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Can you cook pizza on a BBQ?

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In short

Yes. Most lidded BBQs can cook good pizza on a preheated pizza stone or steel with the lid closed. Kamados get hottest and give the most oven-like results; gas BBQs and charcoal kettles work well with a stone and a hot two-zone or full fire; pellet grills manage, but many cannot reach the highest heat. A dedicated pizza oven cooks faster, but a BBQ is a fine place to start.

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Pizza ovens are popular, but many people already own a BBQ that can do a decent job. The key is getting enough heat above and below the pizza: a hot base so the crust crisps, and enough heat under the lid to melt and brown the top. This article explains how to cook pizza on each type of BBQ, the kit you need, and when a dedicated oven is worth considering.

How pizza cooks on a BBQ

A pizza stone or steel sits on the grate and soaks up heat, then passes it into the dough to crisp the base. The lid traps hot air to cook the top. Without a stone, the base burns over direct heat before the top is done.

Preheat matters most. Give the stone time to heat right through, often 20 to 30 minutes on a hot grill. A cold stone gives a pale, soggy base. Thin pizzas with light toppings cook best, as heavy toppings release moisture and need longer.

How each BBQ type performs

Kamados excel because the dome reflects heat down onto the pizza, much like a traditional oven. See what is a kamado grill for how the ceramic works.

BBQ typeHow well it worksTips
KamadoExcellentUse the heat deflector under the stone; run the vents wide open
Gas BBQGoodAll burners high, lid closed; a pizza insert or raised stone helps
Charcoal kettleGoodFull chimney of charcoal, stone raised or on a GBS insert
Pellet grillFair to goodHighest setting; results depend on the grill's maximum heat
Electric grillVariesSome, like the Ninja Woodfire, have a pizza or bake mode
Pizza on different BBQs

Step by step on a gas or kettle BBQ

On a kettle, the two-zone set-up can help if the base burns before the top cooks: move the stone towards the cooler side. On a gas BBQ, turning the burner directly under the stone down slightly once the stone is hot can do the same.

  1. 1

    Place a pizza stone or steel on the grate and close the lid.

  2. 2

    Heat on full for 20 to 30 minutes so the stone heats right through.

  3. 3

    Stretch the dough thinly and add light toppings on a floured peel.

  4. 4

    Slide the pizza onto the stone, close the lid and cook for a few minutes.

  5. 5

    Turn the pizza a quarter turn halfway through so it cooks evenly.

  6. 6

    Lift it off when the base is crisp and the cheese is bubbling.

Kit worth having

Weber's GBS pizza stone fits the removable centre of its 57 cm kettle grates; see Weber kettle sizes. Most kamado brands sell their own stones and stands.

  • A cordierite pizza stone or steel sized to your grill, with space around it for heat to flow.
  • A pizza peel, wooden for launching and metal for turning.
  • Heat-resistant gloves.
  • An infrared thermometer to check the stone, if you want precision.
  • For kettles and kamados, a raised stand or pizza insert that lifts the stone towards the lid.

Note:Pizza cooking runs grills at their hottest. Keep the BBQ well away from fences and sheds, wear heat-resistant gloves, burp a kamado before opening, and never put a cold or wet stone into a very hot grill, as it can crack.

When a pizza oven is better

Dedicated pizza ovens reach much higher temperatures than most BBQs and cook a thin pizza in a minute or two, with a leopard-spotted crust that is hard to match on a grill. If you plan to make pizza often for groups, an oven may be worth it. Ninja's Woodfire Outdoor Oven, for example, combines pizza and smoking in one plug-in unit and appears in our Ninja Woodfire models compared guide.

For occasional pizza alongside normal barbecuing, a lidded BBQ and a good stone are enough. Our best gas BBQs guide and best charcoal BBQs guide note models with heavy lids and pizza accessories.

Compare Ninja Woodfire models →

Frequently asked questions

Can you put a pizza stone on a gas BBQ? Yes. Preheat it on the grate with all burners on high and the lid closed.

How long does pizza take on a BBQ? Usually several minutes, depending on the heat and the thickness. Turn it halfway.

Can I cook frozen pizza on a BBQ? Yes, on a stone or tray with the lid closed. Follow the packet times as a rough guide and check it is piping hot throughout.

Why is my BBQ pizza base burnt and the top raw? The base heat is too strong compared with the lid heat. Raise the stone or move it to a cooler zone.

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