How to make pizza on the grill – Three methods
I describe three ways to make pizza on the grill. Experiment and discover which method works best for your situation. I usually make my own dough, but you can also use store-bought dough. Trader Joe’s, Mollie Stones, Whole Foods and others sell fresh or frozen pizza dough. Making your own pizza dough is better tasting for sure. See How to Make Pizza Dough
1. Making pizza directly on the grill bars
- This method is the trickest but the purest form of using your gas or charcoal grill to make a pizza.
- Roll out the dough. Brush some olive oil on the side the will go onto the grill.
- Using a broad spatula, place the pizza dough onto a medium-temperature grill.
- Let it cook for 2 minutes and take it off the grill and flip it over on to a pizza peel.
- Place pizza toppings on the dough and slide back onto the grill bars. Hold the pizza peel at a 20-degree angle to slide the dough.
- Check and rotate the pizza frequently. When done, remove pizza, cut, and serve.
- With this method, I can make two pizzas on my gas grill at once.
Place on a medium grill and cook for one-to-two minutes and remove, flipping over onto your pizza peel.
Place toppings on the cooked side of the pizza dough and slide back on the grill
Use your spatula to rotate and check the underneath of the pizza dough. Do not let it burn.
Making Pizza on the Grill with a Pizza Stone
- Get a good-quality pizza stone. I have two, one for the grill and one always in my oven.
- Heat the gas grill to 500. On the charcoal grill, place one even layer of briquettes on the rack. Add briquettes as needed.
- Let the pizza stone heat up for 30 minutes.
- Slide the pizza dough onto the stone and let cook for 45 to 60 seconds.
- Remove the pizza dough from the stone with a spatula, no need to flip it over as in the first method.
- Place the toppings on the dough and slide back on the stone.
- Cook for 3 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness of the dough.
- Check the bottom and rotate; do not let it burn.
- When done, remove, cut and serve.
Pizza on the stone. Heat stone for 30 minutes; the hotter, the better
Add toppings and return to grill. Rotate, check the bottom and cook until done. This is a squash blossom pizza. Yummy!
Pizza on a cast iron pan
Cast iron cooking is a big rage these days. You can also use it on your grill or stovetop to make a fantastic pizza
- Place the cast iron pan on the gas grill or charcoal grill, medium heat, for 20 minutes
- Slide the pizza dough into the cast iron pan for 45 seconds to 60 seconds
- Use a small spatula and/or tongs to pick up the pizza dough
- At this point, remove it or flip it over for another 45 seconds.
- Put the toppings on the dough and slide it back into the cast iron for 3 to 6 minutes.
Place dough in the cast iron pan and cook for 45 to 60 seconds
Delicious fig pizza in the cast iron pan
Once you get into making your pizza dough and pizzas, you will fine-tune your cooking methods. Nothing beats a good homemade pizza. It is also a fun thing to do with family and friends. Host a pizza party and have your guests make their own pizzas.
Important pizza techniques and information
How to slide the pizza dough onto the grill, stone, or cast iron pan
If you make pizza often, you will need these pizza essential tools