Grilled Pizza

Our easy-to-make Grilled Pizza recipe combines the smoky flavor of the grill with fresh and flavorful toppings for a mouth-watering meal.

Most people love all of the meat they make on the grill, but my family’s favorite is grilled pizza! So now we can have pizza and grill at the same time! We’ve made it many different ways over the years, and all of that practice resulted in this recipe.

I’ve found that precooking the crusts slightly makes it infinitely easier to add the toppings and grill the pizzas the rest of the way. Try making these mini pizzas for your family and friends, and they are sure to be a hit!

Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

Grilled Pizza Dough

• Pizza dough is the foundation of any good pizza. Therefore, our favorite grilled pizza dough is homemade dough! Be sure to allow for the hour it takes for the dough to rise.
• If you prefer to use frozen bread dough, that works too. Simply follow the instructions on the package for how to thaw and rise the dough.
• For a shortcut, use store-bought, precooked pizza crusts or even naan flatbread.

Olive Oil

• Olive oil is brushed on the pizza dough before grilling to prevent it from sticking to the grill grate and to make the crust crispy. It also helps to add flavor to the pizza.
• You can use vegetable oil or canola oil if you prefer.

Minced Garlic

• Minced garlic adds a delicious flavor to the pizza. It is added to the olive oil and brushed on the pizza dough rounds.
• Use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor, but you can substitute it with garlic powder in a pinch.
• It can also be added to the pizza sauce or sprinkled on top of the cheese.

Pepperoni

• Sliced pepperoni is our favorite pizza topping. We like putting it on top of the cheese, but it can go under if you prefer.
• You can also use diced pepperoni or turkey pepperoni.
• Other popular protein options include sausage, Canadian bacon, chicken, and bacon.

Mozzarella Cheese

• Mozzarella cheese is a must-have for any pizza. It melts beautifully and adds a creamy flavor to the pizza.
• Other popular cheeses include cheddar, parmesan, cheddar, and asiago, but you can use any cheese that goes well with the toppings you use.

Pizza Sauce

• Since pizza sauce is the base for any good pizza, be sure to choose a delicious, flavorful sauce.
• It should be made with high-quality ingredients, such as tomatoes, herbs, and spices.
• We prefer homemade pizza sauce because of the flavor it adds! Make a big batch and store the extras in the freezer so that it is ready whenever you want to grill pizza.

Seasoning

• Top the pizzas with a little dried oregano for extra flavor.
• Other popular seasonings include basil, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
• You can also buy a premixed pizza seasoning blend.

How To Make Pizza In The Grill

Prepare the Crusts

• After turning the dough out onto a floured surface, cut it into eight equal sections.
• Flatten each section of dough into a circle that is about 6-8 inches wide. If the dough doesn’t want to stretch and flatten, cover it loosely and allow it to rest for several minutes before continuing.
• If your dough is too sticky, making it difficult to form, sprinkle it with a little flour. Or, if it is too dry, try brushing it with a little olive oil.

Season the Dough

• Brush the pizza crust with olive oil and minced garlic on both sides.
• Place the dough rounds on a parchment-covered baking sheet.
• Cover with additional sheets of parchment and continue stacking the oiled pizza crusts on top.

Pre Grill the Crusts

• Preheat the grill on high. You want the interior of the grill to be hot, turning it into a pizza oven.
• Turn the grill down to medium heat and partially cook the crusts for only 1 minute on each side.
• Remove them from the heat and return them to the pan.
• Close the lid of the grill and turn the heat back up to high.

Grilled Pizza Toppings

• Now that the crusts are slightly cooked and no longer sticky, you can add your favorite toppings.
• My family likes to keep things simple with just pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, sliced pepperoni, and oregano.
• If you are entertaining, put the grilled pizza toppings in separate bowls and allow each person to add their own toppings!

Grill Pizza

• Once you’ve added all the toppings, head back outside to finish cooking the pizza.
• Turn the grill temperature to low. The interior of the grill should be really hot since you left it on high. Now the cheese can melt, and the dough can finish cooking. Keep in mind that you don’t want high direct heat from the bottom at this point, or you will end up with burnt pizza.
• An alternative method is to use indirect heat. Keep half of the burners on high and cook the pizzas on the other side with the burners off.
• Close the lid and grill the pizzas for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Additional Grilled Pizza Recipes

Since cooking pizza on the grill is so fabulous, you are going to need some additional recipes to try! Here are a few of our favorites:

Chicken Alfredo

To make a chicken alfredo pizza, use alfredo sauce instead of pizza sauce and cooked, sliced chicken breasts instead of pepperoni. Plus, you can add crumbled bacon for extra flavor.

Buffalo Chicken

For buffalo chicken pizza, top the pizza with grilled chicken coated in buffalo sauce instead of pepperoni. You can also add blue cheese crumbled and ranch dressing for even more of a buffalo chicken wings flavor.

Hawaiian Pizza

Hawaiian pizzas are topped with Canadian bacon instead of pepperoni and include diced pineapple. For even more flavor, add sliced onions and bacon bits.

Make Ahead and Storage

Make Ahead

• There are several ways to prepare for grilling pizza ahead of time, such as making the dough the day before and storing it in the fridge.
• Another option is to precook the crusts and store them in the fridge so that they are ready for toppings.
• You can also prep the pizzas with the toppings, store them in the fridge or the freezer, and then finish cooking them before serving.

Storage

• You can store leftover grilled pizza in the fridge just like any pizza.
• Store in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic in the fridge for 2-3 days.
• Or store them in the freezer for 1-2 months.

What Others Want To Know About Grilling Pizza

More Pizza Recipes To Try

Deep-fried pizza has a crust that is buttery and crispy on the outside yet soft and chewy on the inside. Top it with your favorite toppings and bake for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Macaroni and Cheese Pizza is a fun and easy way to take pizza night to the next level. This recipe is perfect for families who love comfort food.

Using a bbq pizza stone is the perfect way to get that crispy pizzeria crust without heating up your kitchen. This family favorite is sure to please everyone at the table.

Pretzel Pizza is one of the best homemade pizzas ever. The double cheddar cheese sauce is to die for! Make this pizza for parties, game days, or any other special occasion.