Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) Recipe
If you’re craving cheesy, saucy, and incredibly satisfying homemade pizza, let me introduce you to my all-time favorite: Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana). This vibrant twist on pizza features a soft, thick crust, loads of gooey cheese (seriously, more is more!), smoky tomato sauce, savory chorizo, and plenty of classic Cuban toppings. The result is comfort food that’s as much fun to make as it is to eat—bursting with bold flavors and a little Miami sunshine in every bite. This recipe brings the full magic of Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) right to your kitchen table!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) is in the simple, vibrant ingredients. Each element brings color, flavor, and the nostalgic tastes of Miami’s Cuban cafés to your own home—so don’t be afraid to go all out on the toppings!
- Warm water: The perfect temperature wakes up the yeast and ensures a tender, pillowy crust.
- Active dry yeast: This tiny-but-mighty ingredient makes your dough rise with that signature fluffy texture.
- Brown sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds a subtle caramel note to both the dough and sauce.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the dough for that hallmark thick, yet soft, Cuban pizza base.
- Salt: Rounds up all the flavors and helps strengthen the dough.
- Olive oil: Used twice! For supple dough and crispy, golden edges.
- Red bell pepper: Adds color and sweetness to the sauce’s flavor profile.
- Onion: Both diced for the sauce and sliced for toppings; this gives the pizza sweetness and savor.
- Garlic: Minced for aromatic depth—no Cuban sauce is complete without it!
- San Marzano peeled tomatoes: The gold standard for pizza sauce, lending a naturally sweet, rich base.
- Smoked paprika & dried oregano: Essential seasonings that build a smoky, herbal depth in your sauce.
- Black pepper & bay leaf: Help tie together all the sauce flavors into a harmonious blend.
- Shredded Gouda and mozzarella: Classic cheese duo—Gouda for creaminess, mozzarella for stretch and melt.
- Ground pork chorizo: Adds a spicy, meaty edge you’ll crave in every bite.
- Yellow onion rings: Sweet and beautiful, baked until tender and caramelized.
- Green olives: Their briny bite is a Cuban pizza must-have!
- Diced ham, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, tomatoes: Invent your combinations or use all for a full Miami flavor blast.
- Sweet plantains (sliced): Optional, but traditional—their sweetness is a delightful surprise with the savory toppings.
- Cuban picadillo and roast pork (optional): Go bold with toppings and let each pizza have a personality all its own.
How to Make Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana)
Step 1: Make the Pizza Dough
This is where the magic begins! Start by mixing warm water, a packet of yeast, and brown sugar in a large measuring cup. Give everything a gentle stir, then let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it turns foamy—that’s the yeast doing its job, which leads to a delightfully tender crust.
Step 2: Mix and Knead
In a large bowl, combine the sifted flour, salt, a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and that foamy yeast mixture. Use your hands or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and knead for 5 to 10 minutes. You want the dough smooth, supple, and not sticky. If you need to, dust with a touch more flour, but don’t overdo it—the dough should stay soft and elastic.
Step 3: Let the Dough Rise
Take your beautiful dough ball and nestle it in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for about an hour in a warm spot. Once it’s doubled in size, you’re just about ready to build your Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) from scratch.
Step 4: Prepare the Homemade Cuban Pizza Sauce
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan, then sauté diced red bell peppers, onions, and plenty of minced garlic until soft and fragrant—about 3 to 4 minutes. Next, add those gorgeous San Marzano tomatoes, brown sugar, salt, smoked paprika, oregano, pepper, and a big, aromatic bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let it gently simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Finally, fish out the bay leaf and blend the sauce until luxuriously smooth with an immersion blender. Taste and tweak the seasoning as you like, then set aside.
Step 5: Shape and Top the Pizzas
Preheat your oven to 400ºF and grease four 9-inch pie plates with olive oil for extra-crisp edges. Lightly flour your work surface, divide the dough into four portions, and press each ball into a pie plate until the dough reaches the edges. Spoon over a generous helping of your homemade sauce, using the back of the spoon to spread all the way to the crust.
Step 6: Add Toppings and Cheese (Lots of It!)
This is where you get playful! Sprinkle a thin layer of mixed Gouda and mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Add spicy crumbled chorizo, onion rings, briny olives, diced ham, and all your favorite Cuban toppings—don’t forget those sweet plantains or slow-roasted pork if you want to go all out. Then, pile on even more cheese right up to the edge of the pie plate (those crispy edges are pure gold).
Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake the pizzas for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and edges are deeply golden brown. Once out of the oven, run a butter knife around the edges to loosen, then slide your Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) onto a serving plate. Give yourself a big high five—you just made Miami-style magic!
How to Serve Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana)
Garnishes
You can keep it classic with just a sprinkle of fresh oregano or chopped parsley over the hot pizza, or get creative with a little drizzle of olive oil or a scattering of sliced green onions. A handful of extra sliced olives or diced roasted peppers right before serving never hurts, either!
Side Dishes
This pizza loves a good Cuban sidekick. Pair Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) with a bright, tangy salad of romaine, avocado, and citrus, or offer up some yuca fries with garlicky mojo for dipping. Even a bowl of black beans and rice will make your homemade pizza night feel like a Miami street festival.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving the pizzas family-style so everyone can mix and match toppings. Or, pre-slice each pizza and offer a build-your-own garnish bar—think pickled onions, extra cheese, and fresh herbs—to really make your guests feel special. For a fun twist, mini Cuban pizzas make great party starters!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have extra Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana), store slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh and tasty for up to 3 days, and honestly, pizza for breakfast is a thing of beauty.
Freezing
To freeze, cool the pizza completely, then wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap followed by foil. Place them in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Homemade Cuban pizza makes the best emergency meal!
Reheating
For best results, reheat slices in a 375ºF oven or toaster oven on a baking sheet until the cheese is remelted and the crust is crisp—about 8 to 10 minutes. Microwaving is quick, but the oven brings back that perfect texture.
FAQs
Can I use store-bought dough for Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana)?
Definitely! While homemade dough delivers that authentic Miami pizzeria flavor, you can use a high-quality store-bought dough in a pinch. Just be sure to let it come to room temperature before shaping for best results.
What type of cheese is most traditional for Cuban pizza?
Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) is known for its generous, melty cheese—typically a blend of Gouda and mozzarella. Gouda brings rich creaminess, while mozzarella adds stretch and classic pizza taste.
Are there vegetarian topping options?
Absolutely! Load up your pizza with roasted bell peppers, onions, olives, tomatoes, and sweet plantains. Skip the meats and you’ll still get all the signature Cuban flavors.
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes! The homemade sauce for Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) stores beautifully in the fridge for up to 5 days, or you can freeze it for up to a month. This makes assembly even easier on pizza night.
How do I prevent the bottom of the pizza from getting soggy?
Be sure to bake your pizza on the lowest rack of your oven and don’t overload with sauce or toppings. Greasing your pie plates also helps crisp the bottom for that perfect slice.
Final Thoughts
Trust me, once you taste your own Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana), you’ll see why it’s such a beloved staple in Cuban-American homes. It’s fun to make, a blast to customize, and positively explodes with flavor. Invite your friends or family, play some salsa music, and create a Miami-style pizza night to remember—your kitchen will never be the same!
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Traditional Cuban Pizza (Miami-Style Pizza Cubana) Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 4 personal pizzas 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A delicious recipe for Traditional Cuban Pizza, also known as Miami-Style Pizza Cubana. This pizza features a homemade crust topped with a flavorful sauce, a blend of cheeses, and a variety of traditional Cuban toppings.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 cup warm water (110ºF)
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Pizza Sauce:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can San Marzano peeled tomatoes (28-ounce)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large bay leaf
Toppings:
- Shredded Gouda cheese
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Ground pork chorizo
- Yellow onion, sliced into rings
- Sliced green olives
- Diced ham
- Sliced green bell peppers
- Sliced red bell peppers
- Diced tomatoes or sliced
- Sweet plantains, sliced
- Cuban picadillo
- Cuban roast pork, shredded
Instructions
- Make The Pizza Dough: In a large measuring cup, combine water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy. Add flour, salt, olive oil, and yeast mixture to a bowl. Knead until smooth. Allow to rise for 1 hour.
- Make The Pizza Sauce: Sauté bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Add tomatoes, sugar, spices, and bay leaf. Simmer, then blend until smooth.
- Make The Pizzas: Preheat oven. Divide dough into 4 parts and press into pie plates. Top with sauce, cheese, toppings, and more cheese. Bake until golden brown.
Notes
- You can customize the toppings to suit your preferences.
- Feel free to experiment with different cheeses for a unique flavor.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cuban
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice of pizza
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Cuban pizza, Miami-style pizza, homemade pizza, traditional Cuban recipe
