How to Cook Pizza on the Grill with a Baking Steel

You don't need a wood-fired oven to make great grilled pizza. You need a Baking Steel and a hot grill. This method works on gas or charcoal, and the result is a charred, crispy crust with a gooey top that your oven can't replicate in summer heat. Here's exactly how we do it.

Can You Use a Baking Steel on a Grill?

Yes, and it's one of the best ways to use it. The Baking Steel conducts heat faster than any pizza stone, holds temperature under the hood, and won't crack under grill heat the way ceramic does. Place it directly on the grates and let it preheat. That's it.

What You Need

• Baking Steel Original or Pro
• Gas or charcoal grill
• Pizza dough (our 72-Hour Dough Pack works perfectly)
• Sauce, cheese, toppings
• Tongs
• Pizza peel

How to Cook Pizza on the Grill — Step by Step

Step 1 — Preheat the Steel

Place your Baking Steel in the center of the grill for maximum air circulation. Turn all burners on full blast, hood closed. You want the steel at 400°F. This takes about 30 minutes.

Step 2 — Cool the Air, Not the Steel

Turn the grill off for 5-6 minutes with the hood closed. You want the air inside to drop to 300-325°F while the steel stays hot. This prevents the top from burning before the bottom cooks.

Step 3 — Fire It Back Up

Turn the grill back on to medium heat. Get your toppings ready on the side tray, you'll need to move fast.

Step 4 — The Flip Method

This is what makes grill pizza different. Slide your stretched dough directly onto the steel no toppings yet. Set a one minute timer. Lift the lid, rotate the dough 180 degrees, close the lid. One more minute. Then flip the dough to its other side. Now add your sauce, cheese, and toppings quickly. Close the lid. Six minutes. Done.

Step 5 — Pull and Slice

The result is char on both sides of the crust, not burnt, charred, with a warm gooey top. The flip is everything. It gives you that double-sided color you can't get any other way.

The Dough

Use our 72-Hour Pizza Dough Pack. The long cold ferment makes the dough easier to stretch and more forgiving on the grill. It won't snap back or tear when you flip it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use a pizza steel on a gas grill?

Yes. Place it directly on the grates, preheat on full blast for 30 minutes to reach 400°F, then lower to medium heat before launching your pizza. The steel handles grill heat without cracking.

What temperature should a grill be for pizza?

Preheat your Baking Steel at full blast to reach 400°F, about 30 minutes. Then turn the grill off for 5-6 minutes to let the air cool to 300-325°F before cooking. The steel stays hot while the air temperature drops, giving you char without burning the top.

Is a pizza steel better than a pizza stone on the grill?

Yes. Steel conducts heat faster, holds temperature longer, and never cracks under high grill heat. Pizza stones are fragile under thermal shock from a hot grill — steel isn't.

Can you use a Baking Steel on a charcoal grill?

Yes. Bank your charcoal to one side, place the Baking Steel on the grates, and follow the same method. Charcoal adds extra smoky flavor to the crust.

How long does it take to cook pizza on a grill?

About 5 minutes total. Slide the dough onto the hot steel with no toppings, cook 1 minute, rotate 180 degrees, cook another minute, then flip. Add sauce, cheese, and toppings quickly, close the lid, and cook 2-3 more minutes.