Delicious Hot Honey Flatbread Pizza

If you ask me, hot honey is having its moment right now.

This weeknight-friendly flatbread pizza hits all the right notes with its mix of sweet and spicy flavors. The combination of melty cheese and crispy crust gets even better when drizzled with warm, spiced honey.

It’s built on a base of store-bought flatbread (though you can definitely make your own) and topped with whatever ingredients you have in your fridge. The magic happens when that honey starts to bubble and caramelize in the oven.

It’s a quick and easy dinner that feels a little fancy, perfect for busy evenings when you want something more interesting than regular pizza.

What Kind of Honey Should I Use?

For hot honey recipes, you’ll want to start with a mild-flavored honey that won’t overpower the spicy elements. Regular clover honey from the grocery store works perfectly fine here, though orange blossom or wildflower honey can add subtle floral notes if you’re feeling fancy. Just avoid strongly flavored varieties like buckwheat or eucalyptus honey, as they might compete with the other ingredients. The most important thing is making sure your honey is in liquid form – if it’s crystallized, just place the jar in warm water for a few minutes until it flows smoothly. And here’s a pro tip: measure your honey with a slightly oiled measuring cup or spoon, and it’ll slide right out without sticking.

Options for Substitutions

This pizza recipe is really adaptable and you can make several easy swaps:

• Honey: Regular honey works great, but you can also use maple syrup or agave nectar. Just keep in mind that each will bring its own unique sweetness to the dish.
• Hot sauce: Any hot sauce you have in your fridge will work! Sriracha, Tabasco, or even gochujang (Korean red chili paste) can add their own special kick. Start with small amounts and adjust to taste.
• Flatbreads: No flatbreads? No problem! Try using naan, pita bread, or even regular pizza dough. Just adjust your cooking time accordingly – store-bought pizza dough might need a few extra minutes.
• Mozzarella: While low-moisture mozzarella is best for pizza, you can mix in or substitute with other melty cheeses like provolone, fontina, or even a pizza cheese blend.
• Pepperoni: Feel free to swap pepperoni with other cured meats like salami, ham, or prosciutto. For a vegetarian version, try using mushrooms or plant-based pepperoni alternatives.
• Pizza sauce: Out of pizza sauce? Use marinara sauce, or make a quick version by mixing tomato paste with some water, olive oil, and Italian herbs. You could even try pesto for a different flavor profile.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making flatbread pizza is ending up with a soggy crust – to prevent this, pre-bake your flatbread for 2-3 minutes before adding toppings, which creates a barrier against the moisture from the sauce and cheese. When it comes to the hot honey, avoid drizzling it before baking as it can burn quickly and become bitter; instead, wait until the pizza comes out of the oven to add this sweet-spicy finishing touch. Another common mistake is overloading your flatbread with toppings, which can prevent even cooking and make the center too heavy – stick to a thin layer of sauce and a moderate amount of cheese that still allows you to see some flatbread underneath. For the crispiest results, bake your pizza on the lowest oven rack at 450°F (230°C), and let it rest for just 1-2 minutes before slicing to keep the crust from getting steamy and soft.

What to Serve With Hot Honey Pizza?

Since this spicy-sweet pizza already packs a flavor punch, I like to keep the sides simple and cooling. A crisp Caesar salad or fresh garden salad with ranch dressing helps balance out the heat from the hot honey and jalapeños. For a casual pizza night, I usually put out some garlic knots or breadsticks (yes, more carbs – but who’s counting when it’s pizza night?). If you want to lean into the spicy theme, serve the pizza with some buffalo wings or spicy chicken tenders, and don’t forget to have some cold beverages ready to cool things down!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: If you’ve got leftover hot honey flatbread pizza, let it cool completely before storing. Place the slices in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. The hot honey might make the crust a bit softer over time, but it’ll still taste great!

Freeze: Want to save some for later? Once cooled, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and pop them in a freezer bag. They’ll keep well for up to 2 months in the freezer. Just remember that the texture might be a little different after freezing.

Reheat: To bring back that crispy crust, reheat your pizza in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly. For quick reheating, use a microwave, but the crust won’t be as crispy. Pro tip: placing a cup of water in the microwave while reheating helps prevent the crust from getting too chewy!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	8-10 minutes
Total Time	18-25 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1400-1600
• Protein: 60-70 g
• Fat: 80-100 g
• Carbohydrates: 130-150 g

Ingredients

For the hot honey:

• 1/4 cup honey (I use Local Hive honey for its rich flavor)
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes (red pepper flakes for a subtle heat, or use Aleppo for more flavor)
• 1 tsp hot sauce

For the pizza:

• black olives and fresh jalapeños (thinly sliced fresh jalapeños for a kick without too much heat)
• 2 garlic-infused flatbreads
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella (low-moisture, a blend of whole milk and part-skim is ideal)
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce (I prefer Rao’s Homemade pizza sauce for its quality ingredients)
• 12 slices pepperoni (thinly sliced, 2-inch diameter)

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 220°C/430°F.

Place the oven tray inside to ensure it gets nice and hot.

This step is crucial as it helps in crisping up the base of the pizza during baking.

Step 2: Prepare the Hot Honey

In a small bowl, combine your desired amount of honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes.

Warm this mixture in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds until it’s slightly heated, then give it a good stir.

Let it cool down before using.

If you prefer, you can warm this mixture on the stove by bringing it to a simmer in a small pot and then removing it to cool.

Adjust the heat level by varying the amount of chili flakes and hot sauce to suit your taste.

Step 3: Assemble the Pizzas

Spread a generous layer of pizza sauce over your pizzas.

Follow with a layer of mozzarella cheese, then evenly layer pepperoni, jalapeños, and olives on top of the sauce.

To prevent the pepperoni from curling, you can place a few extra pieces of mozzarella cheese over them.

Step 4: Bake the Pizzas

Carefully take the hot tray out of the oven and place your assembled pizzas on it.

Return the tray to the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the pizzas are lightly charred and the cheese is golden and bubbly.

Step 5: Finish with Hot Honey

Once the pizzas are done baking, drizzle with your preferred amount of the prepared hot honey.

You can also save any leftover hot honey for future use.

Serve the pizzas hot and enjoy the delightful combination of spicy and sweet flavors!