Grilled pizza that is both crispy and chewy and topped with plenty of Tillamook cheese, pepperoni, sausage and bright pesto sauce!
It has been quite the summer. Or maybe it’s that I feel we missed out on a lot of summer. We braved a total kitchen renovation and after a few setbacks and nightmares we really needed some fun. Our family busted out some pizza dough and took ourselves outside to the grill. We taught the kids how to grill pizzas and the winner ended up being a quick and easy 5 minute pesto pepperoni grilled pizza.
I totally wanted to add olives to mine, Cade totally did not, haha. You either want them on your pizza or you don’t and we definitely differ.
We have been obsessed with Tillamook for years and years (don’t miss this post too), and the Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Shredded Cheese totally delivers in this recipe. We especially love the mozzarella because it melts down perfectly.
All the different flavor options that Tillamook has allow you to create a variety of pizzas. The possibilities are endless. We will be posting some of our other creations soon so stay tuned for those!
Whether you are doing a complete kitchen renovation or it’s just a hundred million degrees outside, sometimes turning on your oven is just not an option. Thank our lucky stars for the grill! It has saved us this summer! And there’s something so unique and scrumptious about a grilled pizza!
The dough takes on a little of the smokiness from the grill and gets crispy. The cheese gets perfectly melty. You have to try it!
Homemade Grilled Pizza
We love to do everything homemade when it comes to this pesto pepperoni pizza. The pesto, easy pizza sauce and pizza crust are all made in house. I actually usually have the pizza sauce and pesto made way ahead of time, so it’s not as much work as it sounds. Let’s walk through making the crust step-by-step:
Pizza Crust
- Mix warm water, sugar and yeast and let sit 5 minutes until yeast proofs.
- Add 2 ½ cups flour to the proofed yeast mix in a stand mixer with a dough hook.
- Add an additional 2 ½ cups flour and the salt and knead until smooth.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest in a ball for 10 to 20 minutes. I like to prep the other toppings while I wait for the dough.
- Remove the dough from bowl and add more flour as needed (a little at a time) so it’s not as sticky but only add as needed.
- Press the dough into a circle and brush one side with olive oil. We like to put it on foil so it is easy to transfer to the grill.
The below is our thin crust pizza, and do you know how to make it thin crust?
Thin Crust Pizza
To make a thin crust pizza just chill the dough for an hour or up to two days before pressing it out to make your pizza. That’s it!
Tips for Grilling Pizza
We have been grilling pizza for a while now and have figured out a few things along the way. Here are our tips for making the best grilled pizza:
- Make sure your grill is clean. Give it a good scrub before starting. You don’t want little chunks of last week’s burgers stuck to your pizza crust.
- Heat your grill to 500 degrees. You want the grill to be super hot to cook the crust. The dough will cook quickly.
- Make sure all your ingredients are prepped and ready to go before you start grilling. Everything happens quickly once you get started so have everything (sauce, cheese, toppings, etc.) close.
- Take your prepared dough on the foil and place it oil side down on the heated grill and then brush the opposite side with oil.
- Flip the crust when grill marks appear (it only takes 3 or 4 minutes), spread the sauce on the grilled side, and then cover with Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Mozzarella Shredded Cheese, cooked sausage and pepperoni (or whatever toppings you want) and then close the lid for a minute or two to melt the cheese. You can turn the flames down if needed.
- Drizzle with fresh pesto and booyah! Best grilled pizza ever!
How to Grill Pizza on a Pizza Stone
We actually didn’t use a pizza stone with these pizzas, but I know a lot of people love them. If you want to use a pizza stone, put the stone into the grill before you start the grill. Allow the stone to heat up with the grill. Then place your oiled crust onto the stone and follow the instruction as written.
Restaurant Style Pizza Crust
Looking for a restaurant style pizza crust? We’ve got a couple of tips:
- This time DO NOT chill the dough first. Whip up that pizza dough, let it rest in the mixer or bowl and once it has risen bust out your pizza crust.
