Grilled or Oven Baked Chicago Style Pizza

Thursday, July 1, 2021
If you love pizza, it's great on a grill whether it's a deep dish Chicago style or just a regular thin-crust pizza, both styles can be made easily on your gas grill outdoors.

For deep-dish pizza, you will need a deep cast-iron skillet or Chicago-style baking pan.

Grilling pizza on a heated pizza stone is the key to pizzeria-style perfect crispy pizza.

If you don't have a grill, there will be directions provided for oven-baked below.

Even when using a cast iron skillet I heat the pizza stone on the grill first but if you don't have a pizza stone no problem, just cook on indirect heat in a cast-iron skillet!

We are such huge pizza fans here and make our how Homemade Pizza Dough along with Italian Stromboli, Panzerotti which is fried dough stuffed Italian Fried Pizza Dough aka Pizza Fritta and of course Mom's Sausage Roll.

These can all be cooked on the pizza stone on the grill or again on indirect heat, just follow the easy printable instructions below on the recipe card at the bottom of this page.


this is original deep dish Chicago style pizza made on the grill in a cast iron skillets




Chicago Style Pizza made in a cast iron 12 inch skillet cooling


What Is Chicago-Style Pizza?


Chicago Pizza can hold crust, cheese, toppings, tomato sauce, and many toppings without getting soggy like regular thin crust that would collapse with this many ingredients.

Articles suggest that Uno's whose original pizza chef Rudy Malnati developed the recipe.

Other documentation suggests that the original recipe and inventor is really unknown.


this is original deep dish Chicago style pizza made on the grill in a cast iron skillets


Regular Thick Pizza Grilled



This pizza is regular pizza grilled in a cast-iron skillet with just tomatoes and cheese.

For those who aren't fond of Chicago deep-dish styles filled with meats, this is an alternative for you.

Of course, you can add whatever you want on top as well!




Layering the Chicago Pie Step By Step



  1. First, the dough gets spread to the edges.
  2. Next, add the cheese slices
  3. Top with loose Italian sausage and pepperoni.
  4. Squeeze and crush with your hand the whole San Marzano tomatoes.
  5. Top with cheese, and ready to bake!
  6. Heat the grill and bake it on a pizza stone.


this is original deep dish ingredients on raw dough Chicago style pizza made on the grill in a cast iron skillets


Tools You Will Need

  1. Pizza Stone
  2. Pizza Shovel
  3. Large Dish
  4. Pizza Cutter
  5. Serving Spatula
  6. Pot Holders
  7. Knife or Fork
  8. Cast-Iron or Chicago Style Baking Pan
  9. Gas Grill

raw dough for chicago style pizza


Pizza Lovers


Whatever kind of pizza you like, we can make it here for pizza for one or a crowd!

Depending on the toppings and size pan, if you have a gas grill, this is the way to go when making pizza.

It's crispy, light, fabulous in flavor just like the pizza parlor you love but better I promise!

Check all the tips first before adding pizza to your grate or pizza pan/stone.

It's super easy to do but you want to ensure you don't miss something important like heating the grill first!

this is pizza with pepperoni and sausage made on the grill


Oven-baked or Grilled Chicago Pizza Recipes?


Whether using charcoal or gas, the smoke from the grill will help give your pizza a great flavor that you simply cannot get from a regular oven.

It's also easy!

The pizza dough does not fall through the grill grates if you preheat the grill as directed and it will form a beautiful golden browned crispy crust.

Of course below to baking this in the oven is an option also and it still will be tasty but it will totally eliminate that smoked taste which when grilling it's a real change in flavor.




