Sharing is caring!

Homemade Pineapple Ham Pizza

This Homemade Pineapple Ham Pizza is the perfect combination of sweet, savory, cheesy, and delicious. A homemade pizza crust is topped with rich pizza sauce, plenty of mozzarella cheese, savory ham, and juicy pineapple, then baked until the crust is golden and the cheese is hot and bubbly.

There’s something especially good about making pizza completely from scratch. The homemade crust is soft and chewy on the inside with golden, slightly crisp edges, and you can pile on as much ham and pineapple as you like.

Whether you call it pineapple ham pizza or Hawaiian pizza, this is an easy homemade pizza recipe that’s perfect for pizza night, family dinners, weekends, or using up leftover ham.

Why You’ll Love This Pineapple Ham Pizza

If you love the combination of salty and sweet, this pizza has both.

The ham is savory and slightly smoky, the pineapple adds bursts of sweet tropical flavor, and mozzarella brings everything together with plenty of gooey melted cheese.

Making the crust from scratch also lets you control exactly how thick or thin you want your pizza.

And if you have leftover holiday ham in the refrigerator, this is one of the easiest ways to turn it into an entirely different meal.

Servings: 6–8 slices
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Rise Time: 60–90 minutes
Bake Time: 12–16 minutes
Total Time: About 2 hours
Oven Temperature: 475°F

Ingredients

Homemade Pizza Dough

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional as needed
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Pizza Toppings

• 1/2–3/4 cup pizza sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 1/2 cups chopped or diced cooked ham
• 1 cup pineapple chunks or tidbits, well drained
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, for the crust
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, optional
• Red pepper flakes, optional

Make the Homemade Pizza Dough

Add the warm water, sugar, and yeast to a large mixing bowl.

If you’re using active dry yeast, allow the mixture to stand for about 5–10 minutes, or until it looks foamy.

Add the olive oil.

Stir in the flour and salt until a shaggy dough begins to form.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for approximately 6–8 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

You can also prepare the dough in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Knead on medium-low speed for about 5–7 minutes.

The dough should be soft and slightly tacky but shouldn’t stick heavily to your hands.

If necessary, add additional flour one tablespoon at a time.

Let the Dough Rise

Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil.

Place the dough in the bowl and turn it once to lightly coat the surface.

Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.

Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for approximately 60–90 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Prepare the Pineapple

While the dough rises, drain the pineapple thoroughly.

This step is particularly important when making pineapple pizza.

Place the drained pineapple on several layers of paper towels and gently blot away as much excess moisture as possible.

Removing extra liquid helps prevent the pineapple from releasing too much moisture onto the pizza as it bakes.

Prepare the Ham

Cut the cooked ham into small bite-sized pieces.

Leftover baked ham works beautifully for this recipe, but you can also use thick-cut deli ham or a precooked ham steak.

If the ham seems particularly moist, pat it dry with a paper towel before adding it to the pizza.

Preheat the Oven

Preheat the oven to 475°F.

If you’re using a pizza stone or pizza steel, place it in the oven while the oven preheats so it becomes thoroughly hot.

For a regular pizza pan or baking sheet, lightly grease the pan or dust it with a little cornmeal.

Shape the Pizza Dough

Once the dough has doubled in size, gently punch it down.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface.

Stretch or roll the dough into approximately a 12–14-inch circle, depending on how thick you like your crust.

Transfer the dough to your prepared pizza pan.

Use your fingertips to create a slightly thicker edge around the outside of the crust.

Brush the outer edge lightly with olive oil.

Add the Pizza Sauce

Spread 1/2–3/4 cup pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving approximately 1/2 inch around the edge for the crust.

Avoid using too much sauce. An overly saucy pizza can make the center of the crust soggy, particularly when you’re also using a juicy topping like pineapple.

Add the Cheese

Sprinkle about three-quarters of the mozzarella over the pizza sauce.

Adding most of the cheese underneath the toppings helps create a cheesy base and keeps the ham and pineapple visible on top.

Add the Ham and Pineapple

Scatter the diced ham evenly over the mozzarella.

Add the well-drained pineapple, spacing the pieces evenly across the pizza so you get a little pineapple in almost every slice.

Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the top.

Finish with freshly grated Parmesan and Italian seasoning, if desired.

Bake the Pizza

Place the pizza in the preheated oven.

Bake at 475°F for approximately 12–16 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is completely melted and bubbling.

The exact baking time will depend on the thickness of your crust and the type of pan you’re using.

If you like a little more color on the cheese, broil the pizza very briefly at the end of baking. Watch it constantly so the cheese and crust don’t burn.

Let the Pizza Rest

Remove the pizza from the oven and allow it to rest for approximately 5 minutes.

This gives the cheese a chance to settle slightly and makes the pizza easier to slice.

Sprinkle with additional Parmesan, Italian seasoning, or red pepper flakes if desired.

