How to Grill Pizza

Pizza is one of the most popular dishes all around the world. People love to have it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as a snack. There are countless ways to make a pizza, and each can give you a unique taste. However, the traditional pizza, which is baked in an oven or on a stone, remains everyone's favorite. Today, we are going to focus on a relatively new method of cooking pizza, which is using a grill or smoker.

Cooking pizza on a grill is a delicious alternative to using an oven. Grilling adds a smoky flavor and crisp crust that cannot be achieved with traditional baking methods. In this article, I will walk you through the steps to cook a perfect pizza on a grill, a smoker, and on a pizza stone.

How to cook a pizza on a grill

Grilling pizza is a fun and easy way to enjoy this classic dish with a smoky, charred flavor. Here are the steps to cook pizza on a grill:

• Get it HOT! - You want the grill to be as hot as you can get it. This will reduce cooking time and help get a crispier crust. If you are using charcoal, bank a generous pile of coals to one side so you have direct and indirect heating sides. On a gas grill, turn all burners on high for 15-20 minutes to preheat, then cut off half of the burners to achieve the same setup.
• The Crust - You can use store-bought or homemade pizza dough, whatever you have access to and time for. Roll out the dough into the desired shape and thickness, and place it on a lightly floured pizza peel or a sheet of parchment paper. Brush the dough with olive, avocado, or grapeseed oil. Place oiled side down, directly on clean grates over direct heat for 2-3 minutes or until lightly charred and browned all over. For a little extra flavor, dust the crust with our Garlic² Rub rub after you flip.
• The Toppings -Use tongs or a pizza peel to carefully flip the pizza over, and add sauce and the toppings to the cooked side. Close the lid and let the pizza cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is crispy. If the crust is done before your cheese and toppings are done, move the pizza over to the indirect side and close the lid to finish. Remove the pizza from the grill using tongs or a pizza peel, and let it cool for a minute or two before slicing and serving.

Grilling pizza requires some practice and patience, so don't worry if your first few attempts aren't perfect. With a bit of trial and error, you'll be able to create delicious, grilled pizzas in no time.

How to cook a pizza on a smoker

Cooking pizza on a smoker is a unique way of preparing this savory and satisfying dish. It requires a bit of preparation and patience, but the end result is well worth the effort.

• Roll the smoke! - To start, you will need a good quality smoker. Pellet or charcoal smokers are ideal for this purpose. The smoker should be set up for indirect heat, which means that the pizza will not be placed directly over the heat source. This allows the flavors of the wood smoke to infuse into the pizza while it cooks. Get the grill preheated to 400 degrees and use a medium or light flavored wood for this method. Oak, apple, cherry, and pecan are all great choices.
• The Crust - Next, you will need to prepare the pizza dough. You can use store-bought pizza dough or make your own. A simple recipe for homemade pizza dough is to mix together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of instant yeast. Add 1 cup of warm water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the mixture and knead for about 10 minutes. Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes before rolling it out.
• The Toppings - Once the dough is ready, you can prepare the toppings. Use any toppings you like, such as tomato sauce, cheese, vegetables, and meats. It is important to keep the toppings thin and evenly distributed on the pizza so that they cook evenly.
• The Cook - Place the pizza directly onto the smoker rack and close the lid. Allow the pizza to cook for about 10-15 minutes, checking it periodically to make sure it does not burn. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the pizza and the heat of the smoker. When the pizza is cooked to your liking, remove it from the smoker and allow it to cool for a few minutes before cutting it into slices. The wood smoke flavor will provide an incredibly delicious taste that cannot be obtained through traditional oven baking.

In conclusion, cooking pizza on a smoker is a unique and tasty way to prepare this classic dish. From the dough to the toppings to the cooking process, there are many steps involved in getting it just right. However, with a little bit of practice, anyone can become a master at cooking pizza on a smoker. 

How to use a pizza stone on a grill

Grilling a pizza on a stone is one of the best ways to achieve a crispy crust and perfectly cooked toppings. Here are a few tips on how to use a pizza stone on a grill:

• Preheat the stone - Before placing the pizza on the stone, you need to preheat it. The best way to do this is to place the stone on a cold grill, then heat the grill on high for at least 20 - 30 minutes. This allows the stone to heat evenly and ensures that your pizza will cook correctly.
• Prepare the pizza - While your stone is preheating, prepare your pizza dough. Make sure to let the dough rise to the desired thickness so that it can cook evenly on the stone. You can add any toppings you like, but make sure that the toppings are not too heavy, as they can weigh down the crust and prevent it from cooking correctly.
• The Cook - Once the stone is sufficiently hot, place the pizza directly onto the stone, and then cover the grill, allowing it to cook for approximately 8-12 minutes. You should be able to see the cheese bubbling and the crust becoming crispy. Once the pizza is cooked to your desired doneness, remove it from the grill using a pizza peel. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before slicing it into pieces.

Using a pizza stone on a grill is an excellent way to achieve the perfect crispy and evenly cooked pizza. However, it does require some practice to master. Make sure to follow these tips and adjust them as needed to find what works best for you. With a little patience and practice, you'll be able to cook the perfect pizza every time!