Grilled pizza recipes

How to grill pizza

Grilling pizza gives America's favorite pie a distinctive smoky flavor that you simply can't achieve in the oven. It is also the perfect solution for family and entertaining during the hot summer months when you want to keep the kitchen cool.

There are three ways you can cook a pizza on the grill:

• Use a grill-safe pizza pan -- Place pizza directly on the pizza pan and set it on the grill grate over indirect heat with the grill lid closed. Pizza pans, such as the Pampered Chef BBQ Pizza Pan, have slots that give pizza direct exposure to heat and allow for grill marks.
• Use a pizza stone -- Preheat pizza stone on the grill over indirect heat for at least 30 minutes. Slide pizza directly onto the stone and cook with grill lid closed.
• Directly on grill grate -- This method is trickier because your pizza dough doesn't have support from a pan or stone. Roll your pizza dough and place it on the grate over indirect low heat. Cook for a couple of minutes then flip and add your toppings. Close grill lid and cook for 5 to 10 minutes depending on your grill and the toppings.

Note: You will need a pizza peel, like the stainless steel Pizzacraft Pizza Peel, if using a pizza stone or grilling directly on the grate.

Heating your grill for pizzas

You will need to set your grill for indirect heat. If you have a gas grill, simply set the gauge for medium heat and adjust to heat only the side of your grill. To preheat a charcoal grill, set your charcoal to one side of your grill and heat until the temperature reaches about 450 degrees F. Whether you have a gas or charcoal grill, consider buying an oven thermometer.

Basic grilled pizza

Serves 6 to 8

Make your own pizza dough or buy fresh pizza dough -- you will need about 1 pound for 1 (12-inch) pizza.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pizza dough, ready to roll
• 1 cup your favorite pizza or marinara sauce (try Wolfgang Puck's Tomato Basil Sauce)
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese or your choice of cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat grill to medium heat, if using a pizza pan or pizza stone (be sure to preheat stone for at least 30 minutes).
2. Roll dough out until it is 12 to 13 inches in diameter.
3. Place dough on a pizza pan sprayed lightly with cooking spray. If using a pizza stone, scatter a pizza peel with cornmeal then place dough on the peel.
4. Spread sauce on dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Evenly scatter cheese over sauce.
5. Place pizza pan over indirect heat on the grill, or slide pizza from the peel onto the preheated pizza stone.
6. Close the grill lid and cook for 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and the pizza crust is golden brown.
7. Set pizza pan on a wire rack to cool, or use your pizza peel to retrieve pizza from stone and transfer to a wire rack. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cutting board to slice and serve.

Grilled pizza variations

• Wild mushroom pizza: Scatter sliced wild mushrooms and caramelized onions onto pizza then top with shredded Gruyere or Fontina cheese.
• Garden fresh pizza: Pick your freshest garden veggies, slice them thin, then scatter on pizza before topping with your favorite shredded cheese.
• Sausage broccoli pizza: Lightly steam bite-sized broccoli florets until crisp-tender and cook sausage until browned through. Scatter broccoli and sausage on pizza before adding shredded cheddar cheese.
• Mediterranean pizza: Top pizza with roasted eggplant slices, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and crumbled feta cheese.
• Barbecue pizza: Grill chicken, steak, ribs or other meat, then shred or chop. Scatter grilled meat and any veggies you have on hand on the pizza and top with your favorite shredded cheese.
• Pineapple ham pizza: Top pizza with chopped pineapple and Canadian bacon or another ham and top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Garlic greens pizza: Sauté dark leafy greens, such as spinach, chard and kale, in olive oil and minced garlic. Spread on pizza and top with shredded smoked Gouda.
• Salad pizza: Make the basic pizza and toss your favorite salad while the pizza is grilling. Take pizza off of grill and top with salad.
• Pesto pizza: Prep your favorite toppings. Spread homemade or storebought pesto on pizza dough instead of tomato sauce. Scatter with toppings and cheese.
• White sauce pizza: Use an Alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce and top with your favorite veggies, meats and cheese.
• Hummus pizza: Spread hummus on pizza dough instead of tomato sauce. Scatter with your favorite toppings and cheese.

More pizza recipes

Half-scratch pizza recipes
Skordalia, shrimp and herb pizza
BBQ pizza