Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza

Did you know that Hawaiian pizza isn’t actually from Hawai’i?

It was actually invented in Canada! The creator, Sam Panopoulos was born in Greece and moved to Canada where he eventually started a restaurant with his brothers. In 1962 he got the idea to add some pineapple to a pizza and his customers loved it! 

Today, the idea of pineapple on pizza can be a bit contested, but I always say that if food tastes good to you and makes you happy, then there’s no problem. And I do love pineapple on my pizza! 

Try these other fun homemade pizza recipes:

• Chicken Supreme Flatbread Pizza
• Rainbow Pizza
• Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza
• Mini Pizza Bites
  

This Hawaiian chicken pizza recipe is quick and easy to make. It will take less time than ordering delivery, and its so easy your kids can get in on the action, too!

Invite your kids to help chop ingredients, and roll out their own pizza dough and add toppings. Pizza night is a fun family activity everyone can get behind. 

Ingredients needed:

You need a few important  ingredients on hand to make this recipe. Please note these are not all the ingredients needed, but here are the most important and a few notes about them:

• Pizza crust – You can use either a homemade pizza dough (like my sourdough discard pizza dough recipe), or a refrigerated pizza crust. A dry mix for pizza dough works, too. Whatever you want to use works!
• Chicken – In this recipe we cook two breasts, but this recipe is also a great way to use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken from the store! Do what works best for you and your schedule. 
• Barbeque Sauce – Since the sauce is a main component of the pizza, make sure to buy a flavorful, high-quality sauce.
• Bacon – I recommend using fresh cooked bacon, not bacon bits for this recipe, which could add a funny taste.
• Mozzarella Cheese – Use either fresh mozzarella or mozzarella you shred yourself. Pre-shredded mozzarella from the bag won’t melt as well. 
• Pineapple – You can use either fresh cut pineapple or canned pineapple. If using canned, drain the juices off and pat the chunks slightly with a towel before adding to the pizza so it doesn’t add too many extra juices.
• Red Onion – After slicing, run your red onion under cold water to remove some of the bite from it.
• Cilantro 

How to make this recipe

This recipe is simple to make! For the full set of directions, please scroll down to the recipe card below. This is just a general overview on how to make it to help you plan.

Bake the chicken and bacon

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
2. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease a small baking dish.
3. Add chicken to the baking dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Bake chicken for 22 to 25 minutes, or until cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove chicken from the oven and cut into small cubes.
4. While chicken is cooking, add bacon in a single layer to the lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until browned and crispy. Remove bacon from the oven and crumble into small pieces.

*Recipe note: If you’d like to grill the chicken instead: Preheat grill to medium heat. Add chicken to the grill. Grill for 10 minutes before flipping and cooking another 8 to 10 minutes, or until cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Assemble the pizza

5. To assemble the pizza, roll pizza dough out until it’s 12 inches in diameter. Place it on a greased pizza stone or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush olive oil all over the top of the dough, from edge to edge.
6. Pour BBQ sauce in the center of the dough. Using the back of a spoon, spread the sauce around the dough, leaving ½-inch of space from the edge.
7. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.
8. Then add the diced chicken and crumbled bacon.
9. Add pieces of pineapple and red onion throughout.
10. Bake the pizza for 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
11. Garnish with fresh cilantro just before serving.

Storage and reheating information

This pizza is best when it is served fresh from the oven.

But on the chance that you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container or ziptop bag in the fridge for up to 2 days.

To reheat, reheat in a 350 oven for about 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melty again, or in an airfryer. Do not reheat in the microwave or the pizza crust will become soggy.

Other recipes with pineapple:

• Ham and Pineapple Fried Rice
• Instant Pot Pineapple Chicken
• Pineapple Chicken Sheet Pan