Pineapple Ham Pizza

By Eric Kim

Updated Oct. 12, 2023

Pineapple Ham Pizza
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
35 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
4(122)
Notes
Read community notes

Pineapple ham pizza, sometimes referred to as Hawaiian pizza, was reportedly named after a brand of canned fruit, Hawaiian Pineapple Company. Sam Panopoulos, a Greek immigrant in Canada, used that fruit to create the ambrosial combination in 1962. But here, skipping canned pineapple in favor of fresh fruit and using cubed ham, ideally leftovers from a bone-in roast, means juicier meat and more vibrantly flavored pineapple. The comforting mellowness of Marcella Hazan’s famous tomato-butter sauce works well with the tangy fruit and savory pork, but use whatever pizza sauce you like. As with any homemade pie, bake this hot and fast, as close as possible to your oven’s heat source, either on the highest or lowest rack depending on the model.

Featured in: Pineapple and Ham Belong Together

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Ingredients

Yield:One (12-inch) pizza
  • Olive oil
  • 1(8- to 10-ounce) ball store-bought pizza dough, room temperature
  • ½cup Marcella Hazan’s tomato sauce or other pizza sauce
  • 1cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
  • ½cup cubed ham (about ½ inch)
  • ½cup fresh pineapple chunks (about ½ inch)
  • Red-pepper flakes, for sprinkling
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

1908 calories; 102 grams fat; 50 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 37 grams monounsaturated fat; 9 grams polyunsaturated fat; 146 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 33 grams sugars; 101 grams protein; 5353 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Position a rack in the oven nearest to the heat source, on the highest or lowest spot depending on your model. Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Grease the center of a large sheet pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

  2. Step 2

    Flatten the dough in between your hands, then rotate the round in your hands like a wheel and pull it outwards to stretch into a 12-inch circle. Place the dough on the sheet pan. Evenly spread the tomato sauce over the dough, leaving a ¼-inch border. Sprinkle with mozzarella, then top with ham and pineapple. Lightly drizzle with olive oil.

  3. Step 3

    Bake until the crust is browned and the toppings are slightly caramelized, about 12 minutes. Sprinkle with red-pepper flakes. Cool at least 10 minutes before cutting.

Ratings

4 out of 5
122 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

Steve

Ham and pineapple pizza is good, add pickled jalapeños and you'll never go back!

Yikesahootie

I know there are a lot of haters of fruit on pizza (especially this particular one) but it is one of my favorite types of pizza. We like to use prosciutto as the ham when we make this style pizza. If you’re using fresh pineapple, use a pineapple corer and save the now empty pineapple for a festive vessel for mai tais or another tropical drink.

Ingrid Mudge

Roasting the pineapple with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes before putting it on the pizza takes this to the next level.

Newbee

An easy way to prep the pineapple after you've trimmed off the outer skin is, cut the pineapple in half, lengthwise. Cut each half, lengthwise, into about 6 or so tall wedges. Slice the tough core out of each wedge, and then cut the cored wedges crosswise into small pieces.

Alecto

Instead of mozzarella cheese, I sub in dollops of cream cheese.

Blossom

Yum!! But if you really want to gild the lily, you must add some bacon.

Blork

Canada has practically fought a civil war over the issue of pineapple on pizza. I'm on the fence: I like it if the chunks are small and not too numerous, and the ham is top quality. The pineapple should be like a grace note in every bite, not a honking big mouthful of fruit. (For example, the pizza in the photo looks really good but would be better if the pineapple chunks were half the size.)

Lynne

I agree with the posters who say cubed ham is to be avoided for a good Hawaiian pizza. I get thinly smoked pork loin from a local shop and slice it into ribbons. The addition of the smoky flavour really enhances the pineapple flavour. Some hot chili flakes don't go amiss either.

Sara

Let's get really weird and drizzled some spicy honey on top.

Therese

Vic the New Zealander adds sharp tasty cheddar and is applauded by me across the ditch. Vic you’ve sent me on a reminisce .. winter nights are coming.. ham cheese pineapple open grills on toast ( usually cut in 3 fingers) with a hot chocolate.

karschke

My husband and I prefer Hawaiian pizza. He uses garlic oil with garlic (“white sauce”) as the base, then adds the mozzarella and fresh pineapple. We enjoy both ham and Canadian bacon for the pork. Red peppers. Then the coup de grâce: a sprinkle of feta cheese!

Binky

I use barbecue sauce instead of tomato sauce. Yum!

Bougeotte

We are firmly pro-Hawaiian pizza here. But if I'm going to the trouble of butchering a fresh pineapple, I'm darn sure not going to put it on a pizza. Canned pineapple was made for this, and the juice is great for drinks or teriyaki.

LeslieT

I made Mr. Kim’s roasted ham and pineapple for Easter and then the pizza with leftovers. It was great in the outside pizza oven which blasted the ham and fruit to a smokey char. I liked the red pepper and should have put on more. I will definitely try the hot honey drizzle next. Certainly in the rotation for pizza night!

Nina

There are great variations with tuna or chicken as well. I like all of them and do not understand the debate around it basically 50+ years after it was invented. AND: in Italy they put hot dog sausage on pizza while bragging about their pizza 24/7. Hot dog sausage. It is really popular. So just live your life and enjoy your food. ;)

Drsbkaplan

Try pineapple and pepperoni instead. Spicier and better mouthfeel.

Tammi

My favorite!

Lynn, Toronto

Try adding some almonds, sliced or not, or some pine nuts and a bit of red onion to the pizza before baking. YUM! Live a little. Go out on a limb and try it. Back in the day, Pizza- Pizza in TO did have almonds as a pizza ingredient option,

muffin

Tomato sauce pineapple from a can pepperoni and little slivers of ham ALL.THE.WAY

Therese

Vic the New Zealander adds sharp tasty cheddar and is applauded by me across the ditch. Vic you’ve sent me on a reminisce .. winter nights are coming.. ham cheese pineapple open grills on toast ( usually cut in 3 fingers) with a hot chocolate.

Sara

Let's get really weird and drizzled some spicy honey on top.

Lynne

I agree with the posters who say cubed ham is to be avoided for a good Hawaiian pizza. I get thinly smoked pork loin from a local shop and slice it into ribbons. The addition of the smoky flavour really enhances the pineapple flavour. Some hot chili flakes don't go amiss either.

M

I love Hawaiian pizza (not sure why they just didn't call it that) but I would never, ever use cubed ham. Cubed ham is probably the worst meat there is. Use a good sliced ham and it'll eat more like peperoni and less like salty gummy bears.

deborah

Shrimp. Go. All. The.way.

Blork

Canada has practically fought a civil war over the issue of pineapple on pizza. I'm on the fence: I like it if the chunks are small and not too numerous, and the ham is top quality. The pineapple should be like a grace note in every bite, not a honking big mouthful of fruit. (For example, the pizza in the photo looks really good but would be better if the pineapple chunks were half the size.)

Blossom

Yum!! But if you really want to gild the lily, you must add some bacon.

karschke

My husband and I prefer Hawaiian pizza. He uses garlic oil with garlic (“white sauce”) as the base, then adds the mozzarella and fresh pineapple. We enjoy both ham and Canadian bacon for the pork. Red peppers. Then the coup de grâce: a sprinkle of feta cheese!

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