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    Home » Pizza

    Hot Honey, Arugula & Pepperoni Pizza

    March 19, 2021 by Lima 24 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A simple, yet effortlessly stunning pepperoni pizza, covered with fresh arugula and drizzled with ribbons of chili-spiced hot honey. The pizza comes together in minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dinner or a quick, company ready appetizer. Bake it at your hottest oven setting for a pizza that goes from everyday to extraordinary. Not a fan of pepperoni or need a pork free version? No problem - just use turkey pepperoni or slices of your favorite sausage.

    A simple, yet effortlessly stunning pepperoni pizza covered with handfuls of fresh arugula and drizzled with ribbons of chili-spiced hot honey.

    What is special about this pepperoni pizza?

    • Its a gourmet spin on the classic pepperoni pizza. A crispy thin crust pizza baked at high heat with sauce and cheese, topped with jalapeno and pepperoni. The pizza is then covered with fresh arugula and drizzled with hot honey which magnifies the intensity of every individual flavor.
    • Prep is super simple - just use store bought pizza dough if you don't have any homemade Thin Crust Pizza Dough or Neapolitan Pizza Dough (chewy) in your fridge. Ideas for mixing and matching ingredients are provided in the next section.
    • Clean up is easy - you just need a baking sheet for this recipe!
    A simple, yet effortlessly stunning pepperoni pizza covered with handfuls of fresh arugula and drizzled with ribbons of chili-spiced hot honey.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    This gourmet pepperoni pizza uses a little bit of several ingredients to create layers and layers of flavor.

    Homemade Pepperoni Arugula Pizza  With Hot Honey Ingredients
    • Pepperoni is typically made from cured pork and beef and seasoned with a spicy chili pepper like paprika. Both regular and porkless pepperoni (made with turkey) are sold in grocery stores in the United States. Turkey pepperoni tastes like regular pepperoni as both meats are cured using similar processes. The only difference is that turkey pepperoni has a lower percentage of fat. Not a fan of pepperoni? Just use slices of your favorite sausage.
    • Fresh peppery arugula adds a wonderful spicy bite that helps cut through the saltiness of the pepperoni. The closest substitute for arugula is watercress which still has a peppery flavor. However if neither are available, finely chopped baby kale, baby spinach or spring greens will also work. The idea is to add a fresh "green" counterbalance to the taste and texture of the spicy, chewy pepperoni.
    • Hot Honey is basically an infusion of thinly sliced dry or fresh chili peppers with honey. The honey helps intensify and tie all the flavors of this pizza together. If you dont have hot honey, just use use regular honey and some crushed red chili flakes to simulate the taste or for a decidedly unique taste, drizzle some Nuoc Cham - Vietnam's famous dipping sauce.

    How to make this pizza

    The full instructions are available in the recipe card at the bottom, however, here is a look of what’s involved.

    Pizza Method

    Pepperoni FAQS

    What is pepperoni pizza made of?

    A basic pepperoni pizza is made up of a pizza base or crust, pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni. Pepperoni is an American salami which is typically made of a mixture of cured pork, beef, paprika. Pepperoni is typically served in thin slices and is bright red in color.

    Do you need to cook pepperoni before putting it on pizza?

    No, slices of pepperoni are put directly onto the pizza.

    Where can I buy pepperoni?

    Pepperoni is available in most grocery stores in the United States.

    Is turkey pepperoni any good?

    Turkey pepperoni tastes almost the same as regular pepperoni because it is processed and contains the same spices as regular pepperoni. One great advantage of turkey pepperoni is that it has a lower fat content so there is less oil on the baked pizza.

    What if I hate pepperoni? Is there something I can use instead?

    I would use slices of your favorite sausage. If that is not available you can use something which is also salty and intensely savory, like anchovies.

    A simple, yet effortlessly stunning pepperoni pizza covered with handfuls of fresh arugula and drizzled with ribbons of chili-spiced hot honey.

    Other gourmet pizza ideas

    I love making homemade pizza because you can explore creative topping combinations and are not limited to a menu. Below is a list of some of our favorite topping combinations:

    ANCHOVY, GOAT CHEESE AND FIG PIZZA

    Anchovies, goat cheese and figs aren't just toppings for salads - add this delicious combination on top of a scrumptiously crisp, thin crust pizza and you have a homemade gourmet pizza that everyone will be raving about!

    SHITAKE MUSHROOM & THYME PIZZA

    Shitake Mushroom Pizza

    ANCHOVY, FIG AND PECORINO WHITE PIZZA

    If you love anchovy pizza, this one is for you. The nutty pecorino crusted pizza crust and sweet ripe figs offers the perfect contrast to salty anchovies.

    Finally, if you make this recipe..

    I'd love to hear how it went - please leave a comment and rate this recipe. Above all, I love hearing from all of you and will do my best to answer each and every comment!

    A simple, yet effortlessly stunning pepperoni pizza covered with handfuls of fresh arugula and drizzled with ribbons of chili-spiced hot honey.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 13 votes

    Hot Honey, Pepperoni & Arugula Pizza

    A simple, yet effortlessly stunning pepperoni pizza, covered with fresh arugula and drizzled with ribbons of chili-spiced hot honey. The pizza comes together in minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dinner or a quick, company ready appetizer.
    Prep Time7 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time17 minutes mins
    Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main
    Cuisine: Italian, PIZZA, QUICK AND EASY
    Keyword: gourmet pizza, homemade pizza, hot honey pizza, pepperoni arugula pizza, pepperoni pizza
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 237kcal
    Author: Lima