- Sprinkle a little cornmeal on the counter when you’re ready to take the pizza to the grill so you get that fantastic crunch on the pizza.
- Leave an edge! Don’t press out the dough evenly, instead leave a nice crust around the outside edge of the pizza.
A restaurant style pizza is a little thicker in the crust which is why a good cheese like Tillamook is needed. Its nice, fat shreds melt down much better and offer up the best flavor so it’s not overpowered by the crust at all.
But I can’t lie, I’m a sucker for that thin crust lately, so let’s get back to that.
Will Pesto Go Bad In The Refrigerator
Let’s talk a little about the toppings we are using. First up is the pesto. We mentioned that we make our own pesto. Homemade pesto will only keep for about a week in the refrigerator. If you buy a jar of pesto, it will have some extra preservatives added to help it last longer. Once the jar is opened, it will last about two weeks.
Can You Freeze Pesto?
Pesto freezes very well. Since it doesn’t last super long in the refrigerator, we like to freeze the extras to use later. We freeze it in ice cube trays so we can just grab the amount of pesto we need. Once it is frozen in the ice cube tray, pop them out and store them in a ziploc bag or another airtight container. It will last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Can Pesto Cause Food Poisoning?
Any food that has gone bad can cause food poisoning and pesto is no exception. Pesto will start to turn brown when it begins to go bad. The olive oil in the pesto will keep the basil from going brown for a few days, but once it starts to go brown, it shouldn’t be eaten.
Can Pepperoni Be Left Out?
Once a package of pepperoni has been opened, it should not be left out. If kept in the refrigerator properly, pepperoni will last for up to 3 weeks. Eating leftover pizza is one of my favorite things, but it should not be left out overnight at room temperature. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, any food that has been cooked should not be eaten if it has set out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Is Pepperoni Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes, cold cured meats, like pepperoni, are perfectly safe to eat while pregnant as long as it has been stored properly.
How Do You Reheat Grilled Pizza?
Do you like your leftover pizza hot or cold? The answer is HOT for me every time! If you like it hot like me, it can be reheated quickly in the microwave for a minute or two, but it will lose all its crispiness and be sort of soggy. I always opt for reheating on a pan in the oven or in the broiler.
If you use the oven, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let it bake for 3-4 minutes depending on how thick the pizza is. If you use the broiler, it will only need a minute or two.
Can You Eat Grilled Pizza Cold?
The short answer is yes, but the real answer is whhhhhyyyyy?!?! Pizza is meant to be hot and melty, but if you are a weirdo, yes, you can eat it cold! JK…you aren’t a weirdo…to each his own! Deep breaths, Carrian, deep breaths! Lol!
Grilled pizza is where it is at, friends! The toppings can be anything you like and whatever is in season! If you have garden tomatoes coming out of your ears, make a huge batch of pizza sauce and get grilling! And don’t forget to use Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Shredded Cheese because it tastes the best, melts the best, and is just the most bomb diggity delicious!!
More Grilled Pizza and Dessert Recipes:
- Grilled Vegetable Flatbread Pizza
- Grilled Garlic Naan Pizza
- All our PIZZA recipes!
- Grilled S’mores Dessert Quesadilla
- Grilled Chocolate Strawberry Croissants
- Brown Sugar Grilled Pineapple Sundaes
Pesto Pepperoni and Sausage Grilled Pizza
Description
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 2 Cups Water, warm
- 1 Tablespoon Yeast
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 2 Teaspoons Sugar
- 5 Cups Flour, divided
Pizza Toppings
- Pepperoni
- [Pizza Sauce]
- [Pesto ]
- [Tillamook Mozzarella Farmstyle Thick Cut ]
- 1/4 lb Cooked Sausage
Instructions
- Mix warm water, sugar and yeast and let sit 5 minutes until yeast proofs.
