Which hot sauce for pizza? Match it to the toppings

Margherita: leave room for tomato and basil

With a simple margherita, begin with a sauce whose flavor you already know. A pepper-led or gently garlicky sauce is a useful starting point if you want to keep the tomato, mozzarella and basil prominent. A strongly smoky sauce will change the character more noticeably.

Add the sauce to a separate piece after baking. You can compare it with a plain piece before seasoning the remaining slices. The same approach works for the other combinations below.

Mushrooms and roasted vegetables: a garlic accent

A garlic chili sauce is one option for pizza with mushrooms, onion or roasted peppers. A McCormick for Chefs recipe takes a similar direction, combining garlic hot sauce with vegetables and mozzarella. Try the combination with your own favorite garlic sauce.

Decide whether you want a thin pepper sauce with garlic or a thicker condiment. If the pizza already contains plenty of garlic, a more pepper-led recipe may suit you. That adds heat without repeating the strongest flavor on the pizza.

Chicken and pepperoni: when you want smoke

Try chipotle sauce on chicken pizza, especially if you enjoy smoky flavors. In a TABASCO recipe, chipotle sauce seasons the chicken before it goes onto pizza with peppers and cheese. That also shows how smoke can be introduced while preparing the toppings.

With pepperoni, consider whether you want a fuller aroma or mainly some extra heat. Try a smoky sauce for the first, or a simpler pepper sauce for the second. If the cheese or meat is already smoked, more smoke may dominate the combination for your taste.

Cheese and sweet-salty toppings: try fruit

A mango or pineapple hot sauce is an idea for people who enjoy cheese with sweet accompaniments. Try that direction with a cheese pizza or one topped with ham. Check sugar content and the description: a fruity aroma does not always mean a noticeably sweet sauce.

Ooni’s spicy Hawaiian pizza is another inspiration, bringing together pineapple, ham, pepperoni, jalapeño and hot sauce. Its fruit is a pizza topping; using a fruity sauce is our suggestion for exploring that sweet-salty combination. You do not need both if you prefer less sweetness.

From your usual pizza to a particular bottle

Pick one flavor that fits the pizza you order most often. Check heat separately: garlic, smoky and fruity sauces can all vary widely in strength. A familiar heat level makes it easier to focus on the flavor combination.

In ScovilleAtlas, the Pizza and flavor tags beneath the title open the relevant atlas filters. Compare ingredients and available heat information on the sauce’s product page, then check the shop’s offer. Look for a bottle you would want to use with your next pizza order.

Sources

1. Cholula Chili Garlic Vegetable Pizza — McCormick for Chefs
2. Chipotle Chicken Pizza — TABASCO
3. Spicy Hawaiian Pizza — Ooni

Find your next sauce

Match flavor and heat to the dish you are making.