Pans Recommended To Use

Heavily Greased


  • 12 - inch Cast Iron
  • Chicago Style Pans
  • Cast Iron Scone/Cornbread Pan
  • Heavy Duty Grill Pan
  • Personal Sized Pizza Pans
  • Note: Using a Pizza Stone is highly recommended as it absorbs the moisture while cooking to make your pizza super crispy and delicious!


this is pizza dough rising in a cornbread pan for pan pizza on the grill


Topping Options for Pizza

  • dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • sliced peppers
  • cubed eggplant
  • cooked ham
  • cooked bacon
  • sliced olives,
  • sliced mushrooms,
  • feta cheese
  • boneless cooked chicken with hot sauce and cheddar,
  • scallops, shrimp with mozzarella, provolone, and garlic,
  • chopped artichoke heart
  • anchovies
  • sliced onions
  • mix and match whatever you like.


this is a gas grill making pizza on it outside on the patio


Tips



  • Don't be in a hurry to grill this pizza without preheating, it will stick and not cook evenly
  • Use cornmeal or semolina on the bottom of your pizza shovel for easy removal  if placing directly on the pizza stone
  • Only use fresh ingredients
  • For Chicago style make sure you push the dough around the sides to the top of the pan before filling and grease the pan heavily
  • Use any kinds of pizza topping you prefer for safety precautions cooked meats are advised
  • If you don't have a pizza stone, cook the pizza on indirect heat on oiled grates
  • For grilling pizza always poke holes on the bottom of the dough before adding the toppings
  • When using the scone/cornbread pan, grease and use cornmeal for easy removal
  • Let the pizza rest for 5 minutes after cooking before cutting it
  • Adding wood chips to your grill will give it a wood-fired smokey flavored crust!
  • If baking in the oven,  heat the oven to 500 degrees and heat the cast iron skillet. Roll out the dough to fit that pan. Remove the skillet with potholders, drizzle pan with oil, add dough and toppings and bake at 500 degrees until pizza is cooked around 20 minutes.


this is pizza cooking out side on the pizza stone


Pizza Dough


Whether you make my homemade dough recipe or use store-bought, just make sure it's an Italian style dough, nothing with eggs or milk added to it.


That kind of frozen dough has too much moisture in it and doesn't get crispy and will stay soggy.


Let it rise in the pan around 1/2 hour before placing on the grill for best results.


this is homemade pizza dough rising


More Recipes We Love


Mom's Foccacia
Pizza Dough
Panzerotti
No Knead Bread


this my son making pizza on a gas grill


Keep A Watchful Eye While Grilling The Pizza


My son Chad is an expert at grilling pizza now.

It's the only way we cook it.

There are actually grilling inserts with pizza stone built into them you can purchase for your gas grill.

Its a great little addition but a pizza stone is inexpensive and works just great!

If you haven't tried grilling and making Chicago Style grilled pizza you are in for a treat.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do, happy grilling!


Don't forget to pin for later!


this is a grilled pizza deep dish Chicago Style Pin for later



Grilled or Oven Baked Chicago Style Pizza
Print

Grilled Pizza Outdoors

Yield: 1
Author:
Prep time: 15 MCook time: 35 MTotal time: 50 M
This is how to make a Chicago style deep dish pizza on the grill. There are several options and toppings and the pizza is pizzeria-style tasting!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2  pounds  store-bought or homemade dough
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage cooked and drained
  • 8 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni
  • 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 1 28-ounce can of whole San Marzano tomatoes squeezed out by hand and crushed them
  • 1/2 cup of  fresh basil, leaves torn (optional on top for garnish or while baking)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces provolone thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan Romano blended cheese
  • olive oil or  a blend with melted butter
  • Optional: dried oregano, fresh spinach leaves, sliced peppers, cubed eggplant, onions, cooked ham, cooked bacon, anchovies, sliced olives, sliced mushrooms, feta cheese, boneless cooked chicken with hot sauce and cheddar, scallops, shrimp with mozzarella, provolone and garlic, chopped artichoke hearts, mix and match whatever you like.
  • Pans to use: Cast Iron Skillet 12 inch or 10, individual scone pan for a personal pan for two people, or Chicago style pan 12 inches in size generously greased.
  • Note: Cook on a Pizza Stone set on the grill grates when possible for best results
  • If you don't have a pizza stone, heat the cast iron skillet at 500 degrees, remove with potholders, and set down.  Roll out the dough carefully to fit, put the pizza in the skillet, toppings, and place the pizza and bake in a preheated 500-degree oven until brown and bubbling.

