A Step by Step Guide to the Perfect Grilled Pizza
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 Urban Slicer Outdoor Grilling Pizza Dough from our Pitmaster Shop, also included in our Pitmaster's Grilled Pizza Kit!)
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 Outset 18" Cast Iron Pizza Stone 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!
Gear up for grilled pizza: the Outset 18" Cast Iron Pizza Stone (free cutter included), the 10x18" Bamboo Pizza Peel and the Pitmaster's Grilled Pizza Kit with dough, sauce, pepperoni and seasonings. Browse all outdoor pizza accessories and take 10% off with code USA.
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