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Hawaiian Pizza

Hawaiian pizza is a style of pizza topped with pineapple, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and usually ham or bacon.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Hawaiian pizza is a style of pizza topped with pineapple, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and usually ham or bacon. It is widely attributed to Greek-born Canadian restaurateur Sam Panopoulos, who created it in Chatham, Ontario, in 1962. Despite its name, it did not originate in Hawaii.

Origin

Hawaiian pizza is generally traced to the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario, where Sam Panopoulos experimented with pineapple on pizza in 1962. Contemporary and later accounts identify this as the dish’s place of origin.

Name

The pizza was named after the brand of canned pineapple used by Panopoulos. The name is not connected to Hawaii as a place of culinary origin.

Ingredients and style

The standard version combines sweet pineapple with savoury ham or bacon, along with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Variations exist, but this combination is the most commonly recognised.

Reception

Hawaiian pizza is notable for dividing opinion, with supporters and critics arguing over the pineapple-and-ham combination. The dish has become a recurring subject in popular food culture.

Key facts

  • Hawaiian pizza is a Canadian invention, created in Chatham, Ontario, in 1962.
  • It was invented by Greek-born Canadian restaurateur Sam Panopoulos.
  • The name comes from the brand of canned pineapple used, not from Hawaii.
  • Typical toppings include pineapple, ham or bacon, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
  • The pizza remains a divisive food topic in popular culture.
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Canadian context

Hawaiian pizza is strongly associated with Canada because it is widely credited as a Canadian invention from Chatham, Ontario, and its inventor was a Greek-born Canadian restaurateur.

Frequently asked questions

Who invented Hawaiian pizza?
It is widely attributed to Sam Panopoulos, a Greek-born Canadian restaurateur, who created it in 1962.
Where did Hawaiian pizza originate?
It is generally said to have originated in Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
Why is it called Hawaiian pizza?
The name is commonly linked to the brand of canned pineapple used in the original recipe, not to Hawaii itself.
Does Hawaiian pizza come from Hawaii?
No. Sources describe it as a Canadian invention.
What toppings are usually on Hawaiian pizza?
The usual toppings are pineapple and ham, sometimes bacon, on a pizza with tomato sauce and mozzarella.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_pizza
    Supports: Basic description of Hawaiian pizza ingredients and Canadian origin claim.
  2. BBC Bitesize — https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2vftrd
    Supports: States that commercial success is often pinpointed to Canada in 1962 and that it was not an Italian invention.
  3. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hawaiian-pizza
    Supports: Describes ingredients, controversy, and attribution to Sam Panopoulos in Chatham, Ontario.
  4. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40230407
    Supports: Identifies Sam Panopoulos as the Canadian inventor and explains the tropical name’s origin from the pineapple can.