This Hot Honey Pizza recipe was born out of years of Friday night pizza nights in our house, when we needed a zero stress for the cook and a happy family to kick off the weekend! The no-knead dough mixes up in minutes, rises while you go about your day, and bakes into a golden, crispy crust that rivals takeout. It's topped with melty mozzarella, crispy bacon, fresh arugula, and a drizzle of sweet and spicy honey (it's one of our favorite Hot Honey Recipes).
When we first started this Friday night tradition, we almost always made this Pepperoni Pan Pizza. But adding a spicy kick has been our latest obsession! For another easy pizza night recipe, check out Store Bought Flatbread Pizza!
We work hard around here to only share recipes that are tested, consistent, and genuinely loved by our family. This one fits the bill! Plus it's truly budget-friendly, which is always a plus.
Pizza is a classic for any and all sports viewing events for a reason. It's a crowd-pleaser! Check it out and many more favorites on our whole list of Game Day Recipes!
Why this recipe is great
- No-Knead Dough: The best pizza doughs need time to rest on the counter or in the fridge. This one is no different, but it doesn't require kneading. Just mix and let it be.
- Cast Iron Skillet: I've tried making pizza all the ways: on the grill, on a pizza stone, and in a pizza oven, but I always go back to a cast iron skillet. It gives that nostalgic pan pizza crust and is the easiest way to get dinner ready after a busy week.
- Exciting New Flavor: Recently, we drizzled hot honey on our skillet pizza, and it's become a fun new twist on an old favorite.
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Ingredients for hot honey pizza
This dough only requires a few pantry staples and the toppings are easy to find at your local grocery store. Quantities are listed in the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.
- Flour: Bread flour is a must for this recipe, but if you don't have any on hand you can make your own with all-purpose flour and vital wheat gluten.
- Yeast: Instant yeast gives the dough flavor and provides the lift it needs to create a chewy crust.
- Salt: Kosher salt is just salty enough.
- Oil: Olive oil provides gets flavor.
- Pizza sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade recipe. One of our favorites is Trader Joes.
- Cheese: Freshly shredded part-skim mozzarella melts the best. Fresh mozzarella has too much liquid for this recipe.
- Bacon: A really good smokey bacon cooked to just crispy.
- Arugula: The peppery flavor is made for this flavor combination.
- Hot Honey: Use your favorite store-bought or our own homemade hot honey recipe. We like Mike's Hot Honey and Savanah Bee Company Hot Honey.
How to make homemade hot honey pizza
This is a very easy recipe, but it does require you to do a quick step, wait a while, and then do the next step. Here are the 4 quick steps:
- Mix dough in a bowl. Wait a minimum of 8 hours.
- Oil pan and then hands. Then place dough into pan. Wait about 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 550ºF. Gently press dough into the sides of the skillet and top with sauce, cheese, and bacon.
- Bake for 12-20 minutes.
My favorite method is to make the dough the night before, but if doing it on the morning of here is how it might look:
- 8:00 am - Mix up dough (5 minutes)
- 4:00 pm - Put dough into greased pans (5 minutes)
- 6:00 pm - Press out and place toppings (10 minutes)
Combine the flour, water, salt, and yeast into a glass bowl. The best way to measure the flour is with a digital scale.
Look for a shaggy dough that isn't too wet or dry. My favorite tool is this dough whisk, but if you don't have one a rubber spatula or wooden spoon will work. Cover and allow to rise.
After sitting on the counter, covered, for at least 8 hours, it will have risen, but it will be flat on the top. If you make dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls, this dough will not have the puffy taut look that they do. That's ok. All this time sitting will help make a flavorful crust.
Begin by putting a tablespoon of olive oil in the 12 inch cast iron skillet. The oil is what helps create the crispy crust.
Then put a tiny bit of oil on clean hands, which will help the dough slip off easily. Gently pat the dough out into a circle, but it will not reach the edges. Cover again fwith a tea towel or plastic wrap and leave in a warm place.
After two hours the dough will have risen and should be reaching the outer edges of the pan. Gently pat it out so the the dough reaches the sides.
Spread the pizza sauce around the pan leaving a half inch boarder. I like to use a small gravy ladle but the back of a spoon is a good choice as well. Sprinkle a generous layer of cheese evenly around and then top with bacon pieces.
Bake at 550ºF until top is golden and the cheese is melty. Use a spatula to lift up the edge of the pizza to look underneath. If the bottom isn't deeply golden brown, pop it onto a stovetop burner over medium-high and wait 2-5 minutes for the bottom to finish crisping.
Hint: Allow the pizza to cool for 5-10 minutes before dressing with the arugula. Otherwise it will wilt. Drizzle entire pizza with hot honey according to your preference.
Variations and substitutions
- Bread flour: If you don't have bread flour on hand, adding in a little bit of vital wheat gluten to all-purpose flour is a fine substitute. Quantities are listed in the card below.
- Bacon: Pepperoni slices, prosciutto, or sausage are all good choices. I like to bake my own bacon, but bacon bits are a nice shortcut.
