Next Post
Crispy Cauliflower Tacos with Candied Jalapeño Pineapple Salsa.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Calabrian Chili Roasted Red Pepper Pizza. Fresh pizza dough topped with sauce, spicy Calabrian peppers in oil, sweet roasted red peppers, and lots of melty Italian cheese. This pizza has just the right amounts of spice, saltiness, and cheese! Every last bite of this pizza is delicious. And the sesame-topped crust adds a special touch. There never seem to be enough slices to go around!
It’s been a while since our last pizza – and this is our first pizza of the year too! To be honest, this pizza has already made its way to the top of my favorite-pizzas-to-make list.
Growing up my dad would make pizza on either Friday or Saturday nights. But the way he made his pizzas was different from the way I make my pizzas. He’d top his pizza pretty simply. Well, thinking back, he’d also make a “white” pizza, yum. But he would use those pre-baked packaged whole wheat crusts from the store. I think they were called Boboli, my mom would know (copy editor’s note, yes, they were Boboli).
Just the pre-baked crust, olive oil, maybe some dried herbs, so much cheese, and then red bell peppers and pepperoni on top. The whole thing went into the oven until the peppers were charred and the crust was crisp.
Nothing like the pizzas I bake today, but regardless, I loved them. Of course, none of us really knew what we were missing.
When I started cooking and mixing up fresh pizza dough our pizzas changed a lot. Even though I wouldn’t want to go back to the cardboard crusts, I loved my dad’s toppings of roasted red peppers, and he’d also add a ton of chili flakes. His pizzas were so delicious!
This pizza is kind of like my dad’s, only (I think) a little better.
Details
I do make my own dough, but feel free to pick up your favorite store-bought dough. I love the options from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.
If you want to make your own dough, I use the pizza dough recipe from the HBH Every Day cookbook. Just make sure your dough is at room temperature. This will make shaping your pizzas much easier.
Push the dough out, then spread on your favorite pizza sauce. I love to use Rao’s Marinara. Then, add a couple spoonfuls of Calabrian chilies in oil. I order mine on Amazon. If you don’t have fresh chilies, just use chili flakes. Then, add sliced roasted red peppers and dried oregano.
Now the secret – fish sauce. Fish sauce is literally just sardines, which sounds disgusting, yes, but the sauce adds a salty umami flavor that’s DELICIOUS. You do not detect any fishiness, promise.
Don’t skip it. Please!
Finish with cheese. Throw the pizza back in the oven and cook until the cheese is bubbling up and the peppers are crisp on the edges.
And that’s it. Top with dried oregano and honey, then slice, eat, and enjoy!! Pepperoni would be awesome on top too. I’ve made this pizza a few times recently and it’s always a hit!
Looking for other pizza recipes? Here are some favorites
Pull Apart Roasted Garlic Pizza Dip Sliders
Pesto Pizza with Feta Stuffed Crust
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Easy Sheet Pan Tomato Herb Pizza
Pesto Potato Burrata Pizza with Spicy Arugula
Lastly, if you make this Calabrian Chili Roasted Red Pepper Pizza, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Calabrian Chili Roasted Red Pepper Pizza
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 265 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/3- 1/2 pound ball of pizza dough
- sesame seeds, for sprinkling
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons crushed Calabrian chili paste
- 1 jar (16 ounce) roasted red peppers, drained and sliced
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- honey, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 450° F.2. On a lightly floured surface, push the dough out until it's thin (about a 10-12 inch circle). Transfer the dough to a baking sheet. Lightly brush the crust with olive oil, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. 3. Spread the marinara sauce and then the chili paste over the dough. Arrange the roasted red peppers on top. Add the fish sauce, if using, then sprinkle over the oregano. Add the mozzarella and provolone. 4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Remove from the oven and top with a pinch of dried oregano, then honey. Slice and enjoy!
I’m planning on trying this later this week and want to clarify one part of the recipe/instructions. In the photos, it looks like you’re using whole, fresh red bell peppers and fire roasting them before slicing them, but the recipe calls for jarred peppers. Should I use jarred peppers and then roast them? Or should I get jarred roasted peppers? Or use fresh and roast them in my oven? I unfortunately don’t have a pizza oven. Thank you! Can’t wait to try this!
Hey Emily,
You can do either one! I like to roast mine directly over a stove top flame, but you could also do that in the oven. Jarred peppers make it even easier if you don’t want to take that extra step. I hope this helps! xT
Thank you so much!! I ended up using jarred roasted peppers to save the step, though I’m sure fresh would’ve been even better. Either way, this was a huge hit with my husband and I. We love spicy food and love pizza so this was a win-win! I followed the directions exactly as is, for reference. Thanks for the recipe!
This is absolutely one of the best spicy pizza recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Love to hear this Lisa! Thanks so much for making this recipe! Have a great Wednesday! xT
So delicious!! Greetings from Germany 👋🏼🥰
Hi Theresa! Thanks so much for trying this pizza, so glad to hear it was delish! xT
Hello! This looks amazing and we are excited to try this pizza. However we have allergies in relation to seafood and fish. Do you have a good substitute for the fish sauce in this recipe? I usually use soy sauce in dishes, but not sure if it would work in this.
Hi there,
Yes, go ahead and use the soy sauce, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe! xT
THIS WAS AMAZING! We just recently discovered Calabrian peppers and this recipe was a perfect mix of flavors. Highly recommend. Made is is (but without the honey).
Hey there,
Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and I appreciate you making it:) Have a great weekend! xT
Ciao,
I would like to recommend a Calabrian pesto called Nduja. it’s not vegan and super spicy!!!
HOT HOT HOT.
not sure available in US market.
N
Thanks for this recommendation! xT
Hi! Just wondering if there is another type of chili paste I could use since my local grocery store doesn’t carry Calabrian chili paste 🙁
Hi! I was just wondering if you prep the pizza ahead of time would this work or would it turn out soggy? I’m having some girls from work over and don’t want to be prepping once they’re here.
Hi! It would probably get soggy if you prepped ahead of time! xT
Soooo good!
The fish sauce really adds a unexpected umami. Followed recipe as written aside from adding chopped garlic. Yum!
Can’t wait to make again
Thank you so so much for trying out the recipe! So happy to hear that you enjoyed it! xT