A Step by Step Guide to the Perfect Grilled Pizza

Sep 23, 2024

Grilling pizza is a fantastic way to achieve a crispy crust and impart a smoky flavor to your favorite toppings. Here is your Grill Masters Club step-by-step guide on how to make three delicious pizzas—Pepperoni and Sausage, Veggie, and BBQ Chicken—entirely on a grill or in a smoker. Get ready to elevate your pizza game and enjoy these mouthwatering creations!

Before we begin, let's gather the ingredients you'll need for each pizza:

Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza

Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
Pizza sauce
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Pepperoni slices
Cooked sausage, crumbled
Fresh basil leaves (optional)

Veggie Pizza

Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
Olive oil
Pizza sauce or pesto
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Assorted vegetables (such as bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes), sliced or diced
Fresh basil leaves (optional)

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
BBQ sauce
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
Red onion, thinly sliced
Cilantro leaves (optional)

Now, let's dive into the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Preparing the Grill/Smoker

Preheat your grill or smoker to medium-high heat, targeting a temperature of around 400°F. If using a smoker, ensure that there's enough airflow to maintain the desired temperature.

Step 2: Preparing the Meats and Vegetables

For the Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza: Place the pre-cooked sausage on the grill until browned and fully cooked. Remove from the grill and let it cool before crumbling it. You can also grill the pre-cooked pepperoni slices briefly for added flavor.

For the BBQ Chicken Pizza: Grill a chicken breast until cooked through, brushing it with BBQ sauce during the last few minutes of grilling. Once cooked, let it cool before shredding or dicing it. Did you know that Grill Masters Club offers a wide variety of award-winning BBQ sauces in its Pitmaster Shop?

For the Veggie Pizza: Brush the assorted vegetables with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and grill them until tender and slightly charred. Remove from the grill and set them aside.

Step 3: Preparing the Pizza Dough

If using store-bought dough, follow the package instructions for bringing it to room temperature. (Or try "Bobby T's Perfect Pizza Dough" from our Pitmaster Shop, also available in our "Ultimate Backyard Pizza Pizza Bundle"!)

If making homemade dough, roll it out into desired sizes and thickness. Lightly brush one side with olive oil to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Building the Pizzas

For all three pizzas, start with a base layer of sauce (pizza sauce, pesto, or BBQ sauce), leaving a small border around the edges.

Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.

Add your desired toppings:

For the Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza: Scatter the crumbled sausage and pepperoni slices evenly over the cheese.
For the Veggie Pizza: Arrange the grilled vegetables on top of the cheese.
For the BBQ Chicken Pizza: Spread the shredded or diced grilled chicken evenly and top with thinly sliced red onions.

Close the grill lid and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden brown.

Step 5: Grilling the Pizza

Place the pizza dough on the preheated grill, oiled side down. Close the lid and grill for about 2-3 minutes or until the bottom is nicely charred and firm.

Carefully flip the dough using tongs or a spatula. This is where you'll start building your pizzas.

Pro Tip: Use the Pizzori Cast Iron Pizza Plate for restaurant-quality results at home!

Step 6: Finishing Touches and Serving

Remove the pizzas from the grill and let them cool for a minute or two.

Optionally, garnish the pizzas with fresh basil leaves, cilantro leaves, or any other desired toppings.

Slice the pizzas and serve them hot.

Grilling pizzas is a fun and delicious way to enjoy your favorite flavors with a unique twist. Feel free to experiment with different toppings and sauces to create your own signature grilled pizzas. Get creative, and enjoy the smoky, grilled goodness!