Grilling a pizza can be so easy and intensely delicious — you'll wonder why you haven't tried it before!
When most people think of grilling a meal, it’s usually all about the proteins. Steaks, burgers, brats and ribs take center stage in the outdoor kitchen and many people rarely venture outside of the tailgating comfort zone to grill familiar meals more commonly made indoors. Sandwiches, deserts, side dishes and more can all be made with ease on any grill, if the pitmaster is willing to broaden their horizons. One such favorite that couldn’t be easier and more flavorful is pizza.
While many recipes exist for grilled pizza, from making fresh pizza dough to using a frozen crust, my method is designed for ease of preparation and to maximize the smokiness and flavor of your fuel source. Keeping in mind that everyone has their favorite pizza toppings, preparing a grilled pizza in the following fashion can be done with just about any ingredients and will give your food the distinctive character of a wood-fired, brick oven pizza.
Directions:
1. Prepare pizza with a premade flatbread, available in most grocery stores. I prefer to use Naan, but you can use pita bread or any variation.
2. Spread on your favorite Croix Valley Sauce as your base. If looking to deviate from a traditional BBQ flavor, our Original Steak Sauce, the Hot N Spicy or Garlic N Herb are fantastic for pizzas!
3. Add your toppings. As you'll be cooking the pizza simply to crisp the crust and melt the cheese, any proteins must be pre-cooked. If you want the full flavor of the grill to shine in your pizza, grill your veggies ahead of time as well. Grilled onion, peppers, mushrooms and more are perfect for this style of pizza.
4. Add your cheese and you're off to the races!
5. Bake your pizza over indirect heat for 10 minutes or until the cheese begins to bubble and your crust begins to brown and crisp on the bottom. Serve and enjoy!
Once you’ve had a grilled pizza, you’ll never want to go try it any other way. Outside of heating up your grill, the time involved in grilling a pizza is less than waiting for delivery or preheating your oven for a frozen disappointment. Not only will the tastes and aromas gratify your senses, but the freshness of the ingredients and ease in creating your backyard masterpiece will have you wondering why it’s taken you so long to get out of the hot dog rut of grilling. Enjoy your time making outdoor cuisine and indulge in a pizza like you’ve never experienced before.
Keep on grillin’!