Description
This Leftover Hot Dog Pizza with Caramelized Onions is a quick and delicious way to transform simple leftovers into a flavorful homemade pizza. Featuring a combination of tangy mustard, smoky BBQ sauce, melted American and mozzarella cheeses, caramelized onions, and optional crispy sauerkraut, this recipe creates a unique and satisfying meal perfect for two.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1 medium pizza crust (13-14 inch round)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing dough)
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 8-9 thin slices American cheese
- 2-4 hot dogs, chopped
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- Sauerkraut (optional, squeezed dry)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. If you have a pizza stone, place it inside the oven to heat up as well.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once the oil shimmers, add the chopped onions. Stir occasionally and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes until the onions are nicely browned and caramelized, with a slightly smoky edge if desired.
- Prepare Dough: On a floured parchment paper square, roll out the pizza dough into a 13-14 inch circle. Use your fingers to push up the edges, forming a crust around the pizza.
- Brush Dough with Olive Oil: Drizzle about 1 tablespoon olive oil over the dough. Use a brush or your fingers to spread the oil evenly, especially focusing on the crust edges.
- Par-bake the Crust: Transfer the dough to a baking sheet or pizza pan if not using a pizza stone. If using a stone, slide the parchment paper and dough onto the preheated stone using a flat baking sheet or pizza peel. Bake at 450°F for about 1 minute, then remove from the oven.
- Add Sauces: Spread 2 tablespoons each of mustard and BBQ sauce evenly across the partially baked crust using the back of a spoon.
- Top the Pizza: Layer the pizza with the slices of American cheese, chopped hot dogs, caramelized onions, and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top. If using, add the squeezed dry sauerkraut for a crispy bite.
- Bake to Finish: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starts to develop brown spots.
Notes
- For best results, have all ingredients prepped before starting the caramelizing process.
- Squeezing the sauerkraut dry helps it crisp up in the oven instead of releasing moisture and making the crust soggy.
- If you don’t have a pizza stone, a baking sheet or pizza pan works well for baking the pizza.
- Adjust the number of hot dogs to your preference—two will give a lighter topping, while four will be more generous.
- Caramelizing onions can take time; don’t rush this step as the flavor adds depth to the pizza.
