This classic, family favourite ham and pineapple pizza is so easy to make and is perfect for homemade pizza night. Made using my easy pizza dough recipe, this pizza is not only delicious but budget friendly as well. Skip the delivery and make this instead!
I am kicking this post off with the controversial question, pineapple on pizza – yes or no? Leave a comment on this post and let me know!
Obviously I am a big yes as there is just something delicious about the combination of the sweet pineapple and salty pieces of ham, covered in melted cheese that make a Hawaiian pizza so delicious.
I only recently started making ham and pineapple pizza at home again. It had been years since I had it and honestly, it’s totally underrated. It’s such a simple yet delicious combination. Plus it combines just a few affordable ingredients making it a great budget friendly topping. That’s right, instead of $20 for a delivery pizza, we can make it at home for around $6. That’s a pretty big saving!
To make this pizza even better (and also what’s helping keep our grocery costs low), we’re using my go-to basic pizza dough recipe. I’ve been making this dough for years, and the result is a thick, chewy homemade crust that can support any toppings you choose. It’s so easy to make that I’ve included it in my foundational recipes series, as I believe a good, simple pizza dough is an essential part of home cooking.
💡 Did you know? Ham and pineapple pizza which is commonly called Hawaiian pizza was actually invented in Canada and has nothing to do with Hawaii. The name reflects the association with the tropical fruit, pineapple, rather than its place of origin.
Key Ingredients
Ham and pineapple is one of the simplest pizza topping combinations so you really don’t need much when it comes to creating this takeaway favourite at home.
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pizza dough – I am using my homemade pizza dough but you can also use a store bought pizza base to make this pizza really quick and low fuss for busy nights.
- Tomato paste – for the base of the pizza. You can also use a homemade pizza sauce such as this easy marinara sauce.
- Herbs and spices – if I am just using tomato paste, I like to give it a little extra flavour by adding a sprinkle of Italian herbs and a little garlic powder. This is optional based on your tastes but I think it gives the pizza a lot more flavour. You can skip this if you’re using the marinara sauce instead.
- Diced ham – you want chunks of leg ham for this pizza rather than thin slices. You can buy diced ham at the supermarket making it super easy or you can use leftover leg ham.
- Pineapple chunks – I always just use the canned pineapple chunks in juice, not syrup.
- Cheese – use what you like and can eat for this recipe based on your dietary restrictions. I recommend either regular or dairy free mozzarella or lactose free pizza cheese (which is what I’ve used in the photos).
Step-By-Step Instructions
Making pizza at home is really so simple, but one of the things that has truly elevated pizza night for me is getting a pizza stone. This means I don’t need a fancy pizza oven to get a crisp and even crust on my pizza and means no more soggy bases.
If you’re making your own pizza base, which I strongly encourage and recommend, I have a full fundamentals post for my pizza dough recipe with everything you need to know so read through that first. What you mainly need to know is that you’ll need to allow your dough to rise for about an hour so allow enough time for that when prepping for dinner.
Once you have your pizza dough, it’s time to stretch it out! The best way I’ve found to do this is firstly ensuring your dough is room temperature, and then placing it on a sheet of baking paper to make transferring it to your pizza stone easy. From here, start pressing the ball of dough out in a circular shape. Keep pushing the dough from the centre outwards, until the dough has been stretched to your desired shape and thickness.
Using a spoon, cover the base in tomato paste or pizza sauce, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust. Sprinkle over your herbs and garlic powder if you’re using.
Then, just sprinkle over the chunks of ham and pineapple and top with your cheese.
Transfer the pizza to your pizza stone that’s been preheated in a very hot oven, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
If you’re making my homemade pizza dough, it makes enough for 2 pizzas, so why not try making this prosciutto pizza as well or for a vegetarian option you can try the buffalo cauliflower pizza from my eBook COMFORT.
Recipe FAQs
You can use a pizza paddle for this, but the easiest method is to stretch out your pizza dough onto a sheet of baking paper. Carefully slide the baking paper with the dough onto a flat baking tray to carry it to the pizza stone. Then, slide the pizza (still on the baking paper) onto the stone. You can use the baking paper to help slide the pizza off onto your serving board for cutting, avoiding direct contact with the extremely hot stone.
Store any leftover pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 5-7 minutes to keep the crust crisp.
Yes, you can! Fresh pineapple works just as well. Just make sure to cut it into small chunks and drain any excess juice before adding it to the pizza to avoid a soggy crust.
More takeaway favourites at home:
Spicy Chicken Burgers
15 Minute Garlic Prawn Noodles
Vietnamese Noodle Salad
Air Fryer Salmon Bowls
Gluten Free Fish Tacos
Ham and Pineapple Pizza
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½
recipe homemade pizza dough or 1 store bought pizza base - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¼ teaspoon dried mixed herbs optional
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder optional
- ½ cup diced ham
- ½ cup canned pineapple pieces drained
- 1 ½ cups cheese choose regular or dairy free mozzarella or lactose free pizza cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 250-260°C (450-500°F). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating for the best results. Alternatively, use a heavy-duty baking tray.
- Stretch out your pizza dough on a sheet of baking paper to your desired size and thickness. Work by pressing the dough outwards using your fingers. If you’re using a store-bought base, simply lay it flat on a piece of baking paper.
- Evenly spread tomato paste over the pizza base, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust. Sprinkle over the dried mixed herbs and garlic powder if using.
- Scatter the diced ham and pineapple chunks evenly across the pizza. Then, generously sprinkle the cheese on top, ensuring the toppings are well covered.
- Carefully slide the pizza (with the baking paper) onto the preheated pizza stone or baking tray. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and allow the cheese to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
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