Skip turning on the oven and bake your oven on the grill instead!

How to grill pizza | completelydelicious.com

Pizza night is a year-round staple at our house, but during the hot summer months there are plenty of days when turning on the oven just isn’t going to happen. Thankfully, you can cook pizza outdoors on a grill!

Grilling pizza is easy, quick, and helps give your recipes an extra boost of flavor. Here are step-by-step instructions to show you how:

How to grill pizza | completelydelicious.com

Step 1: Prepare pizza dough

Use whatever pizza dough you prefer. You can use store-bought dough, your favorite homemade recipe, or you can try my favorite basic pizza dough recipe.

  1. Divide risen dough in half. (My dough recipe will yield two 10-inch pizzas. If your dough yields less, skip this step.)
  2. Roll dough out into a rough circle about 1/2-inch thick. It’s okay if it’s oddly shaped and not even, it’s supposed to be rustic.
  3. Brush the top of the dough with olive oil.

How to grill pizza | completelydelicious.com

Step 2: Prepare ingredients

Once the pizza(s) goes on the grill, the rest of the process happens very quickly so it’s important to have everything ready and within arm’s reach.

  1. Since the pizza(s) will only cook on the grill for a few minutes, ingredients like raw meat and hardy vegetables need to be cooked ahead of time.
  2. Have all other toppings prepped and ready to go, including additional olive oil for brushing.

Step 3: Prepare grill & supplies

I have only grilled pizza on a gas grill. I know you can use a charcoal grill, but since I don’t have experience using them I cannot offer any advice or specific instructions.

  1. Preheat grill to medium heat. You want it to be nice and hot, but not so hot that it burns the dough before it has a chance to cook through.
  2. Tools you’ll want to have on hand include a basting brush and spatula/tongs.
  3. Use a sheet pan to easily transport your ingredients and tools outside to the grill. Another sheet pan can be used to transport pizza crusts, and for when the pizzas are done.

How to grill pizza | completelydelicious.com

Step 4: Grill pizza

Are you ready? Let’s do this!

  1. Flip pizza crust(s) onto a hot grill olive oil side-down. Brush the other side with olive oil.
  2. Close grill cover and cook for a few minutes until there’s golden brown grill marks underneath, but be careful to not to let it burn.
  3. Use tongs or a spatula to flip the pizza crust again and quickly place toppings on top of the pizza.
  4. Close grill cover again and cook until the underside is done and cheese (if using) is melted on top.
  5. Remove pizza(s) from the grill and add any final toppings like herbs or salt and pepper and serve immediately.

How to grill pizza | completelydelicious.com

And there you have it! Enjoy homemade pizza all summer long without heating up your kitchen.

You can make any kind of pizza you like, though in the interest of keeping things light and simple this time of year I usually stick to cheese and summer veggies and herbs. Like this mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil pizza. So simple, and so delicious.

Fire up the grill and get your pizza on!

How to grill pizza | completelydelicious.com

How to grill pizza | completelydelicious.com
5 from 1 review

How to Grill Pizza

Servings: 2 9-inch pizzas
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes
Grilling pizza at home is easy!

Ingredients
 

  • Pizza dough , store-bought or you can make your own
  • ¼ cup olive oil (60 ml)
  • Desired toppings: cheese, cooked meats, vegetables and herbs

Equipment

Grill (gas, electric, charcoal, etc.)
Tongs
Basting or pastry brush

Instructions
 

  • Preheat grill to medium heat.
  • Divide dough in half and roll each out to a rough circle about 1/2 inch thick. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon olive oil each.
  • Carefully flip pizza dough onto grill, olive oil side-down. Immediately brush with remaining olive oil and cover the grill.
  • Cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottoms of the pizzas have dark grill marks, but be careful not to burn. Adjust heat as necessary, all grills are different.
  • Using a spatula or tongs, flip pizzas. Quickly add toppings, then cover for 2-3 minutes until bottom of pizzas are browned.
  • Remove from grill and serve immediately.

Notes

NOTES

  • The pizza cooks so quickly on the grill, that all toppings must be cooked and prepped in advance.
  • All grills are different. It may take a few tries to figure out time and temperature for your grill. 
  • This recipe was only tested on a gas grill. You can certainly use other grills (charcoal, etc.) but other adjustments may need to be made.
Cuisine: Italian
Course: Main Course
Author: Annalise
Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating and review below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.