Instructions:

  1. Coat the bottom and sides of a 12-inch cast-iron pan, cake pan, or traditional Chicago-style pizza pan with olive oil or a blend with melted butter and generously oil spray sides.
  2. Note if using the individual scone/cornbread cast-iron pan, generously oil spray, and butter the pan first. I find this style of pan cooks quickly and reduces the cooking time by 5 minutes.
  3. Using your hands for Chicago style, spread out about three-quarters of the dough across the bottom and up the sides of the cast-iron style 12-inch pan (save the remainder for another use).poke holes in the dough with a fork.
  4. On the bottom place both the provolone and the mozzarella, all the way up to the edge.
  5. Spread with a thin, even layer of sausage. ( you can use it raw however cooking times vary so I cook it to be safe)
  6. Cover with random pieces of pepperoni.
  7. Top with a couple of handfuls of crushed tomatoes.
  8. Spread the tomatoes out evenly.
  9. Sprinkle top evenly with grated cheese.
  10. Time to cook it!
  11. For Outdoor Grilling: preheat the grill with the stone until it reaches 400 degrees.
  12. Once your grill is at 400, place the pan on a baking stone or directly on the grill if you don't have a pizza stone, and then close the lid.
  13. Note: if you don't have a baking stone only use one lit burner on the grill on indirect heat. This means if you light the right side of the grill cook it on the left side.
  14. Put the cover down and bake on the stone or indirect heat for 18 to 35 minutes depending on the depth and size of your pan.
  15. Cook the Deep Dish Pizza for 20 minutes rotating the pan once to ensure even cooking.
  16. For Oven Baked: preheat to 500 degrees heat the cast-iron pan empty. Take the pan out add 2 tablespoons of oil and stretch out your pizza dough to fit on a floured board, Add to the hot pan taking a spatula and making sure you pull the dough to the edge of the pan. Top with sauce, cheese, and whatever you like. Bake rotating halfway through, until golden around the edge, about 20 to  25 minutes. Let rest for about 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Chicago style pizza, deep-dish pizza, grilled pizza, barbecued pizza, pizza on the grill,
grilled recipes, pizza recipes, outdoor grilled pizza recipes, barbecue recipes
Italian
Created using The Recipes Generator






Don't forget to pin for later!



More Recipes We Love


Mom's Foccacia
Pizza Dough
Panzerotti
No Knead Bread


Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2020

19 comments

  1. Looks amazing...and what a good idea, never thought about using a cast iron skillet on the grill :)

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  2. I remember going to Uno's when younger and thinking I was the bomb-diggity. I love the idea of using a cast iron. Will try for sure!

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  3. That is a great idea Claudia! Ive got a big cast iron skillet that would work perfectly for this. I will definately be giving this a try when I get back from my trip.

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  4. Definitely a good idea to do this. Summer grilling is not just about meat anymore!

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  5. Gosh...that crust looks crazily good! And I love your pizza pans!

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  6. I love thick crust pizza!!! Honestly I think the crust is my favorite part of every pizza, haha. I can't wait to make the deep dish style!

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  7. Great pizza recipe! Thank you!

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  8. Chicago style deep dish pizza is the best pizza on the planet - I will fight anyone who disagrees! Love the idea of cooking it on the grill....will have to give that a try for sure!

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  9. This was incredible!!! Everyone has to try this!

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  10. This looks SO good! Love the idea of cooking it in the cast iron pan on a pizza stone. I'd love to try this.

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  11. This looks amazing! I know I'll love the simple homemade tomato sauce for the pizza. Also, I have to get one of those cast iron scone pans! It's such a great idea to use it for pizza.

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  12. The whole family is all about deep-dish pizza! What a great easy recipe. We'll be making this in a cast-iron skillet. Tomorrow is Pizza Night at our house!

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  13. This looks insanely good! So comforting, thick and cheesy. Can't wait to try!

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  14. This is so tempting and delicious. Love the toppings and love the cheesy spread. Kids to love it too.

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  15. You can't beat chicago style pizza - it's just the best. This looks amazing.

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  16. I'm now craving pizza! I totally blame you.

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  17. They sure do look good but definitely not on my diet.

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  18. I love Chicago style pizza but I've never made it from scratch at home! I can't wait to try your recipe this weekend - I think my whole family will love it!

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Remember to use the search option for a recipe you're looking for and thanks for all your kind words and support. We love our readers all the best Claudia