Beef Brisket Pizza

Pizza or barbecue … wait, are you thinking what I’m thinking? Beef brisket pizza brings together tender, melt-in-your-mouth brisket, zingy barbecue sauce, smoky Gouda cheese and a crispy, chewy crust in the ultimate comfort food fusion. This tangy, savory pie will take your cookout to the next level. But heads up; word travels fast. You might find yourself on everyone’s potluck party invite list this summer.

Beef Brisket Pizza Ingredients

• Barbecue sauce
• Cider vinegar
• Chopped green onions
• Minced fresh cilantro
• Beef brisket
• Salt
• Pepper
• Red onion
• Olive oil
• Smoked Gouda

Dough

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Salt
• Quick-rise yeast
• Warm water
• Olive oil

Directions

Step 1: Marinate the meat

In a bowl large enough to fit the entire brisket, combine 1 cup of barbecue sauce, vinegar, 1/4 cup of green onions and 1/4 cup of cilantro. Stir to combine the ingredients. Sprinkle the brisket with salt and pepper, add it to the bowl and turn to coat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for eight hours or overnight.

Step 2: Grill the brisket

Remove the brisket from the refrigerator and discard the marinade. Prepare the grill for indirect heat and place a drip pan below the rack. Place the brisket over the drip pan, and grill it over indirect heat low heat, covered, for one hour. Add 10 charcoal briquettes to the hot coals. Cover the grill and continue cooking the brisket for an additional 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the meat is fork tender, adding more briquettes as needed. Remove the brisket from the grill and allow it to rest until it’s cool enough to handle. Shred the meat using two forks, then set it aside.

Editor’s Tip: A grill temperature of 225º to 275ºF is ideal for low and slow cooking. Brisket will be fork tender when it reaches an internal temperature of 195º to 205º.

Step 3: Mix the dough

In a large bowl, combine 2-3/4 cups of flour with the sugar, salt and yeast. Add the water and olive oil, and beat just until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft, sticky dough.

Step 4: Make the pizza crust

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it with your hands until it’s smooth and elastic, for six to eight minutes. Roll the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about one hour.

Punch down the dough and divide it into two equal portions. Roll each dough ball into a 15-inch circle. Grill each circle, covered, over medium heat for one to two minutes until it’s lightly browned on one side. Set them aside.

Step 5: Grill the onion

Brush the onion with olive oil and grill it for four to five minutes, turning once. Remove the onion from the grill, chop it, and set it aside.

Step 6: Assemble the pizza

Spread the grilled side of each crust with 1 cup of barbecue sauce. Top them with shredded brisket, onion, cheese and the remaining cilantro and green onion.

Step 7: Cook the pizza

Place a pizza on the grill. Cover the grill and cook the pizza for 8 to 10 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned and the cheese is melted. Open the grill and rotate the pizza halfway through to ensure even cooking. Repeat the process with the second pizza.

How to Store Beef Brisket Pizza

Leftover brisket pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days and reheated in a 350º oven for five to seven minutes. Pizzas can also be frozen by wrapping it in storage wrap then foil, and placing inside a freezer-safe container or bag for three to four months.

Beef Brisket Pizza Tips

Does the brisket need to be grilled?

Grilling the brisket will add char and smokiness to the meat, but you can cook brisket other ways. If you don’t want to grill it, try slow-cooker brisket, pressure cooker brisket or oven-roasted brisket.

Can I bake barbecue brisket pizza in the oven?

Beef brisket pizza can definitely be baked in the oven on a sheet pan or pizza stone. If using the oven, parbake the crust at 450º for five minutes before topping the pizza. Place the assembled pizza back into the oven for 7 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is browned.

What other toppings can you put on brisket pizza?

The brisket and tangy barbecue sauce go well with other classic pizza toppings like sausage, pepperoni or mushrooms. You could also experiment with pickles, jalapenos, sour cherries or roasted Brussels sprouts for an inventive flavor combo.