The Best Grilled Pizza Recipe Ever

I’ve been making this grilled pizza recipe at least once a week for years. Usually on Fridays, and especially in the summer. Paired with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or a strawberry mojito, there’s no better “reward” after a long week. I could make the dough in my sleep at this point!

If you’ve never cooked pizza on the grill, or if you’re looking for an EASY pizza recipe with no fancy bells or whistles (or pizza stones), this is the one. Homemade pizza cooked directly on the grill is fast, and all that smoky flavor infuses into the crispy whole wheat crust. You can pick your toppings, or let the family build their own pizzas for a fun family dinner at home.

Why You’ll Love Grilling Pizza This Summer

• Dinner is on the table fast. I’ll show you how to make the best grilled pizza recipe in 30 minutes or less.
• No special equipment needed. Of course, you can use a pizza stone if you have it. But the great thing about this recipe is that the pizza dough cooks right on the grill, without the need for a stone.
• No need to turn on the oven. You don’t need to crank your oven to the highest temperature to get that coveted crispy pizza crust. Keep the heat outside (where it belongs) in the summer!
• Perfectly browned and crisp. No, the pizza dough does not fall through the grill grates! Assuming you’ve properly heated the grill, your dough will form a lovely lightly browned crust. The trick is to cook the plain dough on one side first, before you add your toppings.

What You’ll Need

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make a classic margherita pizza. Scroll to the recipe card for the exact amounts for each ingredient. Also see my suggestions for more pizza topping options further in the post.

• Pizza Dough – My go to pizza dough recipe is a mix of whole wheat and all purpose flour so you get a nice rise. It takes about 1 hour for the dough to rise, unless you use pizza dough yeast, which shortens the rise time to 30 minutes. If you don’t have time to make your own, I can recommend Trader Joe’s pizza dough as a next-best option.
• Tomato Sauce – I like to use my homemade tomato sauce, too! However, if I’m pressed for time, my go-to store-bought brand is Muir Glen Organic Tomato Basil Sauce.
• Fresh Mozzarella – I like to use a fresh mozzarella ball and slice it, I love the look it gives the pizza instead of just shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Tomato – For this recipe I used beef steak tomato, however, any tomato will honestly do. Even cherry tomatoes, if that’s what you have. Just make sure they are thinly sliced.
• Fresh Basil Leaves – I place the basil leaves on top of my finished pizza because I don’t want the grill to cook the basil, I want a pop of flavor at the end. You can put them on in whole form or shredded.

How to Make Grilled Pizza

Follow these simple steps for cooking the best pizza on the grill.

1. Prepare the grill. Wipe down and oil the grill grates, and preheat the grill to 400ºF.
2. Gather your ingredients. Whatever kind of pizza you decide to make (topping ideas listed below), ensure that all of your ingredients are chopped, prepped, and within arms’ reach. Once you start grilling your pizza, the process goes quickly.
3. Grill the pizza dough. Next up, place the pizza dough directly on the hot grill. Close the lid and grill for 2-3 minutes, or until the dough starts to bubble and bottom is slightly browned but not charred. Remove the crust from the grill, flip, and place it on a cookie sheet, grilled side up.
4. Add the pizza toppings. Now, arrange your cheese and chosen toppings on the grilled side of your pizza. For this margherita pizza, that’s tomato sauce, mozzarella slices, and fresh tomato slices. Spread the ingredients evenly over the pizza dough.
5. Return the pizza to the grill. Using a pizza spatula for ease, transfer your assembled pizza back to the grill and close lid. Grill for another 5-7 minutes, checking for doneness every so often. The pizza is cooked when the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted. Afterward, rest the pizza off the grill for a few minutes before slicing and devouring!

What Temperature Should I Grill Pizza?

Think of the grill as a stand-in for an oven. Since most pizzas bake at 350°-400°F, that’s the temperature your grill should be. I also like to make sure I have one side with direct heat, and another side with indirect heat, so I can move my pizza if it starts to get too brown.

