Grilling your pizza will give it a crispy, smoky flavor like in restaurant pizzas. We are glad to inform you that you can even bake pizza on the grill at home, even without using a pizza stone. Especially on one of the hot summer days, when the idea of standing by the hot oven seems extremely unbearable. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to cook pizza on the grill without a stone.
Step Zero: What You Will Need
- Grill
- Tongs
- Baking sheet
- Olive oil
- Silicone cooking brush
Step-by-step instructions on how to grill pizza without a pizza stone. You can use your normal gas grill or charcoal grill instead of an outdoor oven.
Step 1 Prepare the Dough
Homemade pizza will be delicious if you make your own dough yourself, and if you buy ready-made dough in the store. Frozen dough should be thawed in the refrigerator for several hours.
Let the dough come to room temperature for a few minutes before grilling pizza. Drizzle with olive oil and cover with cling film or a towel.
Let the pizza dough rest at room temperature for at least half an hour.
Step 2 Prepare the Topping and Heat up The Grill
While the dough is under the towel, you have time to prepare your favorite toppings and all your ingredients.
It is also worth preheating the grill to 500 degrees to get the perfect crust. For the best accuracy, invest in a thermometer if one is not included in your grill. It comes in handy because different foods ask for different cooking temperatures.
If in doubt about how to light your grill properly, watch this video:
Step 3 Get Back to the Pizza Dough
It is easy to form the basis for pizza from the approached dough. Dust the table and hands with flour so that the dough does not stick to your fingers. Squash the ball of dough into a relatively flat mass. Let him sit for five minutes. Then stretch the dough with your fingers and form a pizza circle.
Stretch the dough on your fist. Don’t worry about giving it a perfectly round shape. Add flour as needed.
On the table, continue to give the desired thickness. Make it uniform. It is better not to make sides, so the pizza will be baked more evenly.
Step 4 Oil the Grill
Most often, when cooking pizza on the grill, people are very worried about the fear that the pizza will fall through the grill grates. We assure you that this will not happen.
As soon as the pizza dough touches the hot grill, it creates a firm pizza crust on the bottom that will prevent pizza sauce, toppings, and cheese from leaking through the grates.
First, brush the grill grates with olive oil using a kitchen brush. This will prevent the dough from sticking to the racks. The olive oil will also bring out the taste of the dough of the perfectly grilled pizza.
Step 5 Grill One Side of the Pizza Base
Now you have a hot and oily grill, and you can start cooking pizza. Carefully place the dough on a floured baking sheet.
The paper will help to gently move the pizza dough directly onto the grill grate. Simply tilt the paper at an angle over the grill and the pizza will slide onto the grates.
Put the grill cover and wait a couple of minutes for the dough to cook. The dough will begin to char a little and emit a smoky aroma. Dough cooks very quickly if the grill is hot, so keep an eye out so nothing burns. Keep the lid closed to not let the heat out.
Step 6 Check the Dough
Ideally, the dough will turn brown in a couple of minutes. Before turning the dough over to the other side, make sure that the first one is completely baked.
Check for air bubbles on the surface. If not yet, let grill one minute. It will take a little longer if the grill has not been well heated.
You can also check the pizza dough by lifting it and looking at the bottom of the crust. When the crust is ready, turn over to the other side.
Step 7 Flip the Dough
Turn the dough over to the other side, exposing the cooked side, use a large spatula or pizza peel to do this, especially if the pie is large. Be gentle so as not to tear the dough. By the way, if you do not have a pizza peel, we know how to do without it.
Step 8 Add Toppings to Your Grilled Pizza Dough
Time is very important when cooking pizza, including grilled pizza. The pizza will have to be assembled directly on the grill, so the ingredients must be prepared to let the cheese melt quickly enough so that the dough doesn’t burn.
A couple of points worth keeping in mind. For example, you should not add too much sauce, one layer will be enough to give the dough juiciness and taste, but not let it get soggy.
In addition, do not overload the dough with the filling, this will create pressure on the dough, and it may tear. The dough should be thin and crispy with a well-balanced amount of filling.
