Best Cuban Pizza / Pizza Cubana Recipe
on Apr 12, 2023, Updated Nov 21, 2023
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Cuban Pizza is cheesy and delicious with a thicker and sweeter crust. Also called Pizza Cubana, this traditional Cuban sandwich pizza recipe is easy to make with a few simple ingredients. It’s my go-to meal when I’m craving comfort food.
Though less popular than Chicago-style or New York-style, Pizza Cubana has its own unique flair that you just have to experience. It’s one of my favorite pizza recipes along with Anchovy Pizza and Dill Pickle Pizza.
This Cuban Pizza is popular both in Havana and Miami, but you don’t have to be on vacation to enjoy a slice. In less than an hour, you can have a freshly baked Cuban-style pizza from your own oven.
What’s Special About Pizza Cubana?
Cuban pizza is distinguished by its crust. The crust on this pizza is thicker, slightly sweet and more bread-like than other varieties of pizza. Pizza Cubana can be described as a Cuban sandwich, in pizza form. This means it features spicy ham, chorizo or pepperoni with melty Swiss cheese and onions.
Ingredients & Substitutes
- Yeast: I used dry active yeast for this recipe, you can also use instant yeast.
- Sugar: Cuban-style pizza has a slightly sweet crust. Brown or white sugar can be used for this recipe.
- All-purpose Flour: Plain, all-purpose flour is best for this recipe. If you prefer, you may use gluten-free flour.
- Olive Oil: A high-quality olive oil works best, but you can use another oil such as canola or vegetable.
- Tomato Sauce: Use canned tomato sauce or pizza sauce for this recipe. If you have homemade tomato sauce, even better.
- Swiss Cheese: For an authentic Cuban pizza, you’ll need Swiss cheese. We recommend shredding it yourself instead of buying pre-shredded.
- Onion: Whichever onion you have is fine for this recipe. White and yellow onions add lots of flavor. For extra deliciousness, try caramelizing your onions.
- Ham or Chorizo sausage/Pepperoni: Use your choice of ham, chorizo or pepperoni for this pizza. If using whole sausages, cut into small pieces
How to Make Pizza Cubana
Step 1: Make the Pizza Crust
- Whisk together yeast, sugar and warm water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix together flour and salt. Add olive oil, yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until the dough just begins to come together.
- Knead the dough by hand for about 5 minutes until it’s soft and elastic. Place the dough in a greased mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
Step 2: Assemble the Pizza
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Grease a 9-inch round baking pan with olive oil. Place the dough into the pan. Stretch the dough by gently flattening the dough ball. Use a fork to poke holes across the surface of the dough.
- Brush the dough with olive oil. Spread tomato sauce evenly on top.
- Add swiss cheese, distributing it evenly over the surface.
- Add sliced onions and diced meat on top of the cheese.
Step 3: Bake the Pizza
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and the crust is golden brown.
- Remove the pizza from the oven, and transfer to a cutting board.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or basil. Slice and serve immediately.
Tips & Tricks for the Best Cuban Pizza
- Use warm water with yeast – if the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
- If you wish, you can make your crust in advance and store it in freezer-safe wrap in the freezer. This way, you can easily thaw your crust, assemble your toppings and bake a quick weeknight dinner.
- You’ll need to bake the pizza longer than the regular pizza as the dough is thicker.
How to Make Cuban Pizza Dough?
Making dough for Pizza Cubana is easy. First, prepare your yeast by whisking active dry yeast, sugar and warm water and allowing it to sit for 10 minutes. When your yeast is ready, combine with your dry ingredients and olive oil and knead until the dough is soft and elastic. Allow the dough to rise by leaving it in a covered bowl for 30 minutes. It should double in size.
Topping Ideas for Pizza Cubana
Delicious toppings for Cuban Pizza include diced ham, sausage or pepperoni. You can also add pieces of seafood such as shrimp or lobster. Pizza Cubana is usually made with Swiss cheese, but sometimes other cheeses such as Gouda or mozzarella are also added. Garnish with chopped parsley.
If You Like This Recipe Try These Out
If you tried this recipe, let me know how your Pizza Cubana turns out in the comments below!
Pizza Cubana Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Cuban Pizza Dough:
- 1 packet active dry yeast, 2 ¼ teaspoons
- 1 cup warm water 110-120°F
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Toppings
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup tomato sauce, (or pizza sauce)
- 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup, diced ham, or chorizo sausage, or pepperoni
- optional chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Whisk together yeast, sugar, and warm water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix together flour and salt. Add olive oil, yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until the dough just begins to come together.
- Knead the dough by hand for about 5 minutes until it’s soft and elastic. Place the dough in a greased mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Grease a 9-inch round baking pan with olive oil. Place the dough into the pan. Stretch the dough by gently flattening the dough ball. Use a fork to poke holes across the surface of the dough.
- Brush the dough with olive oil. Spread tomato sauce evenly on top of the dough.
- Add swiss cheese, distributing it evenly over the surface.
- Add sliced onions and diced meat on top of the cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and the crust is golden brown.
- Remove the pizza from the oven, and transfer to a cutting board.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or basil. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can make the dough ahead of time. Let it rise first, and then wrap with plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and then bring it to room temperature before using.
- To reheat leftover pizza, bake it in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the crust is crispy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
