Quit Baking Frozen Pizza—Here’s a Better Way To Cook It

While I love to cook and tend to have a well-stocked kitchen, I always have a plan B. Inevitably I can’t make it to the store the day I planned, leaving my husband and I without a single can of beans to fall back on. That’s when I turn to frozen pizza.

Convenience-seekers from coast to coast already know the saving grace that is a frozen pizza. I’d put a good one head-to-head with a fast food chain pizza any day and it would win, hands-down. But even the best frozen pizza can be improved upon with extra toppings, a little extra love, and the ultimate trick: the grill.

The Grill Adds Magic To Frozen Pizza

I cannot get enough of my precious grill in the summertime. It gives me an excuse to be outside in the warm weather and prevents me from having to turn on the oven. Plus, everything tastes better on the grill. Including pizza!

The grill adds a little oomph without detracting from the flavors of the pizza—grilled pizza is crispier and a bit smoky. Plus, you can grill side dishes like grilled peppers, grilled corn salad, and grilled broccolini, or toppings at the same time (ideas below!). 

The extra nice thing about grilling frozen pizza is there’s no risk of it sticking to the grill and it’s easy to transfer on and off the grates. I’ve made homemade pizza on the grill and, while it’s definitely delish, it’s tricky to transfer to and from the grill without losing a bunch of toppings. The sturdy, already-cooked crust of a frozen pizza will slide right on and off, no problem.

How to Grill Frozen Pizza

Any frozen pizza can be cooked on the grill, but a thin or medium crust works best. No need to thaw—pop it out of the package and unwrap it while the grill preheats. The actual cook time will vary depending on your grill and the thickness of the crust, so keep your eye on it. Here's what you do:

Preheat the grill to medium heat, about 350°F. Clean the grates.

Carefully place the frozen pizza on the hot grill.

Close the lid and grill for about 10 minutes, checking every few minutes. Use a metal spatula to carefully lift the pizza halfway through and make sure it isn’t burning on the bottom. If needed, move it to a cooler or hotter part of the grill, or turn the heat down or up if you’re using a gas grill.

Once the cheese is melted and the crust is crisp but not burnt, use a spatula to help you shift it onto a cookie sheet or pizza peel. Slice and serve!

Grill Your Toppings

Grilling pizza is great, but why stop there? For an extra special but still incredibly easy meal, grill a couple of toppings along with your pizza, then sprinkle them on top. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Sliced onions: grill thick slices or quarters, then chop
• Pepper rings
• Cherry tomatoes: grill on skewers
• Mushrooms: grill on skewers
• Sausage: grill whole, then slice
• Artichokes: grill, then chop