Easy Pepperoni Pizza Recipe with Hot Honey

Hot honey is having its moment! And there’s no better way to enjoy it than on a pepperoni pizza. This hot honey pepperoni pizza is the perfect sweet-and-spicy flavor combination for your next pizza night. 

We’re topping crispy, chewy pizza dough with rich pizza sauce, spicy pepperoni, melty cheese and a generous drizzle of hot honey.

The combination of salty, spicy, sweet and creamy takes an ordinary pizza to the next level. And the best part? You don’t need a fancy pizza oven to make this hot honey pizza recipe at home!

Why We Love this Recipe

• Sweet and spicy: Hot honey adds just the right amount of sweetness and heat to balance the salty, spicy pepperoni.
• Easy to customize: Add red pepper flakes, fresh basil or even goat cheese for even more flavor.
• No pizza oven required: You can make awesome pizza right in your own oven!
• Perfect for pizza night: Once you have your dough and toppings ready, this comes together quickly.
• Restaurant-style flavor: A drizzle of spicy honey makes homemade pizza taste like something you’d order at your favorite pizzeria.

Ingredients

• Refrigerated pizza dough. While homemade pizza dough is certainly amazing, most of us want quick and easy. For us, there is store-bought dough. Most grocery stores make their own fresh dough that comes in a plastic bag, and this is a great option. If not, there is always the Pillsbury pizza dough in a tube. And did you know that most pizza places will sell you their dough? We get our doughs for $1 a piece from our local pizza spot. Just walk in and ask! 
• Mozzarella cheese. For best results, I recommend grating your own whole milk mozzarella cheese. 
• Ricotta cheese. Whole milk ricotta is going to be creamier than the part skim variety, but both will work. 
• Pizza sauce. Not to be confused with pasta sauce or marinara sauce, pizza sauce is thicker and richer. Grab a store-bought jar or try my easy recipe for pizza sauce.
• Pepperoni. Loads of options here, from pre-sliced pepperoni to turkey pepperoni to super trendy cupping pepperoni. Use whatever you like! 
• Semolina flour. This will keep the pizza from sticking to the stone or baking sheet. In a pinch, regular flour can be substituted. 
• Hot Honey. It’s so easy to make your own hot honey, which allows you to control the heat. Try my recipe and  use it so many things! For an easier shortcut, buy hot honey at the grocery store. 

How to Make Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza

Preheat the Pizza Stone

If you want a crispy crust, this step is a must! We want that stone to be piping hot when we place the pizza on it, so give it about 45 minutes in a 500F degree oven. 

Assemble the Pizza

While the stone is preheating, go ahead and assemble your pizza. Start by sprinkling semolina flour onto your pizza peel or parchment paper. Then, stretch out your room temperature pizza dough to a rough square or rectangle shape. 

Spread the pizza sauce almost to the edges of the dough, followed by the mozzarella cheese. Finish with the pepperoni slices and dollops of ricotta cheese. 

Bake the Pizza

Once your pizza stone is preheated, quickly open the oven and slide your pizza onto the pizza stone. Close the oven door and bake your pizza until it’s golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

Tips for Making the Best Pizza

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1. Let the dough come to room temperature. Cold dough is difficult to work with and tends to spring back when you try to stretch it. Let your dough sit at room temperature before shaping.

2. Don’t use too much flour. A lightly floured surface is all you need. Too much flour can prevent the crust from developing that delicious golden brown exterior.

3. Stretch, don’t roll. Gently stretch dough from the center outward, leaving a slightly thicker border around the edges for a puffy crust.

4. Turn up the heat. Pizza needs a very hot oven. Be sure to preheat your pizza stone for at least 30–45 minutes so the cooking surface is thoroughly heated.

5. Don’t overload the pizza. A thin layer of pizza sauce followed by cheese and pepperoni is all you need. Too many toppings can make the crust soggy.

6. Use quality cheese. I recommend using whole milk cheeses for maximum creaminess and meltiness. 

7. Make your own hot honey. If you don’t have store-bought hot honey, it’s easy to make. Find my easy recipe here. 

8. Finish with the hot honey after baking. This is important! Drizzle the spicy honey over the hot pizza once it comes out of the oven. 

What if I don’t have a pizza stone?

No pizza stone? No problem! An upside down baking sheet or sheet pan works well.

For the crispiest crust, preheat the baking sheet in the oven before adding your pizza. 

You can also use a cast iron skillet. Check out my easy recipe for cast iron pan pizza here.

What if I don’t have a pizza peel?

If you don’t have a pizza peel, here’s an easy work around: Assemble your pizza directly on a piece of parchment paper. Once the toppings are added, carefully transfer the parchment and pizza onto your preheated baking surface.

Storage Instructions

Allow your leftover pizza to cool to room temperature before storing it. Place the slices in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.

For best results, reheat your pizza in a skillet, cast iron pan or oven rather than the microwave. 

When you make this hot honey pepperoni pizza, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

For more pizza recipes, try these: 

• Naan Pizza with Pesto and Sun Dried Tomatoes
• High Protein Cottage Cheese Pizza
• Perfect Pan Pizza in Cast Iron