Diavola Pizza is a spicy pizza recipe that delivers big on flavor and heat! This fiery and delicious pizza is known for its spicy salami, chili pepper kick and melty mozzarella cheese. It's easy to make and is the perfect way to kick your pizza night up a notch. Whether you're hosting a pizza party with friends or just hunkering in with the family for a movie and pizza night, this Spicy Pizza Diavola is a great addition to the mix!
At our house, it's a family tradition to have pizza night nearly every week, usually on the weekends. We love setting up the table in front of our big screen (we call it "dinner theater"!), popping in a movie and enjoying some good old fashion family time. And while we often order pizza from one of our favorite local pizzerias, I'll also often make our own. Depending on where you order your pizza from, it can be a lot cheaper, and using a few shortcuts (like premade dough or sauce) can make the process quick and easy. And, you can experiment with lots of different pizza topping combinations, which we love.
Pizza Diavola is one of our favorites, since we're a spice loving family. The crispy crust topped with spicy salami, melty fresh mozzarella cheese, kalamata olives, and hot chili peppers make this a regular in our pizza night lineup. (And for those of you who are worried about too much heat, don't fret. You can totally adjust the heat here to your preference.)
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Why This Recipe Works
The Spicy Diavola Pizza, also known as "Pizza Alla Diavola," is the best pizza if you crave something spicy. The combination of spicy salami, chili peppers, and a hint of hot honey at the end creates an irresistible combination of flavor. Here's why this recipe works so well:
- Spicy flavor: The star of this spicy pizza is the spicy salami and chili peppers, which infuse every bite with a delightful kick.
- Balanced ingredients: The fresh mozzarella and basil provide a cooling contrast to the heat, creating a good balance of flavors.
- Easy to make: I love taking a few shortcuts when making pizza. I'll often buy a pre made pizza dough from the grocery store or my local pizza joint, and whip up a batch of this five minute pizza sauce to make the pizza making process super easy. (Of course, feel free to make your own quick pizza dough if you prefer!)
- Customizable: You can adjust the level of spiciness to your liking, making it perfect for both spice lovers and those who prefer a milder kick. (My youngest is actually the only one in our family who is NOT a fan of heat, so we definitely adjust his portion of the pizza to have less spicy peppers.
- Hot Honey Drizzle: The optional hot honey drizzle at the end adds a sweet and spicy element, taking this pizza to the next level.
Ingredients
For this Spicy Diavola Pizza, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Pizza dough. You can use homemade pizza dough or store-bought. Our local grocery store carries fresh pizza dough in their deli section which always turns our great and cuts the pizza-making process in half. Another tip is to check with your local pizza shop. If you ask, they'll often sell you a serving of dough for just a few bucks (and some will even roll it out for you! Easy!)
- Cornmeal. If you're a pizza aficionado, you'll know that cornmeal is often used not in the dough, but to dust the pizza pan or stone. This magic ingredient helps to make the crust nice and crispy on the bottom.
- Pizza sauce. You can use homemade sauce or store-bought. I often find store-bought brands a bit too sweet so usually make my own using this simple recipe. You just toss everything into a blender and puree - it literally takes 5 minutes and you'll have enough pizza sauce for 2-3 pizzas.
- Fresh mozzarella. I usually buy the logs of mozzarella from the deli that are pre-sliced.
- Spicy salami. There are lots of varieties out there. I used Hot Sopressata but Spicy Calabrese is also a popular type of hot salami you might find in grocery stores.
- Hot chili peppers. You can make these as spicy or as mild as you wish depending on the variety you choose. I used a couple of spicy serrano peppers. Calabrian chili peppers, habaneros, or even hot cherry peppers are all also an option. Feel free to adjust the amount here too, or omit the peppers altogether if the spice is too much for you.
- Kalamata olives. The olives provide a briny contrast to the spiciness of the salami and hot peppers.
- Basil. You'll add this at the end for a fresh burst of flavor.
- Hot honey for serving. This is totally optional, but we love drizzling hot honey over pizza, and this spicy pizza is made for it.
