Pizza On The Grill: A New Twist On A Family Favorite

One of the things I love about pizza is how it can be different every time you make it, depending on what you top it with. I love vegetables, which makes this one of my favorite times of year for pizza because I can simply walk out to my garden and find plenty of pizza toppings — basil, oregano, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spinach. Yummmm.

But who wants to turn on the stove to make a pizza in the hot summer months? Not me, so I was glad my friend Erika Veduccio introduced me to the idea of grilling pizza.

With her encouragement, we've tried grilling pizza at our house and now it's one of our go-to summertime meals. The grill gives our pizza a wood-fired taste we just can't get from our stove.

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We're sharing Erika's secret to grilling pizza with you now because September is an important time for pizza! National Cheese Pizza Day is Sept. 5 and Pepperoni Pizza Day is Sept. 20. 

So fire up that grill and celebrate PIZZA!

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Grill the dough:

1. Take the dough out of the fridge and let it get to room temperature.
2. Heat up the grill to about 450. This may be different depending on the grill! Some could need 500 degrees, others 400 degrees. It may take a few times of playing with it to get it right, so watch your pizza carefully!
3. Spray your pizza stone, cookie sheet, or pizza grill pan generously with olive oil.
4. Stretch out the dough and put it on your pan.
5. Brush the top with olive oil.
6. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
7. Close the grill and cook for six minutes at 450 degrees.
8. Take off and let cool.

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Once your dough is made, it's time to get ready for the fun part — adding your toppings! Need some inspiration? Here are three ideas for pizzas from Erika. The amount of ingredients here generously feeds a family of five!

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The Meat-za

• 1/2 cup beef
• 1/2 onion
• 1/2 cup of red sauce 
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Other toppings of your choice

Directions:

1. Brush the crust with sauce.
2. Add half the cheese.
3. Add salami and pepperoni.
4. Add beef and onion.
5. Add second half of cheese.
6. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Grill for six minutes at 500 degrees.
8. Slice and serve.

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Margherita Mamacita

• 1 Tbsp. of minced garlic
• Olive oil
• 1 tomato, thinly sliced 
• 6 basil leaves
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Brush with light olive oil.
2. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Add half of the cheese.
4. Sprinkle minced garlic.
5. Add tomato.
6. Add basil.
7. Add second half of cheese.
8. Grill for 6 minutes at 500 degrees.
9. Slice and serve.

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Cheesy Stuffed Crust

• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 Tbsp. sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Toppings of choice

Directions:

1. Add light sauce.
2. Add shredded mozzarella cheese.
3. Layer the mozzarella heavy on the outside of the crust.
4. Fold the dough over the cheese and tuck it under.
5. Add salt and pepper.
6. Add toppings of choice.
7. Grill for 6 minutes at 500 degrees.
8. Slice and serve.