How to Grill a Pizza (Step by Step)

Pizza is a common food staple that comes in various styles and cooking techniques. I love a good Neapolitan style pie with a chewy thin crust that’s been blazed in a ridiculously high-temperature wood-fired oven.

How to Grill a Pizza - Step-by-step guide
Many of us don’t have the luxury to own an extremely expensive pizza oven, yet I keep telling my husband to put it on my birthday wishlist, hehe. A conventional oven just doesn’t get quite hot enough, but the barbecue grill is a great alternative!

Try this simple how to grill a pizza guide for your next pizza pie adventure!

1. Prep Grill and Pizza Ingredients

Clean and pre-heat grill, you want it hot between 500 – 600 degrees F (over direct heat if you are using charcoal). For my gas grill, I set all three burners on medium-high heat, however, gauge the temperature of your grill as it may differ.

Roll out your pizza dough and transfer to a sheet pan or pizza board and bring it to the grill. Set up all of your topping ingredients on one tray so you have easy access to them when ready to top. The organization for this quick-cooking technique is essential!

2. Grilling the Pizza Dough

Brush the top of the uncooked dough with olive oil so it does not stick to the grill. Carefully lay the olive oiled crust side down in grill, stretching as needed to achieve a circular dough, it will start to cook quickly so work fast!

Cook uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes or until the bottom of the crust just begins to get some grill marks but isn’t getting hard and crispy. Use tongs to lift and check the dough after a minute or so. Flip the dough over, and get ready to top quickly!

3. Adding the Pizza Toppings

Once you flip the dough (it should come off easily from the grill and hold its shape), you will have to work very quickly as the grill is scorching and you don’t want to burn your pizza crust. Arrange a thin layer of the sauce, cheese, and toppings, then cover and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes.

Check the bottom after a few minutes to make sure the bottom of the crust isn’t getting burnt. Once the pizza is done cooking, transfer to a pan and allow it to rest for a few minutes. Cut and serve immediately and enjoy the crispy goodness!