Pesto Pepperoni Pizza

This Pesto Pepperoni Pizza is the ultimate easy Summer dinner! It’s fresh, seasonal and so delicious thanks to an extra drizzle of hot honey at the end! 

Okay, so this is a pepperoni pizza recipe, y’all. Believe me when I say that I *know* this isn’t rocket science…..but I just needed somewhere to put it because I’m obsessed and I feel like it’s truly just the easiest most delicious recipe and I’m at a stage in my life where I absolutely need easy and delicious recipes so naturally, I had to tell you (my friends!) all about it. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe: 

First off, like I said above….it’s SO easy. We have pizza at least once a week in our house and it’s just a staple. This recipe in particular, is a SUPER staple because it uses 1) store bought pizza crust and 2) store bought pesto. Simplicity is key here, y’all! 

Of course, I can’t go without saying that I am aware we are in the middle of Summer and your basil plant is probably blooming like no other so YES, you can absolutely use homemade pesto in this recipe. But if you’re like me and have been chasing around an 18 month old all day … you can also use store bought 😉 

The combination of the super flavorful garlicky pesto with the spicy and chewy pepperoni…chef’s kiss deliciousness! 

I also got those super cute little pepperonis that when baked at a hot enough temp, make little pepperoni cups! They aren’t necessary of course but I really enjoyed them. 

There is a LOT of cheese on this pizza….which is of course, just the best!

And finally, the trend that I am hopping along probably way too late but I don’t really mind…HOT HONEY. 

What is hot honey, you ask? Well, it’s pretty simple. It’s honey…that’s spicy, ha! Honey mixed with chili peppers all in a cute little squeeze bottle to add this spicy sweet flavor to literally everything you love to take it up a notch of deliciousness. 

The hot honey really adds a LOT here – it plays with the spiciness of the pepperoni, adds to the mellow mozzarella cheese and of course, the sweetness of the honey is a great pairing with the ultra flavorful pesto. 

Overall, each bite is just delightful and you’re going to want to make it ASAP. So let’s get into what you need for this recipe! 

Ingredients You Need: 

• Store bought pizza crust – my favorite is Jus-Rol! I like that they are rolled out onto parchment paper so the clean up is minimal. But any store bought should work – just be sure that it’s thawed and ready to bake! 
• Mozzarella Cheese – a must! You can use a blend of mozzarella and monterey jack if preferred but I think mozzarella is the best here. 
• Pepperoni – whatever brand is your favorite! 
• Store bought pesto – once again, whichever brand is your favorite! 
• Hot Honey – I love the “Mike’s” brand – a drizzle of this adds so much flavor! 
• Fresh Basil + Parmesan Cheese + Red pepper flakes – these are all for garnish, not necessary but I think each adds so much flavor. 

How to Make Pizza in 5 Simple Steps: 

1. Preheat the oven to 425 (*NOTE this is what my pizza crust packaging says, follow the directions on the brand you choose!). Roll out the pizza crust onto a pizza stone, baking sheet etc. 
2. Add the pesto on top of the pizza crust and spread out evenly on top of the crust. 
3. Freshly shred the mozzarella cheese and add on top of the pesto. 
4. Top with the pepperoni. Bake for 15 minutes or so OR until crust is golden and cheese is melted (*note, once again, i’m following the pizza crust instructions!)
5. Remove and if desired, add a generous drizzle of hot honey on top. Top with fresh basil, freshly grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes and ENJOY while hot!

Best Pizza Making Tips: 

I think that freshly shredded cheese melts the best so I recommend taking the time to buy the block of cheese and then shredding it yourself before you add it to the pizza….worth it! 

I also enjoy layering my toppings….so like, instead of putting all of my cheese down and then ALL of my pepperoni on top, put some pepperonis down, then some cheese and repeat until it’s gone. I think that spreads it all out better! 

Less is more when it comes to the pesto! The pesto *can* be super oily – so you aren’t going to want to put 2 cups on your pizza crust. Even the ½ cup I used leaked out a little bit and I had to use a paper towel to blot out some of the oil once it was baked. Just a reminder! 

If you’ve never had hot honey before, try it on one slice before you put it all over your pizza…just to be sure that you enjoy it! 

This pizza is best eaten warm of course – go ahead and grate the parmesan all over the pizza once it’s done and add on the red pepper flakes and fresh basil if desired. 

Storing Leftovers / Reheating:

Store leftover pizza in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I personally love to re-heat my pizza in the oven, I think it makes it taste the most delicious vs. just microwaving it. 

I usually place my pizza directly on the rack with aluminum foil under it and cook it at 350 for a few minutes before switching it onto LOW broil for a few minutes, being sure that I am watching it to make sure it doesn’t burn. It really helps melt the cheese and whew, it’s good! Try it out! 

And of course, you can always eat it cold as well. 

I hope you all love this easy pizza recipe as much as I do…cheers! XO -Haylie 

Did you enjoy this recipe? Here are a few others you might like: 

Buffalo Chicken Flatbread Pizzas 

Loaded Pesto Veggie Pizza 

Peach BBQ Chicken Pizza 

Thank you so much for following along here, friends! Want to see more? Be sure to follow ourbalancedbowl on Instagram and tag me with your photo if you end up making a recipe! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the Our Balanced Bowl Facebook page! Like a recipe that you saw? Follow me on Pinterest here! I always love to see your re-creations! If you do make a recipe, it would make my whole day if you were to rate and comment so I can get your feedback! Lots of love! – Haylie