when properly covered and refrigerated.