How to Make a Hawaiian Pizza

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 16, 2020 References Tested

If you are looking for a way to dress up your plain cheese pizza, consider transforming it into a salty-sweet Hawaiian pizza. It has a unique flavor combination that incorporates sweet pineapple slices and salty chunks of ham with traditional pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. But don’t limit yourself to the standard recipe. Have fun personalizing your Hawaiian pizza by sprinkling on additional ingredients like sliced Vidalia onions or spicy jalapenos. To get started making this tasty meal, grab some pizza dough and a pizza pan.

Ingredients

2 ¹⁄₂ US tbsp (37 mL) olive oil
1 tbsp (9 g) flour
1 lb (0.45 kg) store-bought pizza dough
¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) jarred marinara sauce
2 cups (200 g) shredded mozzarella
4 oz (110 g) ham, thickly sliced and cut into 1 in (2.5 cm) squares
1 cup (165 g) pineapple chunks, cut into ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) slices

Yields 3-4 servings or 6-8 slices of pizza

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Pizza Dough

1
Preheat your oven to 450 °F (232 °C) before you begin making your pizza. Remove any baking pans from inside of your oven before you preheat it. Then, make sure to place the oven rack on the center rung in your oven. This will help the pizza cook evenly, and prevent the dough from burning.^{[1]
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2
Coat a 12 in (30 cm) round pizza pan with 1 ¹⁄₂ US tbsp (22 mL) of olive oil. Use your fingers or a pastry brush to spread the oil across the inside of the pizza pan. The oil will keep the dough from sticking to the pan and will give the bottom of the pizza added flavor.^{[2]
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- If you do not have a round pizza pan, use a rectangular baking sheet instead. Simply coat the baking sheet with the olive oil as you would the pizza pan.
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3
Sprinkle 1 tbsp (9 g) of flour onto the oil coated pizza pan. Use your fingers to disperse the flour across the pizza pan until it is completely dusted. If needed, use additional flour to finish coating the pan.^{[3]
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- The flour will help the finished pizza slide off the pan easily and will season the bottom of the pizza.
4
Roll out 1 lb (0.45 kg) of store-bought pizza dough on your countertop. Dust your clean countertop with flour to keep the dough from sticking to the surface. Then, use a rolling pin dusted with flour to roll out the pizza dough. Work from the center of the dough outward. Continue to work the dough until it roughly forms the shape and size of your pan.^{[4]
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- Purchase store-bought pizza dough in the frozen or refrigerated section of your local grocery store or a local pizzeria.
- If you are feeling extra adventurous, consider making homemade pizza dough instead of using the store-bought dough.
5
Lift the rolled out pizza dough and place it onto the prepared pizza pan. Use your fingers to gently pull and spread the dough to the edges of your pan if needed. Roll any extra dough along the edges inward to form a thicker crust for the pizza. The pizza will have an approximate diameter of 12 in (30 cm).^{[5]
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- If you are using a rectangular baking sheet, spread the dough to the edges as you would the round pizza pan. This will make an approximate 10 by 15 in (25 by 38 cm) rectangular pizza.^{[6]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Layering the Pizza Toppings

