Hawaiian Pizza

By
Anita Schecter
Anita Schecter_BW
Anita Schecter
Professional recipe developer, food photographer, and blogger with more than a decade of experience creating Middle Eastern recipes.
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Updated on 08/26/22
Hawaiian pizza recipe

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 14 mins
Total: 19 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 1 pizza
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
374 Calories
10g Fat
53g Carbs
18g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 374
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 32mg 11%
Sodium 839mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 53g 19%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 9mg 47%
Calcium 189mg 15%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 372mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Is there a subject as divisive and controversial as the addition of pineapple to pizza? It certainly ranks right up there with topics that inspire strong opinions for and against. Pineapple on pizza is not just a topping choice like pepperoni or extra cheese—it's a position that must be defended.

We are certainly not going to weigh in on this controversy, but should you happen to enjoy this particular pizza variety, it's easy to make at home. Hawaiian pizza is typically topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, sliced ham, and pineapple. Some people also sprinkle on a bit of cooked bacon. The combination of savory and fruity toppings smells delicious from the oven and might even convert a few anti-pineapple family members.

Despite its name, Hawaiian pizza was not invented in Hawaii. A Greek-born Canadian named Sam Panopoulos created it for his restaurant back in 1962 as a result of his experiences with the sweet and savory flavors of Chinese food. The name Hawaiian actually came from the brand of canned pineapples that he used in the first recipe.

Even though the pizza wasn't a big hit right away, the flavor combination played on the popularity of all things Hawaiian and tiki culture in the 1960s and soon became a local sensation. The unlikely flavor combination, though it still has some detractors, is still a popular favorite in many pizzerias. If you enjoy sweet and savory flavor combinations, then chances are you'll like Hawaiian pizza.

Ingredients

  • 1 (10- to 12-ounce) ball pizza dough, homemade or store-bought

  • 1/2 cup pizza sauce, homemade or store-bought

  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, part-skim or whole milk

  • 1/4 pound sliced cooked ham

  • 1 cup well-drained pineapple chunks, fresh or canned

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 500 F.

    Ingredients for Hawaiian pizza recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  2. On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to about a 12-inch round. You can also stretch it using your hands. Note that it does not need to be a perfect circle, but aim for an even thickness.

    Roll out pizza dough

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  3. Move the dough to the baking sheet and spread the pizza sauce evenly across the top of the dough. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then layer on the sliced ham and pineapple chunks.

    Move dough to baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  4. Reduce the oven temperature to 475 F and bake for approximately 13 to 14 minutes. The dough should be cooked through, and the cheese fully melted.

    Hawaiian pizza

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Recipe Variation

Outside of the traditional way to make Hawaiian pizza, explore these additional toppings: bacon, onions, chicken, olives, and pepperoni. Or whatever your taste buds desire.

Tips

  • Either canned or fresh pineapple chunks work fine for this recipe. You can also be extra fancy and layer on circular pieces of pineapple instead of chunks.
  • Keeping the pineapple on top prevents the juices from making the pizza soggy, and the fruit gets a nice bit of char during cooking.

How to Store and Freeze Leftover Pizza

Got leftover pizza? If planning to eat it in the near future, go ahead and put the pizza in a plastic storage bag and into the fridge. Otherwise, take those slices and double wrap them up in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil (to avoid freezer burn), or put them in an airtight plastic container. Frozen slices of pizza will last for up to two months.

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