Slice and serve warm.

What Kind of Ham Is Best for Pineapple Pizza?

Almost any cooked ham will work.

Leftover holiday ham is especially good because it’s usually thicker and more flavorful than thin deli ham.

A ham steak is another excellent option because it can easily be cut into bite-sized pieces.

You can also use deli ham in a pinch. Choose a thicker cut if possible and chop it before adding it to the pizza.

If your ham has a sweet glaze, don’t worry. The slightly sweet ham pairs particularly well with pineapple.

Fresh or Canned Pineapple?

Both can be used, but canned pineapple makes this recipe especially convenient.

Pineapple tidbits and small chunks are ideal because they’re already close to the right size for pizza.

The most important thing is to drain the pineapple extremely well.

Pineapple contains a lot of moisture, and excess juice can collect on top of the pizza and make the crust soggy.

Drain canned pineapple in a colander, then blot the pieces with paper towels before using them.

How Do You Keep Pineapple Pizza From Getting Soggy?

The first step is removing as much moisture as possible from the pineapple.

Don’t skip blotting it dry.

Also avoid using too much pizza sauce, and bake the pizza in a thoroughly preheated oven.

A high oven temperature helps the crust cook quickly and develop a golden exterior before the toppings have time to release too much moisture.

A pizza stone or steel can create an especially crisp bottom crust, but a regular metal pizza pan works well, too.

What Cheese Goes with Ham and Pineapple Pizza?

Mozzarella is the classic choice because it melts beautifully and has a mild flavor that lets the ham and pineapple stand out.

Parmesan adds a little salty, nutty flavor.

For something different, try adding a small amount of:

• Provolone
• White cheddar
• Monterey Jack
• Smoked mozzarella

A combination of mozzarella and provolone is especially good if you want a stronger cheese flavor.

Add Red Onion

Thinly sliced red onion is one of the easiest additions to pineapple ham pizza.

The onion becomes slightly sweet as it bakes while adding a savory contrast to the pineapple.

Add a small handful over the ham and pineapple before baking.

Add Jalapeños for a Sweet and Spicy Pizza

Pineapple is also delicious with a little heat.

Add thinly sliced fresh or pickled jalapeños before baking for a sweet, salty, and spicy pizza.

Finish the baked pizza with crushed red pepper flakes or even a drizzle of hot honey for additional heat.

Can I Use Store-Bought Pizza Dough?

Absolutely.

Homemade dough gives this pizza a wonderful fresh-baked flavor, but refrigerated or bakery pizza dough is a great shortcut.

Allow refrigerated dough to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before trying to stretch it. Warmer dough is much easier to shape than cold dough straight from the refrigerator.

Then assemble and bake the pizza as directed.

Can I Use Leftover Ham?

Yes. In fact, this is a great recipe to make after Easter, Christmas, or any dinner where you have extra baked ham.

Cut the leftover ham into small pieces and scatter it over the pizza.

Because the ham is already cooked, it only needs to heat and develop slightly crisp edges while the pizza bakes.

How to Get a Golden Pizza Crust

A hot oven is essential for homemade pizza.

Preheat the oven completely before putting the pizza inside. If you have a pizza stone or steel, give it plenty of time to heat thoroughly.

Brushing the exposed edge of the dough with a little olive oil also helps create a beautifully golden crust.

For extra flavor, sprinkle the oiled crust with garlic powder, Parmesan, or Italian seasoning before baking.

Can I Make the Pizza Dough Ahead of Time?

Yes.

Prepare the pizza dough, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it overnight.

A slow refrigerated rise can actually develop even more flavor in the dough.

Remove it from the refrigerator approximately 30–60 minutes before shaping so the dough can warm slightly and become easier to stretch.

How to Store Leftover Pizza

Allow leftover pizza to cool and transfer the slices to an airtight container.

Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.

For the best texture, reheat the pizza in a skillet, air fryer, or oven rather than the microwave.

An air fryer is especially good for reheating pizza because it crisps the bottom while remelting the cheese.

What to Serve with Pineapple Ham Pizza

This homemade pizza is filling enough to serve on its own, but a simple salad makes an easy complete dinner.

Try serving it with Caesar salad, Italian salad, garlic bread, breadsticks, or roasted vegetables.

For pizza night, set out Parmesan, red pepper flakes, ranch dressing, and extra pizza sauce so everyone can customize their slices.

Homemade Pizza Night

This Homemade Pineapple Ham Pizza has everything that makes homemade pizza so good—a chewy golden crust, rich tomato sauce, plenty of melted mozzarella, savory ham, and bursts of sweet pineapple.

It’s also one of the best ways to transform leftover ham into something completely different.

Whether you’re firmly on team pineapple pizza or making it for someone who is, this sweet-and-savory homemade pizza makes an easy, fun dinner that’s perfect for pizza night.