I'm sharing an easy pepperoni pizza recipe with incredible pizza sauce. It uses store-bought pizza dough and Don Pepino Pizza Sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian salami, and fresh basil. This easy homemade pizza is perfect for pizza night or any night of the week. Over a year ago, I traveled to Italy with my daughter; it was a trip of a lifetime. The food was amazing, especially the pizza. It had simple ingredients, amazing sauce, and a thin crust. I decided to make homemade pizza in the same artisan style, while keeping it easy.

Easy Pepperoni Pizza

Easy pepperoni and salami pizza with melted mozzarella and fresh basil, sliced on a wooden cutting board.

Don Pepino Recipe Challenge

If there is one thing I love, it's getting creative in the kitchen, entering recipe challenges, and using new (to me) food products. This is my entry for the Don Pepino's Recipe Challenge. I did receive the pizza sauce for free to include in my recipes. #TheSauceBehindTheSlice #MadeWithDonPepino #DonPepinosRecipeChallenge

A little history about their sauces

For over 70 years, Don Pepino® has been the go-to choice for pizzerias and home kitchens alike. Their sauces are slow-cooked in small batches, using a time-honored family recipe — made with simple ingredients and old-world care.

The flavors of this pizza sauce are tasty. They make for the perfect base for pizza and other pizza-inspired recipes. They also have more products perfect for cooking with; find out more later in the post.

Ingredients for Easy Pepperoni Pizza

7 ounces Don Pepino Pizza Sauce
1 16 ounce Ball Store-Bought Pizza Dough (gluten-free or regular)
8 ounces Pre-sliced Fresh Mozzarella Cheese (½ of a 16-ounce package)
12 slices Pepperoni (about 1 ounce)
6 slices Italian Salami (about 1 ounce)
9 leaves Fresh Basil
1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Recipe Note: I used one 16-ounce ball of store-bought gluten-free pizza dough to make one pizza with 4 large slices. You can also use regular store-bought or homemade pizza dough. Since pizza dough varies in size, adjust the sauce, cheese, and toppings to fit your dough and personal preference.

You can easily adapt the toppings to your liking. Bake the pizza on a pizza pan or sheet pan lightly sprayed with olive oil, or bake it on a pizza stone prepared according to the manufacturer’s directions

How To Make Pepperoni Pizza With Salami and Fresh Basil

Unbaked pizza topped with Don Pepino Pizza Sauce, pepperoni, Italian salami, fresh mozzarella, and basil.

My store-bought pizza dough instructions were to preheat the oven to 425°F

Instructions

Step-by-step collage showing pizza dough topped with sauce, pepperoni, Italian salami, fresh mozzarella, and basil.

Preheat the oven to the temperature recommended on the pizza dough package. Prepare your pizza pan or baking sheet as directed.
Roll out the pizza dough as evenly as possible and place it on the prepared pan.
Spread the Don Pepino Pizza Sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edge for the crust.
Arrange the pepperoni, quartered Italian salami, and mozzarella evenly over the sauce.
Top the pizza with the washed, patted-dry basil leaves.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or according to the directions for your type of pizza dough. Check the pizza halfway through baking, as baking times can vary.
Near the end of the baking time, carefully lift the edge of the pizza with a spatula and check the bottom of the crust. The pizza is ready when the crust is fully baked and lightly browned, and the cheese is melted.
Remove the pizza from the oven. If desired, sprinkle it with crushed red pepper flakes. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before cutting into four large slices.

Freshly baked pepperoni and Italian salami pizza with melted mozzarella and basil before slicing.

Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Easy pepperoni and salami pizza cut into four large slices and ready to serve.

Serve it with additional Don Pepino pizza sauce for dipping!

Pepperoni and salami pizza slice on a plate with Don Pepino Pizza Sauce for dipping and the sliced pizza in the background.

Don Pepino Pizza Sauce is perfect for dipping too! It's so good! The key to a good artisan pizza is quality ingredients and simplicity.

Their sauces are made with 100% Jersey Fresh tomatoes. No concentrate or citric acid added. No sugar, no fillers, no shortcuts. Fully prepared, ready to use

Where to Find Don Pepino Products? And more about the company.

Don Pepino

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonPepinoSauce/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdonpepino
Website: www.violetfoods.com/

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Easy Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Print or save the recipe card below to make this easy pepperoni pizza with salami, fresh mozzarella, and basil.

Yield: 4 large slices

Easy Pepperoni Pizza With Salami and Fresh Basil

No Ratings

This easy pepperoni pizza is made with store-bought pizza dough. Don Pepino Pizza Sauce, soft mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, salami, and fresh basil. It's a simple, customizable pizza-night recipe that makes 4 large slices. Add crushed red pepper flakes after baking for an optional spicy finish.

Ingredients

7 ounces Don Pepino Pizza Sauce
1 (16 ounce) ball store-bought pizza dough, gluten-free or regular
8 ounces pre-sliced fresh mozzarella cheese (½ of a 16-ounce package)
12 slices pepperoni (about 1 ounce)
6 slices Italian salami (about 1 ounce)
9 leaves fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat the oven to the temperature recommended on the pizza dough package. Prepare your pizza pan or baking sheet as directed.
Roll out the pizza dough as evenly as possible and place it on the prepared pan.
Spread the Don Pepino Pizza Sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edge for the crust.
Arrange the pepperoni, quartered salami, and mozzarella evenly over the sauce.
Top the pizza with the washed, patted-dry basil leaves.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or according to the directions for your type of pizza dough. Check the pizza halfway through baking, as baking times can vary.
Near the end of the baking time, carefully lift the edge of the pizza with a spatula and check the bottom of the crust. The pizza is ready when the crust is fully baked and lightly browned, and the cheese is melted.
Remove the pizza from the oven. If desired, sprinkle it with crushed red pepper flakes. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before cutting into four large slices.

Notes

Dough and Yield Note: For this recipe, I used one 16-ounce ball of store-bought gluten-free pizza dough, which made one pizza with 4 large slices. You can use regular store-bought or homemade pizza dough instead. Since dough sizes may vary, be sure to adjust the amount of sauce, cheese, and toppings to fit the size of your pizza and your personal preference.

Cheese Note: For this recipe, I used 8 ounces of soft, pre-sliced fresh mozzarella and placed the slices with a little space between them. Adjust the amount of cheese to match your pizza size and your desired cheesiness. Shredded mozzarella is also a great option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use homemade pizza dough?

Yes! You can use homemade pizza dough or regular store-bought dough instead of gluten-free dough. Because dough balls vary in size, adjust the amount of sauce, cheese, and toppings as needed.

Can I use shredded mozzarella instead of fresh mozzarella?

Yes! Shredded mozzarella works well in this recipe. Add enough to cover the pizza evenly without overloading the crust. You can combine fresh and shredded mozzarella if desired.

Can you make pizza vegetarian?

Yes! Leave off the pepperoni and Italian salami, and replace them with sliced tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, or your favorite vegetables. If using fresh tomatoes, pat the slices dry before adding them to prevent excess moisture from making the pizza soggy.

Another pizza favorite is just sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil; it's called a Margarita pizza. There are so many variations you can make!