Hawaiian Pizza Pasta: Your Ultimate Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner Solution
Life can be incredibly busy. For many of us, the end of a long workday brings not relaxation, but the immediate pressure of dinner preparations. Whether you’re juggling work, family, or both, the thought of cooking an elaborate meal from scratch can be daunting. It’s a challenge I, as a full-time recipe developer and food photographer, understand intimately. My days are often filled with recipe testing, photo shoots, and a seemingly endless mountain of dishes – far more than the average person washes in a week. By the time my workday wraps up, usually between 4:30 and 5:00 PM, I’m exhausted, hungry, and facing the prospect of dirtying the very kitchen I just cleaned.
This daily reality is precisely why quick, satisfying weeknight dinners are a cornerstone of my cooking philosophy. I strive for recipes that can be prepped and cooked in under 60 minutes, delivering maximum flavor with minimal fuss. I’m guessing you can relate to this need for speed and convenience, whether you’ve had a demanding day at the office or you’re navigating the hectic back-to-school routine with children. While I excel at whipping up fast meals like pasta dishes and tacos, there are still those evenings—perhaps twice a month—when I admit to “cheating” with a frozen pizza.
One of my all-time favorite frozen pizzas is the classic Hawaiian, topped with savory ham and sweet pineapple. It’s a flavor combination that’s either loved or loathed, but for those of us in the “love it” camp, it’s pure comfort. However, relying on frozen pizzas can quickly become an expensive habit. So, how can I enjoy that beloved Hawaiian pizza taste without constantly buying store-bought pies? The answer lies in transforming those iconic flavors into a delicious, homemade stovetop meal: Hawaiian Pizza Pasta.
This innovative Hawaiian Pizza Pasta recipe takes everything you love about the tropical pizza and reimagines it as a comforting, one-pan (or rather, two-pan) pasta dish. It’s designed to deliver the quintessential taste of Hawaiian pizza – from its zesty tomato sauce to the delightful blend of ham and pineapple – all without the need for a crust or even turning on your oven. This makes it an ideal choice for busy evenings, especially when the weather is warm and you want to keep your kitchen cool. By skipping the oven and focusing on a quick stovetop preparation, we’re able to bring dinner to the table faster and with less cleanup.
The Inspiration: Why Hawaiian Pizza Pasta?
The core idea behind this pizza pasta creation is to capture the distinct flavors of Hawaiian pizza – the sweet and savory interplay of ham and pineapple, the tangy tomato base, and the gooey mozzarella cheese – and marry them with a satisfying pasta foundation. The beauty of this approach is that it offers the same craveable taste experience in a format that’s quicker, often more economical, and arguably more comforting than a traditional pizza.
We start with a homemade tomato sauce that truly tastes like authentic pizza sauce. It’s rich, herbaceous, and provides the perfect backdrop for our star ingredients. Then, we fold in thinly sliced, flavorful ham and juicy pineapple tidbits, bringing that signature sweet and savory balance to every bite. Finally, a generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese melts into a creamy, luscious topping, completing the transformation. All of this comes together in a single skillet on your stovetop, minimizing both cooking time and dishwashing duties – a win-win for any busy cook.
Want to skip the pasta? Check out Hawaiian Pizza Chicken from Meal Prep On Fleek for a low-carb alternative!
Crafting Your Perfect Hawaiian Pizza Pasta: Ingredients & Tips
Let’s dive into the key components that make this Hawaiian Pizza Pasta so incredibly delicious and easy to prepare:
The Pasta Base
For this recipe, I recommend using rigatoni pasta. Its tubular shape and ridged surface are perfect for holding onto that rich, homemade tomato sauce, ensuring every forkful is packed with flavor. However, feel free to experiment with other short, sturdy pasta shapes like penne, ziti, or even rotini if that’s what you have on hand. The important thing is to cook your pasta al dente, so it maintains a pleasant chewiness and doesn’t become mushy when combined with the sauce.
Homemade Pizza-Style Tomato Sauce
Don’t be intimidated by “homemade sauce” – it’s surprisingly simple and far more flavorful than anything from a jar. Our sauce starts with a base of sautéed onions and minced garlic, which build a foundational layer of aromatic taste. Tomato paste provides concentrated tomato flavor, while chicken broth thins it to the perfect consistency. The magic truly happens with the herbs: dried basil, oregano, and parsley are classic pizza seasonings that instantly evoke that familiar, comforting pizza parlor aroma. A touch of granulated sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes, and a pinch of salt enhances all the flavors. For those who enjoy a little kick, crushed red pepper flakes are an optional but highly recommended addition that adds a subtle warmth.
The Hawaiian Stars: Ham & Pineapple
This duo is what makes our pasta “Hawaiian”! For the ham, you can use leftover holiday ham, pre-cooked diced ham from the grocery store, or even thick-cut deli ham, chopped into small pieces. The key is to ensure it’s cut into bite-sized bits that integrate well with the pasta. For the pineapple, a crucial tip: opt for canned pineapple tidbits rather than chunks. Tidbits are already perfectly sized for this dish, saving you the extra step of chopping larger pieces, a lesson I learned firsthand! If you’re feeling ambitious and have extra time, fresh pineapple, finely diced, would also be a fantastic choice, offering an even brighter, more vibrant flavor.
The Cheesy Finish: Mozzarella
No pizza-inspired dish is complete without melted mozzarella. Shredded mozzarella cheese adds that classic gooey texture and mild, milky flavor that perfectly complements the savory ham and sweet pineapple. It creates a beautiful, unifying layer over the pasta, making each serving irresistibly delicious. You can use pre-shredded mozzarella for convenience or shred a block of low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella for an even creamier melt.
Beyond the Recipe: Making the Most of Leftover Ham
If you find yourself with extra ham after preparing this delightful pasta dish, don’t let it go to waste! Ham is a versatile ingredient that can be incorporated into many other delicious meals. Consider using it up in comforting Ham and Cheese Soup, a savory breakfast of Baked Eggs with Ham and Cheese, or even unique and fun Ham and Cheese Waffles. These ideas ensure that no ingredient goes unused, adding variety to your meal rotation.
This Hawaiian Pizza Pasta truly embodies the spirit of a quick, satisfying, and flavorful weeknight meal. It’s a testament to how beloved flavors can be reinvented in a new, exciting, and convenient way. So, next time you’re craving Hawaiian pizza but don’t have the time or desire to order out or bake a frozen one, reach for this recipe. It’s a delicious solution that brings comfort and joy to your dinner table with minimal effort.
Hawaiian Pizza Pasta
4 servings
15 minutes
25 minutes
40 minutes
Your favorite Hawaiian pizza is turned into a quick and easy weeknight dinner with this Hawaiian Pizza Pasta with a homemade tomato sauce, chopped ham, pineapple, and mozzarella cheese.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound (8 ounces or 1/2 box) uncooked rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
- 1 cup chopped ham
- 1 cup canned pineapple tidbits
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni as directed on the package until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain into a colander.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil until hot. Add the onion and cook until they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato paste, broth, basil, oregano, parsley, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir until the tomato paste is smooth with the broth then bring to a boil.
- Once the pasta is done cooking, add the rigatoni, ham, and pineapple to the sauce. Stir until incorporated. Top with cheese and cover with lid. Cook until the cheese melts, about 3-5 minutes. Serve immediately.
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More Quick Pasta Recipes to Love
Looking for more fast and flavorful pasta ideas for your busy weeknights? These recipes are sure to become new favorites:
Creamy Tomato and Mushroom Pasta
Caprese Pesto with Pasta
Tomato, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pasta
Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Mushroom Penne Alfredo
Chicken Pot Pie Pasta