It is better to limit yourself to one cup of cheese, one cup of filling ingredients and half a cup of sauce.
Step 9 Give the Cheese Time to Melt
After adding the topping, cover the grill again with a lid to melt the cheese. One minute is enough for this, because we do not want our dough covered with soot and too crispy.
If you do not have enough time to prepare the ingredients for the filling, then it is better to remove the dough from the grill and put it on baking paper. Then the dough can be moved back and add the filling, or you can shift the dough already loaded with the filling. Just be careful not to fall apart and use a pizza peel if you have one.
The melted cheese will be your indicator that your pizza on the grill is ready to be consumed.
Remove the hot pie to a dish, let it cool for a couple of minutes, cut into slices, and serve!
Few tips on making pizza on the grill
To prevent the dough from sticking to the grill, try using rice flour instead of regular flour for shaping and stretching. Rice flour starts to burn at higher temperatures than regular flour, so this will help you not burn your dough.
Spread the charcoal fire properly so that the pizza is baked evenly without burning and does not become hard in some places. Arrange the charcoal closer to the sides of the grill and leave a few hot embers in the middle.
If the grill is overheated, the dough may cook too quickly on the outside and remain raw on the inside. In this case, sprinkle the grill with water to provide enough heat to cook the dough.
The secret of cooking pizza on a grill lies in a good cast-iron grate, through the rods of which the dough and filling will not fall through on the coals. Before laying out the pizza, grease the grate with oil and cook according to the recipe. The pizza will turn out not only tasty and crispy, but also acquire a characteristic pattern.
The main secret is the preparation of the pizza base. First you cook on one side, then turn the dough over, brush it with the sauce, add the ingredients and cook on the other side. Choose toppings that is prepared very quickly or precooked in advance. Seafood is great, just read How to Make Miniature Seafood Pizza and imagine it with the flavor of the grill.
Prepare the dough ahead of time. Put one portion in the freezer and cook pizza from the other. The next time you want Italian pizza for dinner, you just need to take the dough out of the freezer ahead of time and prepare the toppings. You can also pre-bake the dough: a few hours before dinner, prepare the pizza base on the grill and set aside. And before dinner, just reheat and lay out the filling.
Air-fryer pizza
The main rule when cooking pizza in an air grill is to take it out in time so that it does not dry out. So, roll out the dough, put it on a baking sheet, followed by sauce, filling, and cheese (greens if desired), close the lid of the air grill, set the temperature to 500F, and wait 30 minutes.
The cooking time depends on the model of the air fryer, so the first pizzas are best cooked under personal supervision. An air fryer comes in very handy when you need to heat up a slice for yourself.
FAQ
Can you cook pizza on a grill without a pizza stone?
You can get your perfect grilled pizza without the stone. You don’t need to be a professional chef to do this or have special equipment. The main thing is to make sure that your dough has proofed well and is ready to be cooked. Also, do not overdo it with the filling to get a light, crispy and at the same time hearty pie.
How do I cook pizza if I don’t have a stone?
Preheat the grill and place the dough directly on the oiled grill grates. When the dough is cooked on both sides, add the toppings, the sauce, and your grilled pizza will be ready in a couple of minutes, just let the cheese melt.
Can I cook a pizza on a pan on the grill?
You can grill pizza using a pizza pan. Just grease it with cooking spray. Spread the crust on the pan, cover it with your toppings, sauce, cheese, and some fresh basil.
How do you grill pizza without burning the bottom?
Use direct heat instead of indirect heat for your grilled pizza. Keep the grill lid closed, but don’t overcook the dough, 3-5 minutes is enough. Start checking the dough a couple of minutes after putting it on the grate to avoid burnt pizza. Spray the grill with water so that the dough has time to bake from the inside.
Conclusion on How to Cook Pizza on The Grill Without a Stone
Grilling pizza is easy if you follow some rules and recommendations, we provided you with in this article. Don’t be afraid to experiment, be careful, and enjoy your grilled pizza!