How To Make This Spicy Diavola Pizza With Hot Salami
Now that we have all our ingredients ready, it's time to dive into the preparation and cooking process. We'll start with the pizza dough and work our way up to creating the perfect Spicy Diavola Pizza.
- Preheat the oven. Begin by preheating your oven to a scorching 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven during preheating. The pizza stone will help create that crispy, restaurant-style crust. (And if you don't have a pizza stone, not to worry - see the FAQs below.)
- Roll out the pizza dough. While the oven is heating up, roll out your pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Prepare the pizza sauce. Next, prepare your pizza sauce. You can make a homemade sauce or use your favorite jarred sauce. Set aside.
- Prepare the pizza toppings. Slice the fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, and Kalamata olives. Thinly slice the chili peppers, and chop the fresh basil. Having all your toppings ready makes assembling the pizza a breeze. Note - if your mozzarella is a bit wet, pat it with a paper towel to remove some of the moisture. This will help keep it from making the pizza too soggy.
- Pre bake the dough. By now, your oven should be at 500 degrees. Carefully remove the pizza stone and sprinkle it with cornmeal to help make the bottom of the dough crisp and to prevent sticking. Place the rolled-out dough on the stone and lightly poke it all over with a fork. Pre baking the dough ensures that the crust won't become too soft or soggy from all your toppings. Pre bake the dough for about 2 minutes, then remove with a pizza peel.
- Add the toppings. After the pre baking, remove the pizza stone from the oven and quickly add your toppings. Start with the thin layer of sauce, followed by the mozzarella, olives, chili peppers, and spicy salami.
- Bake. Return the pizza to the oven, and bake it for approximately 8 minutes on the middle rack. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't overcook. The goal is to have the cheese nicely melted, and the crust golden and crispy.
- Cool and drizzle. Once your Spicy Diavola Pizza is done, carefully remove it from the oven (also, take it off the pizza stone with a pizza peel to avoid overcooking). Let it cool for a few minutes on a large tray or cutting board. While it's cooling, add the chopped basil on top for a burst of fresh flavor. For an extra layer of spiciness and sweetness, consider drizzling hot honey over the pizza before serving.
Variations and Substitutions
The beauty of making pizza at home is the freedom to get creative. Here are some variations and substitutions you can try with your Spicy Diavola Pizza:
- Dough variety. Experiment with different types of pizza dough, such as whole wheat, cauliflower, or gluten-free crusts. I also sometimes like adding extras into the dough, like garlic or dried herbs.
- Cheese choices. While mozzarella is classic and typically used in authentic pizza Diavola recipes, you can try other cheeses like Provolone, Pecorino-Romano, or Parmesan, for unique flavors.
- Adjust the spice. If you're just not a fan of the spice, use a less spicy salami and either omit the spicy peppers or substitute with a red bell pepper
- Meat substitutes. If you're not a fan of spicy salami, you can use pepperoni, chorizo, or any other favorite cured meat.
- Make it veggie! Make a vegetarian version by omitting the meat and loading up on your favorite veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, and red onion.
Get creative and have fun with it. After all, that's the best part about making pizza at home!
Frequently Asked Questions
"Pizza Diavola" and "Pizza Alla Diavola" are often used interchangeably. Both refer to a spicy pizza typically featuring spicy salami and chili peppers. The main difference might be regional or personal variations in the recipe. In Italian, pizza diavola means "deviled" pizza. A great name for this spicy dish.
Yes, feel free to use homemade or store-bought dough, or even a store-bought crust, like Boboli for this spicy pizza recipe.
You can control the spiciness by using milder or hotter chili peppers and adjusting the quantity of spicy salami. If you prefer a milder version, use red bell peppers or sweet peppers instead.
If you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a baking sheet or a cast-iron skillet as an alternative. Place it in the oven while it preheats to help achieve a crispy crust.
Of course! Simply preheat your pizza oven to 500 degrees and bake as directed.
Any leftovers can be stored in a container in the refrigerator and should keep well for 3-4 days.
