This Smoked Pizza Recipe will give you that wonderfully smoky woodfired pizza taste that you crave with a perfect crispy crust. Customize it to your liking with whatever toppings you like.
Smoked pizza? Is that really a thing? I don’t think I would have tried it if it hadn’t been out of necessity. One evening, we didn’t want to turn on the oven because it was just too hot for that, so we decided to throw the pizza on the smoker instead. So glad we did.
Cooking pizza should be fun, whether you use the oven, the BBQ, or even make Blackstone Griddle Pizza. Cooking it on the smoker adds that flavor of a real woodfired grill. It’s like having a woodfire oven in your backyard (which I’ve always wanted, by the way!).
Why You’ll Love It
- Change the smoky flavor: You can use any pellets you have – it doesn’t have to be a specific type of wood.
- Super simple: All you have to do heat up the grill and put the pizza on. Close the lid so you trap in all that delicious wood smoke.
- So good: In the short amount of time it’s cooking, it will soak up all that delicious flavor.
Ingredients You Need
You can make any type of pizza on your pellet smoker – be it a store-bought bake-at-home pizza, one you make with pre-made dough, or one you’ve made entirely from scratch. We’ll give the instructions for all three below.
Easy Mode
- 1 frozen store-bought pizza
Homemade Pizza with Pre-Made Dough
- 1 pre-made pizza dough
- Pizza sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Any toppings you like: pepperoni, sausage, onions, peppers, roasted tomatoes, etc
Entirely From Scratch
- Bread flour
- Sugar
- Instant rapid-rise yeast
- Ice water
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
- Pizza sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Any toppings you like: pepperoni, sausage, onions, peppers, roasted tomatoes, etc
Tips for Smoking Pizza
- Remember that to smoke pizza is a long process, so to get the amount of smoke flavor and aroma you want, it will take much longer to make your pizzas than you’re used to.
- It’s always best to use fresh ingredients, like a homemade pizza crust and homemade sauce.
- You can use a gluten free pizza crust.
- Smoking pizza leads to a duller, darker appearance of the toppings when it’s done. Don’t worry! It’ll still taste amazing.
How to Make Smoked Pizza
There are a few different instructions, based on what type of pizza you’re cooking. We’ll give them here, from easiest to most involved.
Easy Mode
Preheat the smoker to 400°F. Place the store-bought pizza directly on the grill rack or on a preheated pizza stone. Smoke for 5 minutes. Rotate and smoke for another 5 minutes, or until the toppings are bubbly.
Homemade Pizza with Pre-Made Dough
This method applies to pizza you make with a pre-made dough or a take-and-bake pizza that has a raw crust and ingredients.
Spread the flour onto a flat, dry surface. Form the dough. Spread on the pizza sauce and top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni (or other toppings, as you wish).
Preheat the smoker to 400°F. Place the pizza directly on the grill rack or on a preheated pizza stone. Smoke for 10 minutes. Rotate and smoke for another 5 minutes, or until the toppings are bubbly.
Entirely From Scratch
Combine the flour, sugar and yeast in the basin of a food processor with the dough blade attached. Pulse a few times to mix thoroughly.
Turn the food processor on low. Slowly pour in the water. Mix until fully combined, about 15 seconds. Turn off the machine and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
Add the oil and salt to the dough and turn the machine on low until fully mixed into a sticky ball.
NOTE: If you don’t have a food processor, you can mix the dough by hand.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for about 1 minute, until the dough is smooth. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, covered with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate the dough overnight or for up to 3 days. The longer it rests, the more flavor and texture it builds.
When you’re ready to make your pizza, get out the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then spread some flour onto a flat, dry surface. Form a round pizza crust with your hands or roll it out.
Spread on the pizza sauce and top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni (or other toppings, as you wish).
Preheat the smoker to 400°F. Place the pizza directly on the grill rack or on a preheated pizza stone. Smoke for 10 minutes. Rotate and smoke for another 5 minutes, or until the toppings are bubbly.
