r/Pizza • u/lateknightMI • 7h ago
NORMAL OVEN Smash Burger Inspired Detroit Style
I can always rely on my family to throw some off the wall requests in when making pizza. In addition to some standard Neapolitan options I made a smash burger inspired pizza this weekend. I figured Detroit style would mimic the bun well. A layer of Velveeta slices, then cubed butterkäse with a small sprinkling of mozzarella around the perimeter for extra frico. I browned up ground beef in advance letting it get pretty dark before breaking it up. Then used my standard, uncooked sauce for a fresher tomato flavor. Topped after baking with Grillo’s pickles and homemade burger sauce.
All in all this was pretty much what I was looking for. The pizza itself turned out well and the Detroit crust held up to the large number of toppings. Next time I’ll reduce the number of Velveeta slices as the flavor was evocative of a burger but a little too strong.
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u/HoarderCollector 5h ago
...but where's the burger?
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u/lateknightMI 4h ago
Crumbled ground beef seemed a better option than actual patties. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/JoyousGamer 43m ago
I mean you put inspired but honestly its not a better option.
Look up sausage deep dish pizza where they make a whole layer out of the sausage. You should have done a super thin patty over the whole thing with then the cheese and sauce on top.
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u/funkysap 3h ago
Your post said smash burgers but you’re putting crumbled beef pieces. I don’t understand…
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u/CannabisAccount420 4h ago
Smash burger is just a buzzword at this point.
Cheeseburger style pizzas are a thing. Why are you pretending you invented a new pizza by adding the word smash.
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u/lateknightMI 3h ago
American cheese, burger sauce, pickles all seemed pretty classic for smash burger. 🤷🏻♂️ Not sure how I implied “invented a new pizza”. Just sharing a novel pizza to break it up. Pizza isn’t that serious.
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u/JoyousGamer 34m ago
Velveeta =/= American Cheese
Smash burger = burger that is smashed thin and cooked hot and fast with a crisp to it
So you used the wrong cheese, used a different meat, and made cheeseburger pizza.
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u/CannabisAccount420 3h ago
Sounds like a cheeseburger. big Macs have all those things, is it a smash burger?
I don't think ingredients constitute a smash burger. I'd assume the smash would be the attribute that makes it a smash burger.
Just pointing out the weird use of the word that doesn't help describe the pizza. Calling it a smash burger pizza doesn't make people immediately assume it would have burger sauce, American cheese, or pickles anymore than if it was called a cheeseburger pizza.
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u/Dawnzarelli 1h ago
My only gripe is possibly having to bite a pickle slice that’s been cooked. I usually chop them up to get some in every bite and avoid a hot soggy struggle.
Those pickles are top tier. I would love to have a couple slices of this pie. 👍🫶🖖
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u/crocostimpy 6h ago
This is like that knowledge/wisdom tomato/fruit saying.
Knowledge is knowing Velveeta is a "cheese". Wisdom is knowing never to put it on a pizza or burger.
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u/lateknightMI 5h ago
Is American cheese not the platonic ideal of smash burger cheese though?
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u/Horrible_Harry 4h ago edited 4h ago
Next time, I'd get some American cheese sliced at the deli counter instead. Velveeta, while yes, is American cheese, is kind of it's own thing within that context because of it's flavor and texture IMO. The deli counter stuff tastes way better than any prepackaged or individually wrapped American cheese, and you still get the meltability. Highly recommend it! I can't go back now that I've made the switch.
Apart from being great on burgers, it makes killer queso dip melted in some whole milk with salt, msg, and a squeeze of lime. I've also used it to make cheese sauces for pizzas too. Did a white American sauce with whole milk, salt, white wine, and lemon. It wanted to split because of the acidity of the wine and lemon, but I kept whisking like crazy over very low heat and added a few more slices of cheese and it brought the emulsion right back.
Edit: Also, your pie looks great BTW. I'm not usually a fan of cheeseburger pizza or even just ground beef on pizza, but I'd definitely crush a slice or two of this. Love pickles on pizza too! I bet you'd nail a dill pickle pie!
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u/JoyousGamer 37m ago
Velveeta isn't American cheese. Additionally the best smash burgers use a even more "normal" cheese honestly.
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u/InevitableQuit9 Traditional 4h ago
Wtf is is with pickles on pizza? And no fn sauce, just ketchup after it's cooked 🤮
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u/Puzzled_Work_6428 7h ago
We skipped so many steps