Bee Sting Pizza (Honey Soppressata Pizza)

Make this cult favorite New York pie at home! This Honey Soppressata Pizza recipe is spicy & sweet, drizzled with and spicy chili oil & honey.

A pizza with meat, cheese and tomatoes on a cutting board.

What is Bee Sting Pizza?

Bee Sting Pizza is inspired by a famous Brooklyn pizzeria, Roberta's. This very popular pizza is wood-fired, topped with fresh mozzarella, sliced Soppressata, and a spicy honey finish (we added sausage to ours for an extra kick). Roberta's pizza dough is world famous, and we have done our best to create a homemade version that is pretty darn close. Like our Red Pepper Pizza with Arrabbiata Sauce, it packs a bold flavor punch.

Hint: The key to this recipe is to use fresh ingredients, starting with the sauce. My signature pizza sauce is made with only four ingredients, and I believe it is the perfect base for any homemade pizza.

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Ingredients

ingredients for bee sting pizza on marble surface
  • PIZZA CRUST: 16" pizza crust (use our pizza dough recipe or a store bought dough).
  • PIZZA SAUCE: (see recipe below)
  • SOPPRESSATA: sliced soppressata
  • SAUSAGE: Italian sausage, chopped and cooked (or try our Homemade Meatballs!)
  • MOZZARELLA CHEESE: we like fresh mozzarella cheese (small mozzarella balls work great) but shredded mozzarella is okay too
  • HONEY: use local honey if you can
  • CHILI-INFUSED OIL: use store bought chili oil or make your own (see recipe below).
  • BASIL: fresh basil leaves for topping

*see recipe card for quantities.

How to make homemade pizza sauce

  1. In a medium saucepan, add ¼ C olive oil, crushed garlic, and a 26 oz. can of crushed tomatoes. Cover with a lid and heat over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Remove from heat and remove lid.
  3. This sauce will be enough for 2-3 pizzas. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
whole pizza with meat, cheese and basil on a wooden cutting board.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 500°F.
  2. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface and place on a pizza pan or baking sheet.
  3. Add toppings: top pizza with a cup or so of sauce. Cover with sausage, soppressata and cheese.
  4. Cook: place in oven for 8-10 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
  5. Drizzle: Remove pizza from oven and drizzle with honey, chili oil and torn basil leaves.

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🔪 Expert Tips

  1. USE A HOT OVEN: The secret to making homemade pizza taste as good as the pizzeria type is to have a very hot oven. We fire ours up to 500°F.
  2. USE A PIZZA STONE: Homemade pizza crust tastes best when it's cooked on a pizza stone. In order to get the perfect crust (crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside) remember to keep the oven door closed so that the oven maintains its high temperature.
  3. USE FRESH MOZZARELLA: We like fresh mozzarella for this recipe, but you can use shredded mozzarella in a pinch. Ricotta cheese works well too!
sliced pizza on parchment paper with wine & bowl of chili oil

Variations

  • MAKE IT MEATLESS: a margherita version of this pie tastes divine. Omit the sopressata and sausage. Add a bit more cheese and a generous drizzle of chili oil and honey.
  • CHEESE: fresh mozzarella works great, but ricotta cheese or shredded mozzarella also taste great on this pie.
  • TOPPINGS: substitute (or add) homemade meatballs, pepperoni, or arugula.
  • MAKE IT FAST: using a good, refrigerated store-bought pizza dough cuts the time in half. It tastes pretty darn good too.
  • MAKE AHEAD: make the pizza sauce ahead of time and use a store bought dough for fresh homemade pizza in minutes!

FAQ

I don't have time to make homemade pizza dough. Will store-bought dough work?

Yes! In fact we use it all the time. Try to buy the refrigerated pizza dough (found in deli or dairy sections of the supermarket. This is closest to homemade dough.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Yes! Substitute vegetarian sausage or meat crumbles for sausage, or omit the meat all together. We recommend a generous drizzle of chili oil and fresh basil leaves for a Margherita style pie.

I can't find chili oil. Can I make my own?

Yes! See recipe below, or drizzle regular olive oil + chili flakes onto the pizza at the end.

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A pizza with meat, cheese and basil on a wooden cutting board.

Bee Sting Pizza (Honey Soppressata Pizza) recipe

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5 from 4 reviews

Make this cult favorite New York pizza at home! The perfect combination of spicy & sweet, this pie combines sopressata, chili oil, and a drizzle of honey.

  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 1 pizza 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 16" pizza crust (find the recipe for homemade pizza dough in our Pierogi Pizza post, or cut some time by using a store bought dough).

FOR THE SAUCE:

  • 1 26 oz can of crushed tomatoes
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • ¼ C olive oil
  • 6-8 basil leaves

FOR THE PIZZA:

  • 4 oz soppressata, sliced
  • 4 oz chopped and cooked sausage
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp chil- infused oil

Instructions

To make the sauce:

  1. In a medium saucepan, add ¼ C olive oil, crushed garlic, and tomatoes. Cover with a lid and heat over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Remove from heat and remove lid.
  3. This sauce will be enough for 2-3 pizzas. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.

To make the pizza:

  1. Preheat oven to 500°F.
  2. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface and place on a pizza pan or baking sheet.
  3. Top with a cup or so of sauce and cover pizza with sausage, soppressata and cheese and place in oven for 8-10 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
  4. Remove from oven and drizzle with honey, chili oil and torn basil leaves.

Notes

MAKE YOUR OWN CHILI OIL: fill a container with olive oil. Add chili peppers (we like Vietnamese Chili peppers, (bird's eye chili peppers) Serrano peppers, or banana peppers). Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to several months) in an airtight container. 

  • Author: Superman Cooks
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Category: Entrée
  • Cuisine: Italian American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 slices
  • Calories: 926
  • Sugar: 12.3 g
  • Sodium: 2093 mg
  • Fat: 63.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 46.3 g
  • Protein: 43 g
  • Cholesterol: 126.7 mg

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