Modern American Cuisine
Homestyle Pizza Tray Bake with Pepperoni and Hot Honey
A thick, juicy, and incredibly aromatic sheet-pan pizza that captures the essence of an American Friday night family dinner. The dough is thick yet wonderfully airy, with a crispy buttery bottom crust that supports a rich, herb-infused tomato sauce and a double blanket of gooey mozzarella cheese. Spicy pepperoni slices curl into crisp little cups during baking, pooling savory oils, while a final drizzle of spicy hot honey delivers an explosive balance of sweet, salty, and zesty notes. This hearty, crowd-pleasing bake is made to be sliced into big squares and shared right away.
Dishday
Recipe overview
- Total time
- 35 min
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cooking
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Cuisine
- Modern American Cuisine
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 620 kcal
- Protein
- 26 g
- Fat
- 28 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
Step by step
Method
- 01
In a large bowl, dissolve the dry yeast in warm water
In a large bowl, dissolve the dry yeast in warm water. Add one tablespoon of olive oil, the flour, and a teaspoon of salt, then knead into a soft, slightly sticky dough. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour until doubled in size.
- 02
While the dough rises, prepare the sauce and toppings
While the dough rises, prepare the sauce and toppings: mix the crushed tomatoes with dried oregano, garlic, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Grate the mozzarella cheese coarsely to ensure a thick, even cover.
- 03
Make the hot honey
Make the hot honey: combine the honey and chili flakes in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat for 2-3 minutes without boiling so the honey infuses with the pepper's heat, then set aside.
- 04
Generously grease a large baking sheet with the remaining oli…
Generously grease a large baking sheet with the remaining olive oil. Transfer the dough onto the sheet and gently stretch it with your fingers to fill the tray, pushing from the center out without popping the air pockets.
- 05
Preheat the oven to its maximum temperature of 240°C
Preheat the oven to its maximum temperature of 240°C. Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1 cm border around the edges for a nice crust.
- 06
Sprinkle the sauce with the grated mozzarella, then layer the…
Sprinkle the sauce with the grated mozzarella, then layer the pepperoni slices tightly across the top. Laying them close together ensures every single bite is packed with savory meat.
- 07
Bake in the hot oven for 12-15 minutes
Bake in the hot oven for 12-15 minutes. The pizza is ready when the cheese is completely melted and bubbling with golden spots, and the edges of the crust turn deeply golden and crisp.
- 08
Remove the hot pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle th…
Remove the hot pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle the prepared hot honey over the bubbling surface, creating glossy, sweet lines across the entire tray bake.
Dishday
Useful advice
Cooking tip
You can prepare the pizza dough up to 24 hours in advance and let it cold-ferment in the fridge to develop a more complex flavor and deeper structure.
How to serve
Slice the pizza into large squares right on the baking sheet and serve immediately while the cheese is beautifully stretchy. Pairs great with a garlic dipping sauce.
How to store
Wrap any leftovers in foil and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Reheat in a dry skillet under a lid to restore the bottom crust's signature crunch.
Note
If you don't have store-bought hot honey, simply warm honey with red pepper flakes and a drop of apple cider vinegar on low heat.
