How To Make Grilled Pizza

What Temperature Do You Cook Premade Pizza Dough At

How to Cook Pizza on a Gas Grill | Grillabilities from BBQGuys

Making pizza dough at home is a relatively easy task, especially if you have a oven with a temperature control. However, there are some key factors you should keep in mind when cooking your premade pizza dough.

The first thing to consider is the temperature at which the dough will cook. If your oven has a temperature control, it will allow you to set the temperature of your dough according to how well you want it cooked.

If you dont have an oven with a temperature control, then youll need to make sure that the temperature of your workspace is consistent with the temperature of your ovens crust. If your workspace is different from the ovens crust, then your dough might not cook evenly or may not be cooked at all.

Another important factor to consider when making pizza dough is moisture content.

A Few Notes About Pizza Dough

For all homemade pizza I make from scratch, I start with my Fail-Proof Pizza Dough recipe . This recipe makes enough dough for 2 medium 12 inch pizzas. Alternatively, you might be able to find a prepared pizza dough in the frozen foods section or fresh dough in the deli/bakery at your local grocery store.

Divide that dough into manageable pieces for the grill and stretch and roll it out into the size you want. The size of your grill and/or who youre serving will determine what size you make your pizzas. This recipe is for four individual pizzas. You can do a larger size pizza, but it can be tricky to flip.

Grilled Pizza Recipe Highlights

This grilled pizza recipe is

  • PERFECT. Yes, absolutely perfect. Beautifully golden brown crust with glorious charred grill marks, ooey-goeey melted cheese, & a hint of smoky flavor from the grill. Summer dinner truly does not get better than homemade pizza on the grill!
  • STRAIGHT-FORWARD. Whether you grill with gas or charcoal, this grilled pizza recipe is for you! The pizza is grilled directly on the grill grates leveraging the 2-zone method, so you do not need a pizza stone, a pizza oven kit for your grill, or any other special pizza making accessories.
  • VERSATILE. Dress it up with tons of different toppings, grilled pizza is perfect for easy weeknight dinners or for the most epic summer pizza parties!

Homemade pizza on the grilla real summertime MVP. Read on to learn more about How to Grill Pizza, or jump straight to the recipe& get grilling!

Read Also: How To Make Lamb Chops On The Grill

Charcoal Vs Gas Grills

Ive made grilled pizzas on both charcoal and gas grills and the method remains the same. My only hesitation with charcoal is you cant control the temperature quite as easily as you can with a gas grill. Its not impossible and we definitely have had success. Just be sure to watch your crust as is cooks. It may need a few more minutes to get that char OR it might be ready to flip after 60 seconds. Just be sure to watch it carefully as you go.

Make The Sauce Your Own

Pizza Dough &  Charcoal Grilled Pizza

I like to think that the following red sauce honors the spirit of two classic Neapolitan pizzas: marinara sauce and the margherita .

My recipe, a loose riff on , is one that I’ve been making for years, and it couldnt be easier. Seriously, you dont even have to do any chopping!

Crushed San Marzano tomatoes are briefly simmered with onion halves and smashed garlic cloves, along with a few sprigs of basil, dried oregano, a pinch of kosher salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. I stir in a splash of really nice extra-virgin olive oil at the end to lend a hint of richness to the sauce. Thats it.

Once youve gotten the base recipe under your belt feel free to mix things up with different herb, spices or add-ins.

  • Crushed fennel seeds
  • Leftover Parmesan rind

As for how much sauce to use per pizza, I usually go fairly light, using only about 1/4 cup per 10-inch pizza, so the pizza dough can get crisp as it cooks. This recipe yields about 3 cups of sauce, which is enough for about a dozen pizzas. If you like a saucier pie, feel free to add more.

Also Check: How To Properly Make Grilled Cheese

Grilled Pizza Napoletana Recipe

The grill is one of the tastiest, fastest ways to get charred, crisp pizza at home during the summer.

Check out our Complete Guide to Grilled Pizza for more details on making and topping grilled pizzas.

Note: cheddar, fontina, jack, or any other good melting cheese can be used in place of mozzarella.

Rate & Comment

  • 2pounds homemade or store-bought pizza dough

  • 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, drained

  • 1/2cupextra-virgin olive oil

  • 1pound shredded or thinly sliced low-moisture mozzarella cheese

  • 4ounces roughly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano

  • 1/2cup finely chopped basil leaves

Erins Easy Entertaining Tips

Grilled Pizza Party, anyone?

We used to make sheet pan pizzas for birthdays when I was a kid, but a grilled pizza gathering would be a blast and its something everyone can have a say in, too!

Here are a few tips and tricks to transforming this grilled pizza into an entertaining mainstay:

  • Depending on the amount of people youre serving, you can double this recipe. Heck, you can triple or quadruple it, too. Just give your grill time to heat back up in between rounds of pizza, mmkay?
  • Make the dough in advanceand keep it wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge until an hour before go-time. We want it to be close to room temperature so its easier to roll.
  • Create a toppings bar so guests can dress their own pizzas. Offer different types of toppings so guests can mix and match to make their ideal pie.

