How to Grill Pizza Like a Pro

Attention pizza lovers! Are you ready to level up your backyard cookout? Try the grilling MVP—grilled pizza. You’ll savor the delicious, smoky flavor and perfectly crispy crust, along with endless options to customize each pizza to your taste. This guide to grilled pizza will take you through the process of cooking pizza on the grill, from preparing the dough to selecting toppings, to ensure restaurant-quality results every time. Whether you choose to grill pizza using aluminum foil or a pizza stone, you'll end up with that irresistible fire-baked flavor that makes your homemade grilled pies taste better than anything delivery can offer. 

Making pizza on the grill with a perfectly crispy crust 

Learning how to cook pizza on the grill may seem daunting at first. However, once you master the technique, you'll be grilling pizza all summer, impressing friends and family with your cheesy, smoky creations. The secret lies in effectively managing your heat zones and cooking quickly, allowing the intense heat to create those coveted crispy edges while keeping the dough tender and airy, making grilled pizza so irresistible.

Step 1: Gear up! Time to gather your pizza and grill essentials 

Before firing up the grill, gather all your essentials, including grilling utensils and supplies, olive oil, pizza dough, sauce, and high-quality toppings like fresh mozzarella, basil, and more. 

Supplies for grilling pizza 

• Grill (gas or charcoal)
• Reynolds Wrap^® Grill Foil
• Grilling tools: Spatula, tongs, basting brush
• A rimless baking sheet to transfer the pizza
• Pizza cutter or large chef’s knife
• Pizza stone (optional)
• Heat-safe grilling gloves
• Grill-safe thermometer 

Pizza dough 

• Store-bought pizza dough, unbaked
• Homemade pizza dough (see how to make it in the next step) 

Pizza ingredients and toppings 

• Pizza sauces and dressings: May include homemade or store-bought marinara sauce, Alfredo sauce, pesto, garlic parmesan, barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and extra-virgin olive oil, among others.
• Cheese: Shredded or fresh mozzarella and Parmesan are the most popular choices. However, you can also add your favorite cheese or one specified by a recipe.
• Optional vegetable or fruit toppings: Tomatoes, garlic, onions, bell peppers, banana peppers, pineapple—pick any you prefer!
• Fresh herbs and spices: Oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme, parsley, red or pepper flakes
• Optional protein toppings: Pepperoni, bacon, sausage, chicken, ham, pulled pork, anchovies, or prosciutto 

The list of options is endless. Experiment with your favorite toppings! 

Tip: Add high-moisture toppings, such as fresh tomatoes, once the pizza dough is fully cooked and crispy. Otherwise, your pizza may become soggy. 

Step 2: Prepare your homemade pizza dough and toppings 

Want to try making your pizza dough or sauce from scratch? Follow the directions below. Then, prepare your toppings. Once you give homemade pizza on the grill a whirl, you’ll never want to go back to takeout pizza! 

How to make homemade grilled pizza dough 

No matter the style of pizza you’re making, here’s one of our favorite recipes for making a tender, crispy crust for any grilled pizza. Follow Steps 1 and 2 from this recipe to make your own homemade pizza dough. 

How to make homemade pizza sauce 

• Making savory and thick homemade pizza sauce is easier than you think! All it takes is a few pantry staples and seasonings, and you're ready to go!
• Place 6 ounces of tomato paste and 15 ounces of tomato sauce in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine
• Add 1 tablespoon of dried oregano, 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, ½ tablespoon of garlic salt, ¼ teaspoon of ground pepper, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Stir until the seasonings are evenly distributed
• Adjust the seasonings to your preferences
• If you like a richer sauce, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and pulse in a food processor or blender to combine
• Spread your sauce onto your pizza dough once it is pre-baked^{1, 2} 

Prepare your grilled pizza toppings 

• Precook all uncooked meats to a food-safe internal temperature. Cool, then cut them into bite-sized pieces and set aside
• Dice or finely chop vegetables and fruits, such as onions, bell peppers, and banana peppers, and reserve them for when you’re layering the pizza toppings. You may want to precook onions, peppers, or other veggies to ensure they caramelize when grilled. Grilled pizza, when topped, doesn’t need to bake very long, so the veggies may still be crunchy and not fully cooked to your liking.
• Finely chop fresh herbs and spices like oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme, and parsley and save for later 

Step 3: Preheat your gas grill or charcoal grill 

Ready, set, ignite! It’s time to learn how to grill pizza on a gas grill like or make a charcoal-grilled pizza like a champ. 

