Don’t Forget Pizza for Your BBQ Shopping List
Pizza may not be the first thing to think about when you’re getting your grill ready for a get together. But getting a pizza oven for your BBQ can be a great addition if you enjoy cooking and eating pizza and want to include it in your outdoor experience.
A BBQ pizza oven is a specialised attachment or accessory that can be added to your grill to create a dedicated space for cooking pizzas. It typically consists of a chamber or box that sits on top of or beside the BBQ grill and is designed specifically for baking pizzas.
What Is A BBQ Pizza Oven?
A BBQ pizza oven is designed to mimic the high temperatures and cooking environment of a traditional wood-fired pizza oven. It often features a stone or ceramic cooking surface that absorbs and radiates heat, helping to create a crispy crust. Some models may also have insulation to retain heat and a domed shape to promote even cooking.
Preheat the grill and place the pizza oven on the grill. Attachment. Once it’s preheated, you can slide the pizza onto the stone or cooking surface and close the lid. The intense heat inside the pizza oven cooks the pizza quickly, resulting in a crispy crust and nicely melted toppings.
It’s important to note that a BBQ pizza oven attachment is different from a standalone outdoor pizza oven. A BBQ pizza oven is an add-on accessory specifically designed to work with a barbecue grill.
What’s So Good About a BBQ Pizza Oven?
A pizza oven can expand the cooking possibilities of your BBQ. It allows you to not only make delicious pizzas but also roast vegetables, cook bread, and even bake desserts. Pizza ovens are also known for their ability to achieve high temperatures quickly, resulting in crispy crusts and a unique flavour that can be difficult to replicate with a regular oven.
Having a pizza oven attachment for your BBQ provides a convenient solution, as it eliminates the need for a separate standalone pizza oven, saving space and potentially cost. However, if you only occasionally make pizza, you might consider other options like using a pizza stone or baking pizzas in a conventional oven.
Other Ways to Cook Pizza
A pizza oven can certainly be a fantastic way to enjoy pizza on a BBQ, but it’s not necessarily the only or the best way. Here are a few alternatives that are easy to use whether you have a gas BBQ or charcoal model.
Pizza stone
You’ve heard of stone-baked pizza… Using a pizza stone on your BBQ can deliver excellent results. The stone absorbs and distributes heat evenly, helping to create a crispy crust. Simply preheat the stone on your BBQ, place the pizza on it, and cook with the lid closed.
Cast iron skillet
Another option is to use a cast iron skillet on your BBQ. Preheat the skillet on the grill, place the pizza in the skillet, and cook with the lid closed. This method can give you a crust with a nice, charred base.
Grilling directly on the grates
Some people prefer grilling pizza directly on the grates of their BBQ. This method involves placing the pizza dough directly on the hot grates, adding the toppings, and cooking it with the lid closed. It can result in a slightly different texture and flavour, with a smokier taste from the grill.
Pre-made or shop-bought base
If you’re looking for a quick and convenient option, you can use pre-made or store-bought pizza bases. These can be cooked directly on the grates or with the help of a pizza stone or cast iron skillet.
Final Thoughts
BBQ pizza ovens come in various sizes and designs, so you can choose one that fits your specific grill model and cooking needs. They offer a convenient way to enjoy authentic-tasting pizzas with the convenience of your BBQ grill.
The best method for enjoying pizza on a BBQ ultimately depends on your personal preference. Some people enjoy the convenience and flavour of a pizza oven attachment, while others prefer the simplicity of using a pizza stone or grilling directly on the grates. But whatever you choose, pizza is always good even if it’s ‘bad’.
And don’t forget your pizza peel… you’ll need one if you’re using a pizza oven.