1
Spread 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of olive oil across the dough to season it. Use your fingers or a pastry brush to smear the olive oil on the surface of the dough. Add more olive oil if needed to coat all of the dough.^{[7]
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- The olive oil will keep the dough moist and season it.
2
Spoon ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of jarred marinara sauce onto the pizza dough. Use the back of the spoon to gently spread the sauce across the surface of the pizza dough. Keep the sauce about ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) away from the edge of the dough. This will keep the sauce from bubbling over the edges and burning on the pan as the pizza cooks. Continue to spread the sauce until it is evenly distributed.^{[8]
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- Instead of using jarred sauce, consider making a homemade pizza sauce.
3
Sprinkle 2 cups (200 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese onto the pizza sauce. Use your hands to sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly across the top of the pizza sauce. Break up any large clumps of cheese with your fingers as needed. Just be careful not to push or disturb the sauce underneath the cheese. Alternatively, consider transforming the taste of your Hawaiian pizza by using other types of cheese that will complement the mozzarella.^{[9]
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- Use 1 cup (100 g) of shredded mozzarella and 1 cup (100 g) of shredded Swiss or a cheddar cheese to give the pizza a sharp flavor
- Use 1 1/2 cups (150 g) of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup (50 g) of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to give the pizza a tangy flavor.
4
Add 4 oz (110 g) of thickly sliced ham on top of the cheese. Choose your favorite brand of deli ham to use for your pizza. Use a knife or kitchen scissors to cut the ham as needed to create 1 in (2.5 cm) squares. Then, disperse the ham evenly across the cheese layer.^{[10]
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- Use chunks of ham for a meatier taste or use thick slices of ham for a more mild flavor.
- Alter the overall flavor of the pizza by using a smoked ham or Canadian bacon.
5
Scatter 1 cup (165 g) of canned pineapple chunks on top of the cheese layer. Use your hand to hold the pineapple inside the opened can, and drain the pineapple juice. Disperse the pineapple across the pizza, paying specific attention to filling the empty areas around the ham.^{[11]
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- If desired, cut the pineapple chunks in half or in quarters using a sharp knife or a pair of kitchen scissors. This will better disperse the pineapple and will be easier to bite into.^{[12]
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6
Personalize the Hawaiian pizza by adding on your favorite pizza ingredients. Identify 1-2 additional ingredients to put onto your pizza that will transform or elevate the existing flavors. Refrain from adding more than 1-2 extra ingredients, as to avoid having the crust buckle from the weight when you go to eat it.^{[13]
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- Finely chop a scallion onion and sprinkle it on top of the pizza for a mild onion flavor.
- Cut a sweet Vidalia onion into thin slices. Steam them with a little water in a bowl for 1 minute in the microwave. Add the softened onion on top of the pizza for a bold onion flavor that will contrast the sweetness of the pineapple.
- Give your pizza some spicy notes by adding 1-2 tbsp (5.6 g) of diced jalapenos, or large dices of red bell peppers.^{[14]
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- Dice up a handful of mushrooms to give your pizza an earthy taste.^{[15]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Cooking and Serving the Pizza

1
Cook the pizza in the oven at 450 °F (232 °C) for 8-12 minutes. Slide the pizza pan onto the middle rack in your preheated oven. Cook the pizza for 8-12 minutes or until the crust is a light golden-brown color and the cheese is melted.^{[16]
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- Allow the pizza to cook for additional 1-minute intervals if needed to further crisp the crust and melt the cheese.
2
Remove the cooked pizza from the oven and transfer it onto a cutting board. Use potholders to take the pizza pan out of the oven. Then, use a heat-resistant spatula to lift the edge of the pizza from the pan, and slide it onto the cutting board. Place your hot pizza pan on top of your stove and allow it to cool off before attempting to clean it.^{[17]
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- Use potholders at all times when handling the hot pizza pan. Otherwise, you may seriously burn yourself.
3
Allow the pizza to rest for 4-5 minutes so the cheese can settle and firm. Refrain from cutting the pizza until the cheese has cooled. Cutting into the pizza while the cheese is soupy will cause it and the toppings to slide off your pizza.^{[18]
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4
Cut the rested pizza into 6-8 slices and serve them to your friends and family. Use a pizza wheel or a large, sharp knife to cut the pizza into 6-8 slices. Work from one end of the crust to the other. Refrain from using a sawing motion if you are using a knife, as this will pull the cheese and toppings away from the crust.^{[19]
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- Season your slice of pizza with table salt, ground black pepper, or red pepper flakes to taste.
- Wrap any leftovers in aluminum foil and store them in the refrigerator for about a week.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I make a vegetarian Hawaiian pizza?

Community Answer

Simply remove the ham.
Question

Can I add cheddar to it?

Community Answer

Yes! I would do a combination of cheddar and mozzarella, though, cheddar only probably wouldn't work well.
Question

What are the tools used?

Community Answer

The tools include a pan, a mixer and measuring cups (if you are making your own dough), a spoon (to spread the sauce), and that should be about it!