- Cheese: Pre-shredded mozzarella will work, but it doesn't melt as well. Just keep that in mind.
- Baby Arugula: If all you can find is the regular size then chop it a bit before topping to the pizza. Smaller pieces are easier to eat.
What to serve with hot honey pizza
There are so many choices when asking what sides to serve with pizza. Here are a few of our favorites.
How to store and reheat
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. I suggest letting it cool before putting the lid on to avoid excess condensation building up.
To reheat it and restore the crispy crust, heat your cast iron skillet on the stove over high heat. While it is heating up, warm your slices of pizza in the microwave until they are about 70 percent warm (I find this takes 1-2 minutes in my microwave, but everyone's is different).
Immediately place the slices in the hot pan on the stove and leave them undisturbed for 1-2 minutes, until the bottom is crispy and the toppings are warmed through.
How to make hot honey for pizza?
This homemade spicy honey recipe is a mix of red pepper flakes and fresh peppers. The combination of peppers gives it a well rounded flavor and just enough heat. Plus it is super easy to make!
FAQ
Spicy honey gets drizzled on after baking the pizza. Doing so after baking ensures that it retains its sweet heat without getting cooked off.
Making sure the pizza is done is pretty simple. Use a spatula to gently lift up the bottom and check to see that the crust is a golden brown color.
Once the pizza has cooled completely, it can be stored in an airtight container or placed into a large sip top bag. Keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Tips and tricks
- When adding water to the dough, do so carefully. You want it to be moist but not too wet.
- Before moving the dough to the pan, put just a tiny bit of oil on your hands to ensure it doesn't stick.
- Preheat the oven for at least 20 minutes. A really hot oven is essential for creating the perfect crust.
- Allow the pizza to cool for 5-10 minutes before topping with the greens and hot honey.
More hot honey recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Hot Honey Pizza Recipe
Equipment
- dough whisk optional
Ingredients
Pizza Dough Ingredients
- 10 m oz bread flour see substitution notes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- scant ½ teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 cup cool water plus 1-2 tablespoons more, if needed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Hot Honey Pizza Toppings
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 3-4 slices bacon cooked and diced, about ½ cup chopped
- 1 cup baby arugula
- 2 tablespoon hot honey homemade or store-bought
- red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
Dough
- Mix bread flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl. Add in water until you have a shaggy dough that is well hydrated but not wet. If the dough is looking to dry, add in a tablespoon at a time until it looks like the picture in the post. Cover and wait overnight or at least 8 hours.10 m oz bread flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, scant ½ teaspoon instant yeast, 1 cup cool water
- Prep the skillet by putting 1 tablespoon oil in the bottom of the skillet and spread around. Carefully dip clean hands into the oil and remove the dough from the bowl and place in the middle of the skillet. Gently press it out then gently flip it over and gently press out. It won't reach the edge of the skillet. Cover and let sit for 2 hours.1 tablespoon olive oil
Top and Bake
- About an hour before wanting to serve, then move rack to bottom of oven and preheat the oven to 550℉ for at least 20 minutes. Remove the cover from the skillet and gently press the dough out the the edge of the pan. Leaving a half inch border, spread the pizza sauce evenly. Sprinkle on the cheese and bacon.½ cup pizza sauce, 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, 3-4 slices bacon
- Bake for 12-20 minutes. When the top looks golden brown and bubbly, pull the skillet our of the oven and carefully check the bottom crust by lifting up with a spatula. If it isn't as brown as it should be, place it on a stovetop burner set to medium-high for 2-5 minutes. Once both the top and bottom are done, carefully remove the pan pizza to a cutting board using two spatulas to lift it out. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Once slightly cooled, top with baby arugula and drizzle with hot honey. Cut and serve with additional red pepper flakes as desired.1 cup baby arugula, 2 tablespoon hot honey, red pepper flakes
Notes
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- When adding water to the dough, do so carefully. You want it to be moist but not too wet.
-
- Before moving the dough to the pan, put just a tiny bit of oil on your hands to ensure it doesn't stick.
-
- Preheat the oven for at least 20 minutes. A really hot oven is essential for creating the perfect crust.
-
- Allow the pizza to cool for 5-10 minutes before topping with the greens and hot honey.
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- Bread flour: If you don't have bread flour on hand, adding in a little bit of vital wheat gluten to all-purpose flour is a fine substitute. To make your own bread flour: Add 10 ounces of all-purpose flour to a bowl. Remove 1 tablespoon flour add 1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten and stir. Proceed with the recipe as written.
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- Bacon: Pepperoni, prosciutto, or sausage are all good choices. I like to bake my own bacon, but bacon bits are a nice shortcut.
-
- Cheese: Pre-shredded mozzarella will work, but it doesn't melt as well. Just keep that in mind.
-
- Baby Arugula: If all you can find is the regular size then chop it a bit before topping to the pizza. Smaller pieces are easier to eat.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Debbie says
We loved this combination! Thanks for sharing!