How to Make Grilled Wood Fired Margherita Pizza

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Make Grilled Wood Fired Margherita Pizza

How to Make Grilled Wood Fired Margherita Pizza

Raw pizza dough on the grill?! YES!! Surprisingly, it does GREAT! This pizza recipe is one of my favorites - simple, easy, fast & delicious.

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Step 1 of 39
Tomatoes, mozzarella & basil for the toppings

Tomatoes, mozzarella & basil for the toppings

Step 2 of 39
Salt, pepper & olive oil for the crust

Salt, pepper & olive oil for the crust

Step 3 of 39
You can make your own dough or buy a pre-made crust but I prefer middle ground - publix has a great dough that I love.

You can make your own dough or buy a pre-made crust but I prefer middle ground - publix has a great dough that I love.

Step 4 of 39
Get some basil leaves and roll them up. TIP: if you don't have one in your home or garden you can buy a small basil plant for ~$3 instead of spending slightly less for a small bag of clipped herbs.

Get some basil leaves and roll them up. TIP: if you don't have one in your home or garden you can buy a small basil plant for ~$3 instead of spending slightly less for a small bag of clipped herbs.

Step 5 of 39
Rolled up..biggest leaves on the outside.

Rolled up..biggest leaves on the outside.

Step 6 of 39
Now, chiffonade by cutting across.

Now, chiffonade by cutting across.

Step 7 of 39
Here's how I slice tomatoes..

Here's how I slice tomatoes..

Step 8 of 39
Cored! TIP: squish the mush out - otherwise your pizza ends up soggy (learned that the hard way)

Cored! TIP: squish the mush out - otherwise your pizza ends up soggy (learned that the hard way)

Step 9 of 39
Slice..

Slice..

Step 10 of 39
Then dice & you're on to the next step.

Then dice & you're on to the next step.

Step 11 of 39
Cut the mozzarella

Cut the mozzarella

Step 12 of 39
You can shred or cut - this time I cut..

You can shred or cut - this time I cut..

Step 13 of 39
Then cube

Then cube

Step 14 of 39
Flour your hands and work surface.

Flour your hands and work surface.

Step 15 of 39
Roll out the dough - if you're a perfectionist (like I USED to be) the results will definitely bother you..

Roll out the dough - if you're a perfectionist (like I USED to be) the results will definitely bother you..

Step 16 of 39
Perfectly imperfect

Perfectly imperfect

Step 17 of 39
Now, to prep the crust

Now, to prep the crust

Step 18 of 39
Drizzle with extra  virgin olive oil (EVOO)

Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

Step 19 of 39
Brush to coat the crust

Brush to coat the crust

Step 20 of 39
Season with salt, pepper & garlic salt

Season with salt, pepper & garlic salt

Step 21 of 39
Extra flavor alert! I like making my own seasonings, but this one is the bomb diggity - great for pizza crust.

Extra flavor alert! I like making my own seasonings, but this one is the bomb diggity - great for pizza crust.

Step 22 of 39
Awesomeness is now applied.

Awesomeness is now applied.

Step 23 of 39
Ready for the grill

Ready for the grill

Step 24 of 39
Coals are hot! TIP: If possible, use charcoal with some soaked wood chunks/chips or at least some chips in a smoker box on a gas grill.  Check out my quesadilla guide for more about charcoal grilling.

Coals are hot! TIP: If possible, use charcoal with some soaked wood chunks/chips or at least some chips in a smoker box on a gas grill. Check out my quesadilla guide for more about charcoal grilling.

Step 25 of 39
You do NOT want a HOT fire - the doughy crust will char easier than a pre-made crust. TIP: use pre-made crust to save time/hassle. I like the boboli thin crust if I go that route.

You do NOT want a HOT fire - the doughy crust will char easier than a pre-made crust. TIP: use pre-made crust to save time/hassle. I like the boboli thin crust if I go that route.

Step 26 of 39

Very hard to see - sorry. You get the idea, though. That's my 4 yr old daughter saying "Hey!" at the end. :-)

Step 27 of 39
Drizzle EVOO on this side now & brush to coat then season with the salt, pepper, garlic salt and optional garlic herb blend. I suggest covering to both help the baking process & to minimize flames.

Drizzle EVOO on this side now & brush to coat then season with the salt, pepper, garlic salt and optional garlic herb blend. I suggest covering to both help the baking process & to minimize flames.

Step 28 of 39
Take a quick sip of your favorite frosty beverage then check on that crust!

Take a quick sip of your favorite frosty beverage then check on that crust!

Step 29 of 39
When the crust starts bubbling up check the bottom and prepare to flip.

When the crust starts bubbling up check the bottom and prepare to flip.

Step 30 of 39
It's ready to flip using tongs, spatula or both.

It's ready to flip using tongs, spatula or both.

Step 31 of 39
Nice crust!

Nice crust!

Step 32 of 39
Quickly add the toppings.. Maters are what we call these in the South.

Quickly add the toppings.. Maters are what we call these in the South.

Step 33 of 39
Cheese..

Cheese..

Step 34 of 39
And basil..

And basil..

Step 35 of 39
Quit gawking at your pretty pizza and cover it up to let it finish!

Quit gawking at your pretty pizza and cover it up to let it finish!

Step 36 of 39
Heat was a bit too high, but we're still OK. Plus, we like a crisp exterior on our crust.  Switching to plan B.

Heat was a bit too high, but we're still OK. Plus, we like a crisp exterior on our crust. Switching to plan B.

Step 37 of 39
On to a baking sheet and back to the makeshift oven to finish cooking. You can gauge when it's ready by watching the crust & toppings.

On to a baking sheet and back to the makeshift oven to finish cooking. You can gauge when it's ready by watching the crust & toppings.

Step 38 of 39
Cheese is gooey, crust is crispy outside & tender inside.. Just right.

Cheese is gooey, crust is crispy outside & tender inside.. Just right.

Step 39 of 39
Time to eat!!

Time to eat!!

Start Over

3 Comments
Supplies

1 Pizza dough

4 Tomatoes

½ Bunches Basil

1 Package mozzarella

½ Cups Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

1 Teaspoon Kosher salt

1 Teaspoon Black pepper

½ Teaspoons Garlic salt

1 Teaspoon Garlic herb seasoning (optional)

Linda O.

This is so helpful, thank you Houston :)

Linda O. 3 months ago

Houston Long

Thanks!! I really like the whole process of cooking - from the prep to seeing people (hopefully) enjoy the food. We grew potted herbs 2 yrs ago and expanded with more herbs and some veggies last year thanks to some more pots & a few small raised beds. I loved just going outside to clip the herbs I wanted to use. Best producers that survived and thrived despite my infrequent waterings were Italian and regular parsley, oregano, pineapple sage (got HUGE), sage, dill (for a while), tarragon & chives.

(author) 3 months ago

Linda O.

Absolutely brilliant guide! I totally enjoy the way you have fun with what you do and it's very entertaining to read the step by step instructions. The food looks so delicious and I definitely want to grow my own herbs this year so I can make this and even just a simple caprese salad ;) Thank you 👏👍😄

Linda O. 4 months ago

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