    Equipment

    • Baking Tray

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz pizza dough homemade or store bought
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon pizza sauce
    • ½ cup romano freshly grated
    • 1 cup mozzarella
    • 1 jalapeno sliced
    • 15-18 slices pepperoni
    • ½ cup shredded parmesan
    • 1 cup arugula
    • 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes optional
    • 1 tablespoon hot honey

    Instructions

    • Rest the dough for at least an hour outside the refrigerator to bring the dough to room temperature before preparing the pizza
      Anchovy, Goat Cheese & Fig Pizza Step 1
    • Preheat oven to 500° F.
      Anchovy, Goat Cheese & Fig Pizza Step 2
    • Pour out the dough. Punch and press into a round shape. Stretch out the dough by rotating on your knuckles and letting gravity do the rest.  Make sure the dough is stretched as evenly as possible. Press out as many of the bubbles as possible with your fingertips and mend holes by pressing the dough. Place the pizza onto a baking sheet (no flour dusting is necessary for the baking sheet.
      Anchovy, Goat Cheese & Fig Pizza Step 3C
    • Add the toppings evenly on the pizza base in the following order: olive oil, pizza sauce, romano, jalapeno, pepperoni and parmesan.
      hot-honey-pizza-pre-bake
    • Put the pizza in the bottom of the oven.  Bake for 6 minutes.
      Hot-Honey-Pizza-Bottom-Rack
    •  Put the pizza in the middle rack of the oven.  Bake for 6 minutes.
      Hot-honey-pizza-middle-rack
    • Immediately garnish with arugula, hot honey and red chili flakes (optional). Serve immediately.

    Notes

    • Tips for using store bought pizza dough 
      • Keep the dough in the store bought bag in the deep freezer until ready to use.
      • Defrost overnight in the refrigerator in the bag.
      • For optimal results, let the dough sit out for at least an hour so it is at room temperature before stretching into the pizza base.
    • Assemble the pizza right before baking to avoid a soggy crust.
    • If a hole appears in your dough, push it back in and seal the dough.
    • Brush the entire dough surface with olive oil.
    • There is no need to dust the baking sheet with flour.  However if  like a bit of a crunchy, nutty texture – a little semolina on the bottom of the dough does wonders.
    • To reheat pizza, place the pizza on a hot skillet (I use cast iron), cover and heat on medium heat for a 3 minutes.  The cheese will melt and the crust will become crispy again.  Microwaving pizza results in the crust becoming soft and soggy.

    Nutrition

    • Recipe yields approximately 8 servings. The nutrition information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator and is intended for informational purposes only and should be used as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.Nutrition - Pepperoni Pizza with Hot Honey
    « Fig, Pecorino & Anchovy Pizza
    Nuoc Cham - Classic Vietnamese Dipping Fish Sauce »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Biana

      June 12, 2021 at 6:19 pm

      5 stars
      This pizza making looks like so much fun! And I love the idea of adding hot honey to it, so unique.

      Reply
      • Lima

        June 13, 2021 at 4:47 pm

        It does add a new twist to pizza!

        Reply
    2. Saif

      April 12, 2021 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      Everybody love pizza. This looks delicious and easy to make. Can't wait to make it this weekend.

      Reply
      • Lima

        April 13, 2021 at 8:18 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Kechi

      April 12, 2021 at 7:46 am

      5 stars
      This Pizza idea sounds so good; I love the idea of hot honey. I will like to make it for my kids. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Lima

        April 13, 2021 at 8:18 pm

        Thank you Kechi!

        Reply
    4. Danielle Wolter

      April 12, 2021 at 6:46 am

      5 stars
      Now this is the kind of pizza I want to be making! So many great ingredients and I am loving the addition of hot honey!

      Reply
      • Lima

        April 13, 2021 at 8:18 pm

        Awesome!

        Reply
    5. Kristina Tipps

      April 12, 2021 at 6:36 am

      5 stars
      Never had hot honey before this but now it's a favorite! This was really good.

      Reply
      • Lima

        April 13, 2021 at 8:19 pm

        Thrilled to hear that you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    6. Jacq

      April 12, 2021 at 4:09 am

      5 stars
      Gosh never thought about adding sweetness to a pizza! Love arugula, or wild rocket as its known in Scotland, on a pizza! Some great ideas here!

      Reply
      • Lima

        April 13, 2021 at 8:19 pm

        Fantastic! Thank you for your note!

        Reply
    7. veenaazmanov

      April 12, 2021 at 12:19 am

      5 stars
      Unique combination and awesome recipe. I love the presentation too. Delicious and yum..

      Reply
      • Lima

        April 13, 2021 at 8:19 pm

        Thank you Veena!

        Reply
    8. Megan Lehr

      March 23, 2021 at 11:34 am

      5 stars
      I love a fancy pizza and this combo with the hot honey was excellent.

      Reply
    9. Neli Howard

      March 22, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      I need to visit you ASAP so I can try this pizza joint! Love this recipe!!!

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 22, 2021 at 3:18 pm

        Thank you Neil!

        Reply
    10. Courtney

      March 22, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      I love this! What a great way to elevate a classic pepperoni pizza. Such great flavour from the honey and the aruglua.

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 22, 2021 at 3:18 pm

        Thank you Courtney!

        Reply
    11. Rachel

      March 22, 2021 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      The flavor combo in this pizza is outta this world! Yum!

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 22, 2021 at 3:18 pm

        Thank you Rachel!

        Reply
    12. Laura

      March 22, 2021 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      Best use of hot honey I've come upon yet. This is such a fun and delicious pizza.

      Reply
      • Lima

        March 22, 2021 at 3:19 pm

        Thank you Laura - I love hot honey!

        Reply
    13. Michelle

      March 22, 2021 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      Now this is my kinda of pizza -- the drizzle of hot honey is such a game changer! I can't have pizza without honey now, it's so delicious!

      Reply

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