Tips for the Best Grilled Pizza

• Make your pizza dough from scratch. There’s nothing like homemade, and pizza dough can easily be made a day ahead of time. Plus, if you make it at home, you can flavor your dough with extras like roasted garlic and Italian herbs. Yum.
• Cook on a hot grill. I aim for around 400°F. I leave a portion of the grill as indirect heat, too, just in case my pizza crust is cooking faster than I like.
• Clean and oil the grill grates. This is actually key anytime when grilling. You want clean grill grates so that any leftover flavors or odors from your previous grilling experience don’t affect your pizza. Scrub the grill clean with a grill brush and oil up the grates with an oil soaked rag. Well-oiled grill grates also ensure that nothing sticks. Think of it like pots or pans. You wash your dishes, so scrub your grill!
• Have your ingredients ready to go. Once you put the pizza dough on the grill, things move fast. Make sure that your sauce is out, cheese is ready, and all your toppings are prepped.
• Add your toppings OFF the grill. I’ve been making grilled pizzas for years, and I used add the toppings while the pizza was still on the grill. But with age comes wisdom! It’s so much easier to remove the pizza, place it on a cookie sheet, and add the toppings off the heat. Not only is this a safer option, but it prevents the bottom of the crust from overcooking and burning.
• Don’t overload the pizza. Try not to weigh down the pizza with too many toppings. It’s still a flatbread and can easily break or become soggy if it’s overloaded.

Using a Pizza Stone If You Have One

If you own a pizza stone, a flat stone specifically made for cooking pizzas, by all means, use it! Pizza grilled on a pizza stone will cook a bit quicker, and you won’t need to flip the crust.

To grill your pizza using a pizza stone, preheat the stone in a super hot grill, i.e., a thermometer should register around 500°F. Remove the grill lid, and place an 8-ounce ball of dough stretched to a 12″-14″ oval on the stone. Add your toppings, and brush the edges of the crust with a little olive oil. Close the lid and grill the pizza for 7-10 minutes, or until the crust is cooked through.

Can I Grill a Frozen Pizza?

Yes, you can definitely grill a frozen pizza. This applies whether it’s from a box, or a homemade pizza you’ve frozen for later.

To grill a frozen pizza, preheat the grill to 400°-450°F. Remove the frozen pizza from any storage containers or packaging. Once the grill is hot, place the pizza directly in the center of the grill and close the lid. Grill for 15-20 minutes, checking throughout for doneness. As usual, the pizza is done when the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted.

Pizza Toppings & Inspiration

• Classic Margherita: Freshly sliced mozzarella, beef steak tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves. Add roasted tomatoes and grilled chicken to make my chicken margherita pizza.
• Fig and goat cheese: Fig jam, crumbled goat cheese, and sliced prosciutto, topped with fresh arugula after it comes off the grill. Drizzle with the balsamic reduction from my pizza Caprese.
• BBQ chicken pizza: Homemade BBQ sauce as the base, topped with shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded rotisserie chicken, and sliced red onion.
• Supreme pizza: Pepperoni, sausage, sliced tomato, bell peppers, sliced red onion and sliced mushrooms.
• Thai chicken pizza: Creamy peanut sauce, rotisserie chicken, shredded carrots, green onions, and fresh cilantro.
• Prosciutto peach pizza: Olive oil, garlic, sliced prosciutto, sliced peaches, crumbled goat cheese, and fresh basil.
• Meat lover’s: Homemade Tomato Sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and Canadian bacon.
• Chicken pesto pizza: Homemade pesto and grilled chicken.
• Hawaiian: Make my grilled Hawaiian pizza with homemade mango BBQ sauce, shredded Kalua pork or bacon, pineapple chunks, red onion, and goat cheese.
• Vegetarian: Sliced mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, and spinach. Feel free to add extras like olives or artichokes.

More Summer Grilling Recipes

• Grilled Chicken Pineapple Kabobs
• Grilled Lamb Burgers
• Grilled Ribeye Steak
• Grilled Chimichurri Chicken
• Grilled Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa