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Grilled Margherita Pizza

With its classic flavors of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, this easy Margherita pizza takes it to the next level by being cooked to perfection on your grill.

Hero shot grilled Margherita Pizza with fresh basil, cutting board, plates, napkins

Homemade pizzas are the best, don’t you think? From the unmistakable aroma of the dough baking to the mouth-watering smell of the toppings and cheese as they heat to melted perfection, pizza night is everyone’s favorite dinner night.

grilled Margherita Pizza with fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes,cutting board, plates, napkins

We move our pizza out of the kitchen and onto the grill. If possible, grilling your pizza is actually faster and, in my opinion, even tastier!

You’ll love this simple but oh-so-elegant Margherita pizza that doesn’t need a ton of fancy toppings on it because it’s ridiculously delicious with the basics of any pizza – dough, tomato sauce, cheese, and herbs and seasoning. But it’s the grilling that really takes it over the top!

Fresh tomatoes picked from my garden in Italian bowl

Prepping your grill

  • Before heating your grill, give it a little prep. If you need to clean or scrape your grill grates, go ahead and do that.
  • Then, using a folded paper towel, coat the grates of your grill with vegetable oil.
  • Heat your grill to medium-high, or about 400 degrees F. You do not want super high heat because this will burn your pizza crust. Keep it at a nice medium temperature. Note: you know your grill best, so if your grill tends to run hot, opt for a lower heat setting.
four pieces pizza dough on bbq grill

Preparing the dough for the grill

I like to use store-bought dough because it’s quicker, especially if I decide on the spur of moment that I’m going to make this. But if you have the time, go ahead and make your favorite pizza dough.

Roll your dough out on a well-floured surface. Roll it into whatever shape you want. I usually go with a rectangular shape since it’s a bit easier to work with and flip on the grill.

Pizza dough rolled out with a rolling pin on a floured cutting board

I like to very lightly brush the dough with olive oil once it’s rolled out. The side that has the olive oil will go grate-side down on the grill first.

Basil plants growing fresh in my garden

Choose and prep your toppings

Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil are essential for this grilled Margherita pizza. Once you’ve mastered this classic Margherita pizza, feel free to try some other toppings. Here are some awesome combinations to try:

  • Grilled Veggie Pizza – tomato sauce, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, sliced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and mozzarella cheese
  • Spinach And Roasted Garlic White Pizza – baby spinach leaves, roasted garlic, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
  • Meat Lovers Pizza – tomato sauce, pepperoni, cooked sausage, diced ham or bacon, Italian seasoning, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.

How to transfer pizza dough crust to the grill

If you have a large baking sheet or a wooden pizza paddle you can simply slide the prepared pizza dough onto heated grates.

Hero shot grilled Margherita Pizza with fresh basil, tomato sauce, tomatoes, basil, cutting board, plates, napkins

How do I easily flip the pizza crust on the grill?

After your crust has been on the grill for about 3 minutes you’ll need to flip it. I like to use long-handled tongs. Sometimes I use two pairs of tongs to grab each end of the pizza crust if I’ve rolled out a particularly large shape. Makes it super easy to grab each end of the pizza crust and execute a quick flip!

Adding the toppings to the grill

Once you’ve flipped your crust, go ahead and quickly add your sauce and mozzarella cheese, and any other toppings. Do not add the fresh basil yet – it will just wilt and burn. Save it for right before you serve the pizza. Close the lid on the grill and let the toppings heat and the cheese melt for about 3 minutes or until heated through.

Turn the grill off and remove the pizza from the grates. Use a wooden paddle or long-handled tongs to slide it onto a large baking sheet.

Ingredients

Pizza Dough – homemade or store-bought

Pizza sauce – homemade or store-bought

Mozzarella Cheese

Fresh Basil

Flour for rolling out the dough

Olive oil for pizza

Vegetable Oil for grill

Instructions

  1. Prepare sauce and slice or grate the mozzarella cheese. Clean and dry your fresh basil leaves. Set aside.
  2. Roll out pizza dough into a thin rectangle using a small dusting of flour so the dough doesn’t stick. Place dough on a large baking sheet or pizza paddle.
  3. Coat grates of grill with vegetable oil using a folded paper towel.
  4. Heat grill to medium-high heat
  5. Slide pizza dough onto heated grates
  6. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the bottom is lightly brown
  7. Flip pizza over and brush lightly with olive oil
  8. Spread on pizza sauce and top with mozzarella cheese and any other toppings of your choice
  9. Close the lid and grill for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and toppings are lightly browned
  10. Remove from grill and transfer to a cutting board
  11. Add fresh herbs and parmesan cheese if desired
  12. Serve immediately

Perfect for a summer pizza night, outdoor entertaining, or even a cold-weather meal from the grill, this Margherita pizza will be a hit no matter what the occasion. And the fact that you can make it on the fly with store-bought ingredients makes it a delicious and easy meal when you need something on the table quickly.

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Nettie is a wife and mother who is passionate about cooking and baking. With 5 children, Nettie insists that all meals, snacks, and desserts come together quickly! You will find a wide variety of easy yet scrumptious recipes on her very popular website Moore or Less Cooking

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Grilled Margherita Pizza, toppings are redsauce, mozzarella, basil fresh
Yield: Serves 2-3

Grilled Margherita Pizza

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes

With its classic flavors of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, this easy Margherita pizza takes it to the next level by being cooked to perfection on your grill.

Ingredients

  • Pizza Dough - homemade or store-bought
  • Pizza sauce - homemade or store-bought
  • Flour for rolling out the dough
  • Olive oil for pizza
  • Vegetable Oil for grill
  • Toppings:
  • Mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced
  • Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • Italian sausage, cooked
  • Pepperoni
  • Bacon, cooked
  • Ham, diced
  • Chicken, cooked and diced
  • Mushrooms,sliced, fresh or jarred
  • Green peppers or multi-colored peppers, sliced
  • Tomatoes, sliced
  • Red or white onions, sliced
  • Black olives, sliced
  • Fresh or dried herbs
  • Arugula
  • Dried oregano
  • Dried or fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Prepare sauce and all of the toppings, and set them aside
  2. Roll out the pizza dough into a thin rectangle using a small dusting of flour so that the dough doesn’t stick. Place the dough on a large baking sheet or on a pizza paddle
  3. Heat grill to a medium-high heat 
  4. Coat the grates of the grill with vegetable oil using a folded paper towel 
  5. Slide the pizza dough onto heated grates 
  6. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the bottom is lightly browned
  7. Flip the pizza over and brush it lightly with olive oil 
  8. Spread on the pizza sauce and top with mozzarella cheese and toppings of your choice
  9. Close the lid and grill for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and toppings are lightly browned 
  10. Remove from grill and transfer to a cutting board
  11. Add fresh herbs and parmesan cheese if desired
  12. Serve while hot.

Notes

Perfect for a summer pizza night, outdoor entertaining, or even a cold-weather meal from the grill, this Margherita pizza will be a hit no matter what the occasion.

T3he fact that you can make it on the fly with store-bought ingredients makes it a delicious and easy meal when you need something on the table quickly.

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Nutrition Information

Yield

3

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 1051Total Fat 53gSaturated Fat 17gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 33gCholesterol 96mgSodium 1582mgCarbohydrates 101gFiber 6gSugar 8gProtein 42g

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With its classic flavors of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, this easy Margherita pizza takes it to the next level by being cooked to perfection on your grill. via @Mooreorlesscook

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