Reheating pizza can be tricky since it’s hard to get it back to that crispy delicious fresh-out-of-the-oven state. Here’s what I do: Arrange the leftover pizza slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place them in a cold oven. Preheat the oven to 380 degrees. Once the oven reaches 380, your pizza should be mostly reheated (if not, leave it in for a couple more minutes). I find this method to work well for most pizzas. It gets the pizza slices nice and crispy again without overcooking.
If you make this Spicy Diavola Pizza Recipe With Hot Salami, let me know what you think in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram - I love to see your creations!
Try These Other Fun Pizza Recipes!
- Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza
- Fall Harvest Pizza
- Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese and Everything Bagel Pizza
- Healthy Breakfast Flatbread With Eggs
- 5-Minute Low Sodium Pizza Sauce
- BBQ Chicken Flatbread
- Anchovy Pizza
- Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
Recipe
Spicy Diavola Pizza Recipe With Hot Salami
Ingredients
- 1 serving pizza dough
- 1 tbsp cornmeal
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella sliced
- ½ cup spicy salami sliced
- ¼ cup Kalamata olives sliced
- 2 small serrano chili peppers (or other hot pepper variety), sliced
- ½ cup fresh basil choped
- hot honey for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Add a pizza stone to a cold oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
- While the oven is heating, roll out the pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface, stretching the dough to fit your pizza pan or stone.
- Prepare the pizza sauce, or use jarred, store-bought sauce. (Note - this pizza sauce is great and takes just 5 minutes and a few staple ingredients from your pantry.)
- Prepare the pizza toppings - slice the mozzarella, slice the salami, if needed, slice the hot peppers, chop the basil and slice the olives. (If the mozzarella seems very "wet", simply pat it with a paper towel to remove some of the moisture. This will help prevent your pizza from becoming soggy.
- Once the oven reaches 500, remove the pizza stone and sprinkle it with cornmeal. Add the rolled out dough and lightly poke all over with a fork to allow steam to rise through. Pre bake the dough for 2 minutes without any toppings. Pre baking the dough helps to prevent the dough from becoming too soft or soggy from your toppings.
- Remove the pre baked dough from the stone using a pizza peel, and quickly add your toppings. Spread a thin layer of the sauce across the crust. Add the cheese, the sliced olives, the chili peppers and the spicy salami.
- Return the pizza to the oven and bake for 8 minutes in the pizza oven, or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the pizza from the oven (take it off the pizza stone too using a pizza peel or it will continue cooking on the bottom) and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Top with the chopped basil.
- Serve with a drizzle of hot honey, if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the spice. Can't handle the heat? Adjust the spice by using a milder pepper and salami.
- Use a pizza stone for an extra crispy crust.
- Use pre-made dough for a time-saver. You can usually find pre made pizza dough in the deli section of most grocery stores, or you can purchase it from your favorite pizzeria.
Stacy P. says
We absolutely loved this homemade diavola pizza. It was so unique and better than anything we have had restaurants. We kept it spicy and used pre-made dough. This pizza too no time to make, so it's going to be a Friday night dinner.
Lei says
I hosted a pizza party, and this spicy Diavola pizza with hot salami became an absolute star of the evening! I'm not really confident with homemade pizzas but thanks to your easy-to-follow recipe, it saved our evening! Will be making at again soon!
Tia says
Your photos are so pretty of this pizza. But more importantly, I tried out the recipe and the flavor is PERFECT. There's the perfect amount of spice in the sausage and omgggg hot honey!!
Sarah Jenkins says
Thank you Tia! Thats so nice to hear!
Jennifer says
I'm a pizza enthusiast, and this Diavola recipe is one of the best I've tried. The spice from the salami is just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah Jenkins says
Glad you liked it Jennifer!
Beverly says
This pizza was so pretty and delicious. Just the right amount of spice and the hot honey was a great addition. I would have never thought to pair that with pizza, but it totally worked!
Sarah Jenkins says
Thanks Beverly!
Wendy says
Pizza night got a whole lot more delicious with this recipe! Tried this combination out last weekend and we all loved it! The hot honey was a surprising addition but I love the sweet and salty balance of the whole thing.
Sarah Jenkins says
Thanks Wendy! Glad you liked it!