Please note that since were making the pizza on the grill, I do not recommend letting kids help while grilling.

Let kids tell you what they want and put it together for them since the grill is going to be screaming hot. A kid-safe activity you can set up is rolling out the dough, depending on their ages and skill levels.

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Pizza On The Grill Recipe

The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

Potassium 219mg 5%
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Grilled pizza is a fantastic dinner option and a fun alternative for summer barbecues. It’s surprisingly quick and easy, and you don’t need a pizza stone or steel. Whether you have a gas, charcoal, or pellet grill, you can cook pizza directly on the grates if you know a few simple tricks.

Grilling pizza without a pan is easier than you may think and only takes about five minutes. You’ll cook the dough on one side, flip it and add the toppings, then return it to the grill to finish cooking. Using indirect heat is essential to avoid burning the bottom of the crust over direct flames. It’s faster than homemade pizza in the oven, so it’s perfect for hot days when you want to keep the kitchen cool.

Many people are worried about pizza dough falling through the grates, but that’s unlikely. Grilled pizza works best with a thin-crust, slightly dry, and stiff dough that’s rolled flat and at room temperature. If the dough is too wet or warm, it may stretch when you’re transferring it to the grill. This 12-inch pizza dough recipe that requires a short rise time is ideal, and a store-bought dough is a good alternative.

Should Pizza Dough Be Warm Or Cold

How to make Pizza on the Grill | Grilling Recipes | Allrecipes.com

Pizza dough should be warm, according to some pizza enthusiasts, in order to prevent it from becoming too dense and heavy. Others believe that cold pizza dough is better because it gasps in the oven and creates a crispy crust. Whether you prefer warm or cold pizza dough, its important to make sure your oven can accommodate both varieties.

Also Check: Pizza Oven For Outdoor Grill

How To Pick The Perfect Dough For A Grilled Pizza

Sure, you could make your own pizza dough. Weve tried, with expert advice from the Pizza Lupo team. But, lets just say theres a reason that team runs a successful pizzeria and we dont.

Pizza dough is an art and science that takes a whole lot of finesse. We need to keep things simple, so my husband I grab pre-made doughs from Lotsa Pasta, 3717 Lexington Road. The same pre-made dough is also often available at Pauls Fruit Market shops in the freezer section.

What Do Dominos Put On Their Dough

Dominos is a fast food chain with a history of putting on delicious doughnuts. With over 1,500 locations in the United States, Dominos offers customers something to satisfy every craving.

Some of their popular doughnuts include the pepperoni and sausage doughnut, the cinnamon and sugar doughnut, and the banana split doughnut. They also have a variety of other flavors like blackberry pie and chocolate chip cookie doughnuts.

What do Dominos put on their dough The answer to this question is varied, but most likely it includes some form of breading or frosting. This helps to keep the doughnuts from becoming greasy or heavy, which can make them difficult to eat.

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How To Throw A Grilled Pizza Party

Literally hundreds of people have cooked pizzas on my grill over the past 15 years.

My wife and I were small group leaders at our church for about a dozen years and those who were in our group always looked forward to at least a spring and a fall outdoor pizza party in addition to several others throughout the summer.

Weve thrown these parties for staff get-togethers. Weve done them for large groups of volunteers I was managing in my previous work. Family reunions. Birthday parties. We even donated a grilled pizza party once for a private school auction fundraiser. Either for lunch or dinner, this meal will be a crowd favorite.

So all that to say that weve learned a few things over the years on how to be successful throwing a grilled pizza party. Here are some relatively simple things to consider:

Recipes For Different Kinds Of Grilled Pizzas

Grilled Pizza Recipes to Make This Summer
  • Grilled Margherita Pizza: A traditional pizza with a crispy crust, fresh mozzarella, and flavorful tomatoes.
  • Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza: A zesty pizza with a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, chicken, and red onions.
  • Grilled Veggie Pizza: A healthy option packed with grilled vegetables like peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini.
  • Grilled Pepperoni Pizza: A classic favorite with a spicy kick from pepperoni sausage.
  • Whatever toppings you choose, I hope you enjoy your grilled pizza!

    Read Also: How To Prepare Charcoal Grill

    How Do You Make Pizza Dough Rise

    Dough doesnt rise like bread does. Breads dough rises because of the air pressure that is exerted when the flour and water combine. Pizza dough, however, doesnt have a lot of air pressure. So, to make your pizza dough rise, youll need to add some extra flour and water combination to your recipe.

    How Many People Do You Invite

    Well, how big is your grill? We have a 5 burner Jenn Air gas grill that can let about 8-9 pizzas enter it at a time. Its a beast of a gas grill. So we have served a group as big as about 45 before, just knowing that we wont all be sitting down to eat at the same time.

    You can use any type of grill that you want for your pizzas. Many people use charcoal grills, others use gas. We choose the grill that we do because of the sheer number of pizzas that we can prepare at once with it.

