BACKYARD PIZZA
Introduction:
There's something unique about the sizzle of a pizza crust coming out of an outdoor BBQ oven. If you're a pizza lover and a barbecue enthusiast, combining these two passions is an easy and affordable option, that will leave your family asking for more. In this guide, we'll take you through the steps of grilling the perfect pizza in your outdoor BBQ oven, ensuring a crispy crust, melty cheese, and flavors that will make your backyard the go-to destination for pizza night.
Don't forget to check out our Backyard Pizza YouTube video!
Video: Freedom Flames Presents: Backyard Pizza
Ingredients:
Dough Recipe from The Pioneer Woman
Ree Drummond YouTube Video: Pizza Dough Video
Dough Ingredients (makes 1 large pizza or 2 smaller pizzas):
- ¾ cup warm water (between 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit) - 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 cups all-purpose flour - ½ teaspoon kosher salt - ¼ cup olive oil Dough Directions (using a mixer):
- Pour yeast into warm water and allow to proof for approximately 10 minutes - After the 10 minute proofing period for the yeast, turn mixer on low and combine the flour, salt and olive oil
- Slowly pour in the yeast/water mixture and allow to mix until dough is formed and sticks to the mixer (only about 30 seconds)
- Oil or flour your hands to prevent the dough sticking, remove the dough from the mixer and place in an oiled bowl. Be sure to roll the dough ball around in the oil to prevent it from sticking to the bowl as it rises
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for one hour (after one hour, place in refrigerator for up to 3 days)
- This dough can be made without the mixer, just combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix/knead by hand Basic Sauce Ingredients (not Ree Drummond’s recipe):
- 1 - 14 ½ ounce can diced tomatoes (can use tomato sauce if you don’t have a blender)
- 1 – 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 4 teaspoons sugar - ½ teaspoon garlic powder - ¼ teaspoon of each of the following: dried basil, dried oregano, black pepper and salt
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth (if not using blender, substitute diced tomatoes for tomato sauce and mix by hand).
Cooking Directions:
We used a Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven but this can be done using an oven with a pizza stone or perforated pizza pan.
1. Preheat your pizza oven (or house oven) to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. After dough has been allowed to rest for at least one hour, generously flour your work surface and dough ball.
3. Divide the dough into as many pizzas as you would like to make, realistically you can get 2 personal sized pizzas out of this amount of dough.
4. Either use your hands or a rolling pin to stretch/roll your dough into the size, shape and thickness you like.
5. Place the flattened dough onto a generously floured pizza peel before adding toppings.
6. Add your desired amount of sauce and toppings, don’t forget the cheese to hold it all together!
7. Place the pizza in the oven and keep an eye on it so it doesn’t overcook. Pizza ovens, or all ovens for that matter, generally have hotter/colder spots so feel free to move the pizza around in the oven to get the most even cook.
8. Should take no more than 10 minutes to fully cook.
9. When cooked to your desired doneness, remove the pizza, cut and enjoy!
Conclusion:
Grilling pizza in your outdoor BBQ oven is an art that combines the smoky essence of barbecue with the classic flavors of everyone's favorite Italian dish. Experiment with different toppings, sauces, and dough recipes to create your signature BBQ pizza. With a bit of practice, you'll become the master of the BBQ pizza, turning every backyard gathering into a memorable pizza night experience. Cheers to outdoor grilling and delicious homemade pizza!
