This Homemade Hawaiian pizza is a Canadian classic. Slices of ham, pineapples and mozzarella cheese with tomato sauce grace a crusty, light pizza dough that is baked to perfection. The perfect combination of sweet and salty in a slice of pie!
This post was originally published on Sift & Simmer in February 2018. Updated Jan 2021.
Friday nights are pizza nights in my house.
Mention the word "pizza" and my kids come running. I don't know anyone who doesn't like this Italian classic.
There's something about the simplicity and versatility of sauce, cheese, and bread -- you can eat it cold, hot, on-the-run, with a knife and fork, for breakfast, for lunch, or a midnight snack?
What is Hawaiian pizza?
My childhood favourite was Hawaiian pizza -- ham and pineapple with a little mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce on pizza dough.
Did you know that Hawaiian pizza is a Canadian invention?
It's also a contentious topic of debate... whether pineapples belong on pizza?
Anyhow, to make a Hawaiian pizza, you need to make pizza dough.
Pizza dough is literally the foundation of a good pizza -- I prefer a crust that isn't too thick, with some air bubbles, holds up to toppings, is crisp, yet slightly chewy at the same time.
It's a nice light, elastic dough that bubbles up nicely and when cooked on a pizza stone, and gives a perfect amount of "crustiness."
Ingredients you'll need
For the Hawaiian Pizza, you'll need:
- 1 batch of my Everyday Pizza dough
Toppings:
- cooked ham
- mozzarella cheese
- tomato sauce
- pineapples
Cooked ham: I like using cooked deli ham, but if you're feeling fancy, you can use prosciutto (add it on after baking the pizza), Canadian bacon, SPAM, or even streaky bacon.
Mozzarella cheese: pizza mozzarella is great for Hawaiian pizza since it melts well and has less moisture than other cheeses.
Tomato sauce: homemade tomato sauce or jarred works fine. You can even use pasata/tomato puree. Tip: If using jarred sauce or pasata, add a pinch of oregano and basil to kick up the flavour.
Pineapples: my preference is to use fresh pineapples, but it can be hard to find fresh all year round; canned pineapples will work just fine. Just make sure to drain the pineapples well and blot them before adding to the dough.
How to make it
Divide the pizza dough in round balls.
Place a large parchment paper on the work surface.
Stretch out the dough to a disc about 10" in diameter.
Add tomato sauce and the toppings.
Use a wooden pizza peel to transfer the pizza to a baking steel and bake at 500F for 5-7 minutes, until the bottom is crisp and browned.
FAQ's & tips
Do I need a pizza stone/baking steel?
For optimal results, a hot pizza stone or baking steel will give you a crispy bottom.
If you don't have a pizza stone, you can still make great pizza by baking on large baking sheet.
Tip: Use the bottom oven rack, closest to the heating element.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
If you're crunched for time, you can prepare the pizza dough the day before, and stick it in the fridge to slowly rise.
You can also store portioned out pizza dough in the freezer. When you're ready to make it, defrost it in the refrigerator the night before.
Can I use other toppings?
Absolutely. You can customize the pizza to your liking.
Try adding smoky bacon.
If you want to change up the tomato sauce, add a smoky barbeque sauce instead -- it is super delicious!
How to serve & store
Serve the Hawaiian pizza fresh out of the oven.
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Alternatively, you can freeze the leftover pizza for up to 3 months.
Reheat the pizza in the microwave for 30 seconds, or in a 350F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Other recipes you may like
Peking Duck Pizza with Caramelized Onions & Hoisin Sauce
Turkey Pepperoni Cheese-Stuffed Breadsticks
Be sure to let me know if you try out my Hawaiian Pizza recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer and leave me a comment/rating below.
Hawaiian Pizza (Ham & Pineapple Pizza)
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 1 batch Everyday Pizza Dough
Toppings
- 5-6 slices diced cooked ham
- 1 C diced pineapple drained and blotted
- 1 ½ C tomato sauce
- 2 C shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Make 1 batch of Everyday Pizza Dough.
- Add a baking steel or pizza stone to the bottom rack of the oven. Preheat oven to 500°F/260°C.
- Divide the dough into 3 equal balls.
- On a piece of parchment paper, stretch the dough ball into a disc about 10" in diameter.
- Spread a few tablespoon of tomato sauce on the dough, add sliced ham, pineapple, and sprinkle with cheese.
- Use a pizza peel to slide the pizza on the preheated pizza stone/baking steel and bake for 5-7 minutes, until the bottom is crisp and browned.
- Carefully remove pizza and slice. Serve hot.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I just found out a few weeks ago that Hawaiian pizza was Canadian! Go Canada! I love homemade pizza - your dough looks so light and fluffy!! Great work. I'll have to give it a go! Happy National Pizza Day 😉
siftandsimmer@gmail.com
Thanks Katherine! Oh really? Haha, I remember it being a big deal when PM Justin Trudeau was talking about Hawaiian pizza sometime ago... lol. Thanks, it's one of my weekly things to make for the family! Super easy and delicious each time 🙂
David @ Spiced
Interesting! I had no idea that Hawaiian Pizza is a Canadian invention. I mean it makes sense because of Canadian ham - but why isn't it called a Canadian Pizza then? Ah, I digress. I used to not like pineapple on my pizza, but I've grown to enjoy the sweet + savory combination. Also, I'm intrigued by Bobby Flay's pizza dough. I have a pizza dough that I love, but I do enjoy trying other doughs to see the differences. This looks fantastic, Michelle!
Michelle
Haha, yeah I have no idea why they didn't just call it a Canadian pizza... maybe since pineapples are not native to Canada? 😛 Yes, the sweet and salty combo is where it's at!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Your homemade pizza crust turned out absolutely gorgeous! Hawaiian pizza is one of my very favorites.
Kim Lange
I love Hawaiian pizza! Your pizza looks super yummy! Pinning for later!
Michelle
Thanks Kim 🙂
Katerina | Once a Foodie
My kids and I love Hawaiian pizza - the sweeteness of the pineapple is such a lovely balancing flavour against the savoury. My husband thinks that putting fruit on pizza is the worst idea ever but luckily he's in the minority here haha. Your version looks delightful, Michelle!
Michelle
Right, it's definitely one of my favourites! Thanks Katerina!
Linsey
Hawaiian pizza is my favourite as I love the pineapple and ham combination.