- Add 2 ½ cups flour with the yeast which has bubbled and mix well in Kitchen Aid or with a dough hook.
- Add additional 2 ½ cups flour and salt, knead until smooth. Cover bowl with saran wrap. Let dough rest in a ball for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Remove dough from bowl and add more flour as needed (a little at a time) so it's not as sticky but only add as needed.
- Press the dough into a circle and brush one side with olive oil.
- Heat a grill to 500 degrees and put the oiled side down. Brush the top with more oil.
- Flip the dough as soon as marks appear and spread with sauce, Tillamook Mozzarella Farmstyle Thick Cut Cheese, sausage and pepperoni and close the lid for a minute or two to melt the cheese. Turn the flames down if needed.
- Serve with a drizzle of fresh pesto!
Notes
Nutrition
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Kimberly
Heyo! LOVE me a grilled pizza, mmmm! And let’s talk about Tilamook sharp cheddar, only kind of cheese I will put in my mouth. Anything else is quite frankly, disappointing (thank you Costco). I just bought some boysenberry Ice cream from them the other day, TO DIE for! And back when I ate sugary yogurt I always grabbed the Tilamook brand!
Sweet Basil
Oh that Tillamook sharp cheddar…hold me back!! Now you have me craving boysenberry ice cream!!
Becca
Tillamook is a household staple, it is the best! I always have the mint chocolate chip ice cream in in the freezer. My girls love snacking on the cheese and yogurts.
Can’t wait to try this recipe
Sweet Basil
Oh that mint chip ice cream is so dang good! If you try this recipe out, let us know what you think!
Callie Owen
Tillamook cheese is a little more pricey but the quality out weighs the cost and really its not that much more. The taste is amazing. I am a huge cheese fan
Sweet Basil
It’s so true! You have to pay for quality!
Jess Clifford
Tillamook is the only dairy products I will purchase! Not only is their cheese so good, their ice cream is the best on the market hands down! Also, your pizza recipe looks amazing!! Time to go get more Tillamook cheese so I can make this pizza this weekend!
Sweet Basil
Do it!!! And let us know what you think!!
Donna Ennis
Love Tillamook anything. Grew up in Washington so, Tillamook is what we ate. Really missed it and would tell my kids about it. I live Florida and my daughter recently found it in Publix. Yeah! We always have some in the fridge now. They really do make the best cheeses.
Sweet Basil
That is true loyalty right there! So glad it has made it’s way to other side of the country!
Lisa Dinsmore
There’s one problem with Tilamook, once you eat it you can’t eat anything else. From ice cream to cheese & my favorite the Greek yogurt….YUM, just YUM!
Sweet Basil
Right?! It ruins everything else!
Katie
I’m an Oregon girl through and through. I grew up there and grew up on Tillamook. We visit the factory every time we go back to see my parents. I always have their ice cream in my freezer and don’t get me started on their cheese! There is NONE better!! YUM!
Cherylann
I saw your story about Tillamook, several months ago, but our grocery stores didn’t carry it here. I was so excited when they started to a month or so ago. It’s been a game changer for our family and it’s all we buy, now. Thank you, I probably wouldn’t have tried it if I hadn’t heard you talking about it.
Sweet Basil
You’ve made my day!! I’m so glad they started carrying it! There’s just nothing better!!
Jessica P.
I have recently discovered Tillamook. Their cheese and ice cream is honestly the best I have ever eaten! I simply dislike Kraft and other brands now that I have been introduced to Tillamook!
Sweet Basil
It really does ruin all other brands! So glad you love it as much as we do!
Heather Lyman
Our family absolutely loves Tillamook! From ice cream, to cheese, to yogurt, to butter, and sauce starters, they are the best! We have cheese and crackers on Sunday afternoon, as a family snack, and if there is any other brand of cheese besides Tillamook Medium Cheddar, and Pepper Jack, lets just say, it isn’t pretty. At our extended family dinners, Tillamook Ice Cream, in many flavors, is what is for dessert. When you have great quality and flavor, backed by wonderful people, it is pretty easy to make Tillamook a staple in our home. I am excited to try Tillamook cheese in these recipes you have shared! I also would love to take my family to the Tillamook headquarters someday, to see all the fun and try it all! Oh, and my husband and son had to take the small Tillamook Cheddar packs on their backpacking trip the other day. Leaving other things out of their pack, but definitely making room for the Tillamook! 🙂
Sweet Basil
This post is just about the best thing ever! You totally have to tour the headquarters! It is amazing! Thank you for taking time to leave a comment and share your love of Tillamook with us!
Heather Lyman
Our family absolutely loves Tillamook! From cheese, to ice cream, to yogurt and sauce starters, we love them all! We do cheese and crackers as a family, for a Sunday afternoon snack, and no one is excited for it without the Tillamook Cheddar and Pepper Jack Cheeses. If another cheese appears, we get some unpleasant faces. 😂 For large family birthday celebrations, the only ice cream served is Tillamook ( in several flavors). When you know you have amazing flavor and quality, backed by an amazing group of people, it is the only choice. 💕😄 🧀. I love pizza and am excited to look at making these recipes with our favorite cheese!
Allison Chan
SUPER FANS here!! We love taking the factory tour when we make the 3 hour trip from our little WA town! The “squeaky” cheese is our fav and their sharp cheddar is my personal fav! Can we talk about the ice cream though???? I adore all things peanut butter, but as a family Marionberry Pie flavor is the winner!!! SO yum!! We want to WIN!!
Sweet Basil
Yessssss Allison! And now I’m craving a heaping bowl of marionberry pie ice cream!
Lindsay Emery
Oh Tillamook!!! I grew up in Washington state and was literally raised on all things Tillamook! Our house was never without Tillamook cheese! Now my fridge is full of their cheese, yogurt, butter, and sour cream. And the only ice cream we buy is Tillamook, don’t even get me started on their custard and gelato! I basically need to move to Oregon and live in their factory, because I live off of their dairy!
Sweet Basil
Hahaha…save a room for me at Tillamook because I’m moving in there too! Thanks for the feedback!
Kristin Remund
Me! My family has visited Tillamook ever since I was a kid before they carried it in stores. Love everything they make! My husband and I even visited the factory on our honeymoon to the Oregon coast 21 years ago. He never liked cheese until he went to that factory and there’s been no looking back! We love everything Tillamook!
Sweet Basil
Leave it to Tillamook to make a cheese lover out of someone who didn’t like cheese! I love it!
Melynne
I love tillamook! Cheese and ice cream and everything! Best quality for sure!! One of my dream vacations is to visit the tillamook factory. Favorite ice cream ever is tillamook mudslide!! Soooo good!
Sweet Basil
That flavor is sooooooo good! One of Cade’s favorites!
Emily
Anything Tillamook is AMAZING! Never have to question the quality! Just when we thought cheese couldn’t get any better 😉
Sweet Basil
Right?! It’s hard to put a price on quality…you just can’t beat it!
Meghan
Soo good!!!! I am not sure if my last comment posted but I tried this pizza and used tillamook!!! Oh my heavens so rich and creamy. I have always loved the ice cream but bow the cheeese has my heart!!!
Sweet Basil
Hurray!! Isn’t it the best?! So glad you enjoyed it!
Meghan
I made this the other day. Soo good!! Inhave made my own pizza dough but never tried Tillamook!! It is so good. I am not sure I can ever go back. So creamy and soo good.
Sweet Basil
Worth every penny! Thanks for taking time to comment!
Capri
Me, me, me! 😃😂. I love tillamook. That’s all I buy. My brother in law claims that another brand ice cream is better and I always look at him like he is crazy 😜🤣.
Sweet Basil
He’s lost his mind! Haha! Jk! It’s just the best!