How to Grill Pizza and Flatbread

Follow this simple tutorial on how to grill pizza and flatbread for a great way to beat the heat while making a delicious meal. Read the tip and notes section for guaranteed grilled pizza success!

We’re in the final stretch of summer. You can feel it in the cooling evening breeze and earlier sunsets. The heat feels tired by now, but it’s still intense without having the same vigor it scorched with in July. But since we don’t exactly want to crank on that oven every day, using your grill is a great way to make your favorite bakes in while keeping the heat outside.

Why Should I Grill Pizza?

Because who wants to crank on the oven when it’s hot outside? Not me! You can grill your flatbread and pizza for a quick and easy alternative to heating up your house.

The dough recipe is the same one that I shared in this Flatbread Pizza Recipe post. It’s obviously an incredibly versatile recipe, and also amazingly flavorful and easy!

How to Make a Basic Pizza or Flatbread Dough for Grilling

This is a yeast dough that comes together quickly and simply.

• In a mixing bowl, combine the water and yeast, then allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes or until the yeast has dissolved and become foamy.
• Add in the olive oil and white wine then stir in the flour and salt until it’s a cohesive ball of dough.
• Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface. Knead it for about five minutes or until it’s a smooth ball. 
• Place it back in the mixing bowl, cover with a clean dishcloth, and set it in a warm, draft free area for about an hour. The dough will be slightly risen and soft, but not doubled. It’s now ready to shape.

How to Shape Pizzas & Flatbread

• To shape the flatbread dough by hand, gently stretch it, then drape it over the knuckles of one hand and continue stretching it out with the other (like in the picture above). Lay it onto a sheet well oiled aluminum foil.and use your fingers to continue to press it into the shape, size, and thickness you wish. This method will give you a more rustic shape, and it probably won’t be completely flat. But it’s got lots of little dips and valleys to catch all of the delicious toppings and drizzles!
• Alternatively, you can roll out your pizza and flatbread with a rolling pin. Lay the dough on the oiled foil, the press it out roughly into the shape you want it to be. Use a rolling pin to finish rolling it out to the desired size/thickness. If the dough keeps springing back on you, allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes so that the gluten can relax, then finish rolling out. This method will give you a more even flatbread crust. It’s also easier to make it thin if you want a crispier crust.
• After shaping, allow the dough to sit for about ten minutes. This allows the gluten to relax for a less tough crust.

How to Grill Pizza

• Once your dough is ready and your toppings are prepared, turn your grill on high. Allow it to heat with the lid down until it reaches 450°F.
• Working quickly, open your grill and slide the whole sheet of foil with the dough on it onto the grill rack. Replace the lid as quickly as you can to avoid losing heat.
• Let the first side of the pizza cook for 4 minutes, then use a pair of large tongs or a large spatula to turn it.
• Remove the dough from the grill and top it with the sauce, cheese, and toppings.
• Put the pizza back on the grill and allow the second side to continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes, or until the underside is golden brown when you lift it up slightly.
• Carefully slide the foil with the pizza on it onto a hard, flat surface. Allow the pizza to cool slightly, cut, and serve!

To Make Personal Sized Grilled Pizzas…

This recipe can be made into two personal sized pizzas. Before shaping, cut the dough in half. Shape each half the same way you would a single pizza, but place each half on it’s own sheet of oiled foil.

The smaller pizzas will take less time to grill, so make sure to keep an eye on them and check the first side to keep them from burning.

How to Grill Flatbread

• Once your dough is ready and your toppings are prepared, turn your grill on high. Allow it to heat with the lid down until it reaches 450°F.
• Working quickly, open your grill and slide the whole sheet of foil with the dough on it onto the grill rack. Replace the lid as quickly as you can to avoid losing heat.
• Let the first side of the flatbread pizza cook for 4 minutes, then use a pair of large tongs or a large spatula to turn it. If you are adding toppings that you want to cook or warm (i.e. cheese) add them now. Allow the second side to continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes, or until the underside is golden brown when you lift it up slightly.
• Carefully slide the foil back onto the baking sheet. Allow the flatbread to cool, top it, then cut and serve! Make sure to check out the second recipe card at the bottom of this post for a simple yet flavorful flatbread recipe.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• If there’s no thermometer on your grill, just allow it to heat for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an oven thermometer like this one.
• Before you even fire up your grill, set out any and all toppings you are going to use. Once you’re baking on the grill, you’ll need to move fast with the toppings so that you don’t have any burnt crusts!
• You can double or even triple this recipe if you’re feeding these delicious, perfectly summery pizzas and flatbreads to a crowd.
• The dough can be made up to three days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight bag or container.

Tools for Grilling Pizza and Flatbread

Do I need a pizza stone to grill pizza?

Nope! While you caaaaaannn use one, (a rectangle like this is perfect for grilling), you can easily cook your pizzas on a sheet of greased foil or even directly on the grill rack. I prefer to use the foil because I find it’s less likely to stick, but either method works. And no, the dough won’t fall through the racks if you put it on them directly. The dough is sturdy and stretchy enough to hold it together–well developed gluten is a real MVP.

Other tools you may find handy:

• A Pizza Peel (this is handy if you plan to bake directly on the grill racks)
• A pizza cutter
• A thermometer if you grill doesn’t have one.

Other Recipes You May Enjoy:

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