7 Best Recipes for Hot Honey Sauce for Pizza

If you want to up your pizza game, hot honey sauce is the best way to do it! It’s the perfect blend of sweet and spicy to give your pizza a delicious and elevated flavor. In this article, I’m showing you seven easy recipes to make honey hot sauce for pizza. Whether you prefer mild or extra hot, buttery or tangy, these variations will give your pizza a whole new flavor twist!

hot honey sauce with peppers, sriracha, and other ingredients

What is Hot Honey Sauce?

Hot honey sauce is a sweet and spicy condiment made by combining honey with chili peppers or hot sauce. It’s gained popularity for its ability to add a flavorful kick to savory dishes, especially pizza. The heat level is easy to control, and the sauce itself only takes minutes to whip up at home.

There are so many variations of the classic sauce, but they’re all basically the same delicious idea: honey + heat = hot honey magic.

Why You’ll Love These Hot Honey Sauce Recipes

You only need a handful of pantry staples, and the heat is so versatile you can use anything you have in your kitchen
Every version is customizable to your heat preference
Pairs well with pizza, chicken, roasted veggies, sandwiches, and more
Perfect make-ahead condiment to keep on hand

If you love this recipe roundup, you might also enjoy these other easy recipes from the blog: Pepperoni Pizza with Hot Honey, Hot Honey Chicken Pizza, and Hot Honey Ricotta Pizza.

What You’ll Need to Make Homemade Hot Honey Sauce

The ingredients vary depending on the recipe and your preferences, but here are some common elements across all variations:

Honey: The base of the sauce. I recommend raw or local honey for the best flavor.
Chili flakes or hot sauce: Adds the spicy component. You can use red pepper flakes, sriracha, cayenne, or even jalapeños.
Butter (optional): Creates a rich, savory balance.
Apple cider vinegar: Adds a tangy brightness to balance the sweet and spicy.
Garlic (optional): Brings in a savory punch.

How to Make Hot Honey Sauce

Making this honey hot sauce at home is super simple. Here’s the general process:

Heat the honey: Add honey to a small saucepan over low heat.
Add spice: Stir in your chili flakes, hot sauce, or peppers of choice.
Simmer: Let it gently simmer for 5–10 minutes to infuse the honey.
Optional ingredients: Add butter, garlic, or vinegar if your recipe calls for it.
Strain (if needed): For a smooth sauce, strain out the solids.
Cool and store: Let the sauce cool slightly before transferring to a clean jar.

Storage & Make Ahead Tips

The sauce can be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to one month. If the sauce thickens, just warm it up slightly before using.

Expert Tips & Tricks

Use a small saucepan and keep the heat low to avoid burning the honey
Strain for a smoother sauce, or leave the bits in for extra flavor
Add a pinch of salt to balance sweetness
Use gloves when handling hot peppers to avoid skin irritation

How to Use Hot Honey

Hot honey sauce is incredibly versatile. Try it on:

Pizza (of course!)
Roasted vegetables
Fried chicken or chicken tenders
Cheese boards
Biscuits or cornbread
Breakfast sandwiches

Now let’s get into the best part: the recipes!

7 Best Hot Honey Sauce Recipes

Hot Honey with Sriracha

This is a must try recipe for hot honey sauce with sriracha. It's the easiest sauce to make and is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy!

Make this easy hot honey with sriracha

Hot Honey Sauce with Butter

This hot honey recipe is the perfect sweet and spicy condiment to add to just about anything. It takes pizza and sandwiches to a whole new level of deliciousness. This recipe results in the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and savory–due to the addition of salted butter. Honey and butter are always a great pair.

Learn how to make hot honey with butter

Garlic Hot Honey

Sweet honey is combined with fresh garlic and chili flakes to create the most delicious spicy hot honey sauce. The balance of flavors in this homemade sauce are so addictive, and it takes minutes to make with just 4 ingredients.

Try this hot honey with garlic

Tangy Hot Honey Sauce

What makes this hot honey recipe so effective is its perfect balance of sweet and spicy elements. The natural richness of the honey is enhanced, not overwhelmed, by the heat from the chili peppers, creating a harmonious blend that's both enticing and addictive. The addition of apple cider vinegar introduces a subtle tanginess that cuts through the sweetness, making the honey even more palatable and giving it a bright flavor profile.

Make this tangy hot honey

Spicy Hot Honey Sauce

This homemade hot honey sauce is the perfect sweet and spicy topping to drizzle over everything from pizza to wings and even making some hot honey fried chicken. It's made with honey, chili flakes, apple cider vinegar, and cayenne pepper.

Make this spicy hot honey

Jalapeno Hot Honey Sauce

This jalapeno honey sauce is an addictive sweet and spicy concoction that’s perfect for drizzling over your pizzas, fried chicken and so much more. It takes just two ingredients and barely any kitchen time to put this delicious and spicy honey together. It is totally a step up above your regular honey- you’ve got to give it a try if you love spicy food.

Try this jalapeno hot honey recipe

Honey Hot Sauce

This homemade honey hot sauce recipe is sweet, spicy, crunchy, and delish, but calling it a recipe is a bit of a stretch I realize. Simply combine honey and chili crisp, and warm it for a few seconds in the microwave. That’s it!

Try this honey hot sauce recipe

FAQs About Hot Honey Sauce

What is the difference between hot honey and honey hot sauce?

They’re often used interchangeably, but technically, hot honey is honey infused with spice, while honey hot sauce may include more vinegar and resemble a traditional hot sauce in texture and acidity.

Can I make hot honey sauce without heating it?

Yes! Try the chili crisp and honey combo for a no-cook version.

How spicy is hot honey sauce?

That’s up to you! Use mild chili flakes for gentle heat or go bold with habaneros or ghost peppers.

Is hot honey sauce keto-friendly?

Traditional hot honey sauce is made with honey, which is not keto-friendly. But you can use a sugar-free honey alternative if needed.

Can I use hot honey sauce on desserts?

Absolutely! A little drizzle over vanilla ice cream or biscuits is surprisingly delicious.

Now you know how to make hot honey sauce for pizza! You can top just about any pizza with hot honey sauce. Some of my favorite pizzas are pepperoni pizza with hot honey, hot honey ricotta pizza, and hot honey chicken pizza!

Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these hot honey sauce for pizza recipes!

Other recipes you may enjoy: