Southwest Beef & Chili Pizza

This easy, fast and delicious ground beef chili pizza—with a Southwestern flair—was a 1997 National Beef Cook-Off winner.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (12-inch) pre-baked thick pizza crust
1 1/4 cups prepared thick and chunky salsa
1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or Monterey Jack cheese
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles, well drained
2 medium plum tomatoes, seeded, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup thin red onion slivers
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
2. In large nonstick skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat 6 minutes or until outside surface is no longer pink, breaking up into small crumbles. Pour off drippings. Season with salt.
3. Place pizza crust on ungreased large baking sheet. Spread salsa over crust; sprinkle with half of cheese. Top with beef, chiles, tomatoes, onion and remaining cheese.
4. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until toppings are hot and cheese is melted.
5. Sprinkle with cilantro; cut into 8 wedges. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 (2 slice) servings.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of The Beef Checkoff.