Can You Cook Pizza on a Blackstone Griddle?

Pizza is a favorite food for people all over the world. There are endless variations of this classic dish, and everyone seems to have their own favorite recipe. But there’s one thing that nearly everyone can agree on – pizza is delicious!

Making pizza at home is a great way to enjoy this classic dish. You can customize it any way you like, and it’s a fun activity to do with family or friends.

With the rise in popularity of outdoor cooking, many people are wondering if they can cook pizza on a Blackstone griddle.

Yes, you can cook pizza on a Blackstone griddle! It’s a great way to make this classic Italian dish. Although it won’t be exactly like pizza from a brick oven, it will still taste great. The griddle will give the crust a crispy texture, while the toppings stay nice and juicy.

Wanna learn some tips and tricks about cooking pizza on a griddle? Read on!

Table of Contents

Consider Getting a Lid or a Hood for Your Griddle

A lid or a hood is a god-send when cooking pizza on a griddle. It helps trap the heat and makes sure that the temperature is more evenly distributed. Sort of like in an oven.

This results in a more evenly cooked pizza with properly cooked toppings and deliciously melted cheese.

When you cook without a lid, the top of the pizza will cook slower than the crust that sits directly on the griddle top or pizza stone. This may mean that the cheese won’t be properly melted and the toppings might not be cooked through.

If you don’t have a lid or a hood, you can improvise by using a large baking sheet or even an upside-down pot or oven. Just make sure the improvised lid can survive the high temperatures and avoid using pots or baking sheets coated with Teflon.

You May Need to Cook the Pizza Toppings First

We all know that pizza is all about the toppings. When you are preparing the pizza on your Blackstone, you may need to cook the toppings first.

In the case of veggies, a quick sauté on the griddle will do the trick. This will soften them up a bit and prevent them from releasing too much water when they are cooked on the pizza. You don’t want a completely soggy pizza, after all!

As for raw meat toppings, you’ll need to cook them all the way through before adding them to your pizza to avoid any foodborne illness. No one wants to get sick from eating pizza!

Salami, pepperoni, and other cured meats don’t need to be cooked before being added to the pizza, as they are already safe to eat. But when they are sauteed a bit, they can release even more delicious flavor and become crispier!

Any Pizza Crust Will Work

Whether you like thin and crispy crust or thick and chewy, any type of pizza crust will work on a Blackstone griddle. You may need to slightly alter the way you cook it depending on the type of crust, but overall it will work just fine.

If you’re using a pre-made crust from the store, all you need to do is follow the cooking instructions on the package. It may be necessary to cook the crust on one side and then flip it before adding the toppings to ensure the crust is cooked all the way through.

If you’re making your pizza dough from scratch, you’ll want to roll it out into a thin circle. Then, place it on the griddle sprinkled with some olive oil, and let it cook for a bit before adding your pizza sauce and toppings. This will help to prevent the dough from becoming soggy.

You can also use other types of dough, like naan or pita bread. Simply top it with your favorite sauce and toppings, and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Do You Need a Pizza Stone to Cook Pizza on the Blackstone?

You don’t really need a pizza stone to cook pizza on a griddle. The griddle will get hot enough to cook the crust without one. Placing the pizza crust directly on the Blackstone is my preferred method.

However, if you want to, you can use a pizza stone. You can preheat it in an oven or directly on the griddle.

A word of warning – I’ve read some reports on Reddit that placing a pizza stone directly on the griddle top has caused the stone to get so hot that it obliterated the seasoning layer.

Again, I haven’t experienced this myself as I don’t use pizza stones, but it’s something to keep in mind. One thing you could do to avoid that is to place the stone on a wire rack so that it’s not in direct contact with the griddle top. For that to work properly, you’d also need a lid for your griddle.

If you decide to use a pizza stone, make sure it’s big enough to fit your entire pizza. You don’t want to have to cut the crust off because it’s too big!

Can You Cook Frozen Pizza on a Blackstone Griddle?

Yes, you can cook frozen pizza on a Blackstone griddle. If you’re short on time, cooking frozen pizza on a Blackstone griddle is a great option. It’s quick and easy, and you don’t have to worry about making the dough from scratch.

Although not required, you can take the pizza out of the freezer and let it sit for about 30 minutes before cooking. This will slightly thaw the pizza and help it cook more quickly and evenly when placed on the griddle.

Keep in mind that griddles do not like sudden temperature changes. So don’t dump five pizzas on the hot griddle top at once to avoid warping. not that they would fit anyway.

If you want to get a little bit more creative with your frozen pizza, try adding some extra toppings. Sliced vegetables, cooked meats, and even fruit can make a delicious addition to your pizza.

What Happened to the Blackstone Pizza Oven?

Blackstone Patio Oven
Image: Blackstone

Blackstone used to sell a pizza oven which they call “Patio Oven”. It was a product that was better suited for pizza cooking than their griddles. However, that oven was discontinued some time ago.

The good news is that couple of weeks ago, it was confirmed by Blackstone that a new version of the standalone pizza oven is in the works.

Also, the guys and ladies at Blackstone have brought a new pizza oven conversion kit on the market. This will fit almost any of the 22-inch Blackstone griddles. So far, it has only seen a limited release exclusively on Walmart.com.

Conclusion

So there you have it! You can cook pizza on a Blackstone griddle. Be prepared to experiment a bit. Although your first griddle pizza may not come out as good as expected, you will surely master the griddle technique in no time.

Remember to have fun and enjoy the process!

If you are more serious about pizza-making, then you could consider waiting for the new standalone pizza oven by Blackstone.

FAQ

Why has Blackstone discontinued their pizza oven (Patio Oven)?

It’s not entirely clear why Blackstone has discontinued the Patio Oven. There were most likely multiple reasons but the main reason they stated was that they wanted to focus on their griddles.

When will the new Blackstone pizza oven be released?

An official release date hasn’t been announced yet. Due to the supply chain disruptions, Blackstone said it’s hard to say when it will be released.

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John Carder

John Carder is the founder of FreshAirChef.com. He loves to cook outdoors, especially over a campfire. John has a lovely wife and two cats who he loves dearly. In his spare time, he likes to play soccer and paint; he's not particularly good at either, but he enjoys the process nonetheless. He also has silly long hair which often gets in his way while cooking!