Does pineapple belong on pizza? The answer depends on who you ask! Those of us on Team Pineapple defend the tropical fruit’s place on Hawaiian pizza. The pineapple’s sweet and juicy character stands out against the salty cheese and savory ham, giving the pie a delightful sweet-and-salty balance. Pineapple also mirrors the acidity in the tomato sauce, bringing out a brightness that wouldn’t be noticed otherwise. Put it all together, and this pizza proves that pineapple recipes aren’t just for dessert.
If you’re not already a pineapple-on-pizza lover, perhaps you just need to try the right recipe. Our Hawaiian pizza recipe starts with a homemade pizza dough that’s flavorful enough to stand up against the bold Hawaiian pizza toppings. It’s a refreshing take on pizza that may leave you wondering what other types of fruit pizza you can make!
Where was Hawaiian pizza invented?
Hawaiian pizza isn’t actually Hawaiian at all—it originated in Canada. As the story goes, Canadian restauranteur Sam Panopoulos invented pineapple pizza as part of an experiment. He hoped to create interesting new dishes that accentuated sweet and savory flavors. The name “Hawaiian pizza” was inspired by the label on the canned pineapple. The pizza took a while to catch on, but it’s now popular around the world.
Hawaiian Pizza Ingredients
- Homemade pizza dough: We make our dough from scratch with active dry yeast, water, sugar, all-purpose flour and salt. If you’re running short on time, check out our Test Kitchen’s picks for the best premade pizza crust.
- Pizza sauce: Store-bought sauce makes this recipe quick and easy, but you can always use homemade pizza sauce. Make and freeze a batch so the sauce will be ready anytime you want to make a pizza.
- Ham: Use leftover ham or cube a ham steak from the deli.
- Pineapple: Drain the pineapple well and pat it dry to avoid watering down the pizza. And don’t throw away the juice! Use it to flavor beverages like pineapple iced tea or as a marinade for dishes like pineapple pork tenderloin.
- Mozzarella cheese: Freshly grated cheese melts better than pre-shredded cheese, so we recommend grating your own cheese at home.
Directions
Step 1: Proof the yeast
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Stir in the sugar, and let the mixture stand until bubbles form on the surface, five to seven minutes.
Step 2: Make the pizza dough
Add 1-3/4 cups flour and salt to the bowl, stirring until smooth. Add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Step 3: Knead the dough
Turn the dough onto a floured surface. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, six to eight minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning it once to grease the top. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest in a warm place for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Roll out the dough
On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a 13-inch circle.
Transfer the dough to a greased 12-inch pizza pan. Build up the edges slightly.
Step 5: Add the Hawaiian pizza toppings
Top the dough with the pizza sauce, ham, pineapple and cheese.
Step 6: Bake the pizza
Bake the pizza on a lower oven rack until the crust is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Recipe Variations
- Use barbecue sauce: Swap in barbecue sauce for the pizza sauce to accentuate the pineapple’s sweetness.
- Adjust your Hawaiian pizza toppings: Instead of ham, use Canadian bacon, shredded chicken or pulled pork. For a meaty twist, use a combination of two or three meats.
- Make it spicy: Add jalapenos or pickled jalapeno rings to introduce a spicy element to this complex pizza.
- Finish with bacon: Finish the pizza with crispy prosciutto or bacon bits to add texture and boost the salty, savory vibes.
- Add onions: Add thinly sliced red onions before cooking the pizza, or garnish the cooked pizza with chopped green onions.
How to Store Hawaiian Pizza
Store leftover Hawaiian pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. The crust can get a little soggy in the fridge, so reheat the pizza in a 375° oven to restore its crisp texture.
Hawaiian Pizza Tips
How do you make homemade pizza dough for Hawaiian pizza?
The dough used in this Hawaiian pizza recipe can be made with only five ingredients in about 20 minutes. Most pizza dough recipes have to rise or rest for hours, but this dough is designed to come together in the time it takes to preheat the oven. Simply proof the yeast, knead the dough and let it rest while you prepare the Hawaiian pizza toppings. If you’ve never made pizza dough, check out our helpful tips and tricks in this homemade pizza dough recipe.
How do you prevent Hawaiian pizza from getting soggy?
Pineapples are juicy and the added moisture from undrained pineapples can make the pizza crust soggy, so drain canned pineapples well to remove any excess liquid. Then, pat the chunks dry with a paper towel before adding them to the pizza.