    Despite all your worst fears, the dough will not ruin your grill grates. You can safely put the pizza stone away for this cook and place your dough directly on the grill.

    One of the benefits to having a big group is that you end up with a bigger buffet of extra pizza toppings to choose from!

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    Grilled Pizza: The Dough

    Start with the right dough: As I mentioned up above, you need to start with a pizza dough that is on your team. I love this pizza dough. It’s the one you see in the pictures here. You can read all about why I like it, in short: the flavor is great, its easy to work with, you dont need a mixer, and there is no need to proof the yeast youre using. Great in an oven or on a grill. It’s super flex and adaptable. Alternately, you can experiment with doughs purchased from local pizza spots or stores.

    How To Raid Your Fridge And Pantry For Pizza Toppings

    How to Make Grilled Pizza | You Can Cook That | Allrecipes.com

    Ok, you’ve made your crust. Now, what do you put on the pizzas? For the summer of grilled pizza, anything and everything goes.

    Our friend wanted to try a home version of a bacon and date pizza from Noble Funk Brewing Co., 922 S. 2nd St., so she graciously brought several ingredients for that, including arugula and dates, plus some other goodies.

    I often like a classic tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella situation, so we planned on those ingredients. And then while I was picking up wine at Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St., my husband who likes a supreme pizza assembled a veritable smorgasbord of random things from our fridge and pantry that I added to when I got home and dug through the produce and cheese sections of our fridge.

    Leftover cheeses and hams from a charcuterie board we shared recently? The last few spoons of crumbled blue cheese in the container? Sold!

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    We also caramelized some shallots, filled a bowl with shredded pizza cheese, made a simple sauce of canned Pomi sauce with a handful of fresh herbs, and added a few more goodies to the spread like smoked honey, sriracha mayo, Bourbon Barrel Foods seasonings, and fresh basil.

    As summer bears down, also try grilled farmers market veggies everything from corn to eggplant is wonderful on a grilled pizza.

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    Preparing To Grill Pizza:

    • When I make pizza at home, I usually buy a premade dough but heres a link to make your own dough
    • Take the dough out of the fridge 30 minutes before it. Room temp dough rolls easier and holds its shape better.
    • Using your hands or a rolling pin, spread the dough into a rectangle-ish shape .
    • Preheat the grill to high heat and while the grill is preheating, gather all your toppings.
    • Slice the tomatoes, hand tear the mozzarella then lightly season both with salt and pepper.
    • Carry all of the toppings, tongs, spatula and baking sheet cutting board to the grill.

    The Best Tomatoes For Homemade Pizza Sauce

    The sauce typically found on a Neapolitan-style pizza consists of really good canned San Marzano tomatoes and frankly not much else. Its the kind of sauce that shows how using a few high-quality ingredients can positively impact a recipe.

    I typically search for canned San Marzanos at my neighborhood market. A number of brands are becoming more available these days, but hands-down my favorite is Bianco Di Napoli, which was co-founded by James Beard Award-winning pizza chef Chris Bianco of Pizzeria Bianco. These California-grown tomatoes have top rankings in blind taste tests and are beloved in professional kitchens. They can be found at Whole Foods other specialty markets, and online.

    If you cant find San Marzanos at your market dont let that stop you from making this sauce. Any canned Italian-style plum tomato puree will also work for this recipe, but trust me, once you use San Marzanos, youll never go back. The flavor is simple and bright with a beautiful balance of acidity and sweetness. Pure tomato goodness.

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    My Pizza Is Sticking What Do I Do

    Dont panic. This can happen from time to time. If you notice your pizza is sticking, leave it alone to cook and crisp up for another 30 seconds or so to see if it will release after it gets a little more charred.

    Also, keep in mind that your homemade pizza dough was coated in olive oil before being left to rise. It still should have some residual olive oil on it before it goes onto the grill. If there isnt very much olive oil on your pizza dough, add a little extra. This will act as extra nonsticking insurance.

    General Grilled Pizza Tips

    Grilled Pizza with Pesto, Tomatoes &  Feta Recipe
    • Start with a good pizza dough foundation. This is my go-to homemade pizza dough, and it works well on the grill.
    • Similar to baking pizza in an oven, you want to achieve medium-high to high heat here. Pre-heat the grill as long as possible and check the temperature before starting the pizza. I aim for 450-500F-ish. You can go hotter if youre baking your pizza on an upper grill rack, but run the risk of scorchy grill marks if its in a more direct spot. If youre using a pizza stone, ignore this and get your grill hot hot hot.
    • Pizza on the grill differs from baking pizza in the oven in that with grilled pizza you generally flip the dough once before adding toppings.
    • Consider pre-cooking any veggies or other toppings if needed. They won’t have much time to cook on the grill. Arrange each in an individual bowl along with the rest of your toppings bar.
    • Use a bit of olive oil on the pizza dough to prevent the first side from sticking to the grill.

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