• Ensure your grill is clean using aluminum foil or a grill brush
• Preheat your gas grill to medium heat, about 375°F to 400°F
• For a charcoal grill:
  • Prepare your grill for direct heat grilling, which means cooking food directly over hot coals. This method cooks your dough easily and gives it a nice sear
  • Light the coals and allow them to heat until the briquettes are covered in ash, approximately 10 to 15 minutes, or until the grill reaches a temperature of 350° to 400°F
  • Regulate the airflow using the grill vents to keep a consistent temperature^{3, 4, 5} 

When cooking pizza on the grill with a stone (optional), follow the manufacturer’s directions for preheating or preparing your stone for use on a gas or charcoal grill. 

Charcoal grilling pro tip: If your pizza starts to char too quickly or burn, arrange your charcoal grill into two zones by placing the coals under half of the grill grate. This setup moves direct grilling to one side of the grill, allowing for less intense heat on the other side.

How to cook pizza on the grill without a stone 

Use grill foil to roll out your pizza instead of placing the dough directly on the grates. This prevents sticking, stops the ingredients from falling through the grates, and helps protect the crust from burning. 

• Tear a 16-inch sheet of Reynolds Wrap^® Grill Foil and place it on a rimless baking sheet.
• Place your pizza dough on the aluminum foil and roll it into a large, 14- to 15-inch circle, about ¼ inch thick.
• Brush the dough with olive oil and season as desired
• Use the rimless baking sheet to transfer the pizza to the preheated grill. Carefully slide the foil with pizza onto the hot grill grates
• Close the grill and cook for 5 minutes
• Flip the dough using tongs and a spatula, brush with olive oil, and grill the other side for another 5 minutes
• Carefully remove from the heat with the rimless baking sheet and layer on sauces and other ingredients⁷ 

Pro tip: Lower the grill heat or move the pizza to an upper rack if it is charring or browning too quickly, or slide it back on the rimless baking sheet. If using a charcoal grill, shift the pizza crust to the side without the coals for lower heat. 

Step 5: Add your pizza sauce and ingredients 

Now comes the fun part—adding all the tasty sauce and toppings! 

• Layer prepped ingredients in this order:
  • Pizza sauce
  • Cheese
  • Vegetables or fruits
  • Always add meat and proteins last to ensure they char
• Return the topped pizza to the grill for 5 to 10 minutes. The pizza is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The cheese should be melted, and the crust slightly charred. Times may vary depending on the number of toppings, the size of your pizza, and your desired doneness
• Once finished, carefully slide the foil with pizza on it from the grill onto the rimless baking sheet to remove your pizza

Step 6: The final touches

By now, you've probably imagined how delicious a homemade grilled pizza smells and tastes right off the grill. But wait, it gets even better: 

• Sprinkle freshly chopped herbs, spices, grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and other desired spices to give it a tasty kick
• Drizzle sauces for a tangy, creamy, or spicy flavor profile
• Finally, slice your delicious homemade pie using a rolling pizza cutter or large chef knife with a round edge
• Enjoy!

Resources: 

1. Sandford, L. (2024, September 30). Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (5-Minutes). Joy Food Sunshine. 

2. Donofrio, J. & J. Homemade Pizza Sauce. Love & Lemons. 

3. How to Use a Charcoal Grill. Home Depot. 

4. Melendez, J. (2022, May 12). How to Set Up Your Charcoal Grill for Optimal Cooking Every Time. Epicurious. 

5. How to Grill Over Direct Heat on Your Charcoal Grill. Weber. 

6. Olaechea, C. (2022, July 6). Everything You Need to Know About Using a Pizza Stone on the Grill. Food Network. 

7. (2022, May 29). Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe. Reynolds Brands.