Equipment Needed for Smoked Pizza
- Pellet Smoker – We have both a Z Grills pellet smoker and a Traeger pellet smoker. They both have different max temperatures. I always crank it to as high as it goes then adjust the cooking time.
- Pizza Stone – You can use a pizza stone (preheat it with the grill before use), or you can place the pizza directly on the grill rack.
- Smoker Pellets – You can use any pellets you have. I like this set of 6 different types of wood, so you can mix and match and try different things.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what temperature do you smoke pizza?
In order to get a nice crunchy crust, you want to heat the grill to as high as it can go. You’re trying to mimic the temperature of a wood-fired oven, which would be screaming hot. Most smokers can go as high as 450 to 500 degrees. If your smoker can’t go that high, you will just have to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
What type of wood pellets should I use?
I haven’t ever paid much attention to the type of wood I’m using to smoke pizza. It won’t be on the grill for very long, so the exact flavor of the wood really won’t come through. For that reason, I don’t think it matters what pellets you use. If you want to, experiment with a few different types until you find your favorite.
What type of cheese should I use?
Other Smoked Recipes To Try
I usually use shredded mozzarella cheese (full fat, if possible) because it has enough moisture and fat to give you that cheese pull when you remove a piece. However, sometimes I don’t have that available, so I use something else, like cheddar or even queso quesadilla cheese (which you can find with the Mexican cheeses). Anything that’s a good melting cheese will work.
What Smoker to Use
Z Grills 7002C2E Pellet Grill & Smoker
The 7002C2E is a new model featuring a digital PID control board and advanced technology for even temperatures and consistent results. With the built-in dual temperature probes, a huge pellet hopper, pellet cleanout system, and pellet view window, your grilling experience will be enhanced like never before. See this grill and more on the Z Grills site.
Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill & Smoker
Traeger created the original wood-pellet grill as the ultimate way to achieve wood-fired taste. The Pro Series 22 is the one most people choose because it’s compact, yet has plenty of space for cooking.
You can use any type of wood pellets you like. I prefer Hickory, which is great for naturally enhancing beef, chicken, pork, and veggies with full-bodied, bold flavor.
More Great Pizza Recipes to Try
- Delicious Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- Easy Taco Pizza Recipe
- Butternut Squash & Sausage Pizza
- Philly Cheesesteak Pizza
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Best Smoker Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
For frozen pizza:
- 1 frozen pizza
For homemade pizza
- 1 store-bought or homemade pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon (7.5 g) flour
- 1 cup (245 g) pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups (168 g) mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup (56.5 g) pepperoni slices
- 1/2 cup (130 g) roasted tomatoes optional
For from scratch pizza:
- 3 cups (375 g) bread flour
- 2 teaspoons (8 g) sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.56 g) instant or rapid-rise yeast
- 1 1/2 cup (355 ml) ice water
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (9 g) salt
- 1 tablespoon (7.5 g) flour
- 1 cup (245 g) pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups (168 g) mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup (56.5 g) pepperoni slices
- 1/2 cup (130 g) roasted tomatoes optional
Instructions
For frozen pizza:
- Preheat the smoker to 400°F (205°C).
- Place the pizza directly on the grill rack, pizza pan, or on a preheated pizza stone.
- Smoke for 5 minutes. Rotate and smoke for another 5 minutes, or until the toppings are bubbly.
For homemade pizza:
- Spread the flour onto a flat dry surface. Form the dough.
- Spread on the pizza sauce and top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni (or other toppings, as you wish).
- Preheat the smoker to 400°F (205°C).
- Place the pizza directly on the grill rack, pizza pan, or on a preheated pizza stone.
- Smoke for 10 minutes. Rotate and smoke for another 5 minutes, or until the toppings are bubbly.
For from scratch pizza:
- Combine the flour, sugar and yeast in the basin of a food processor with the dough blade attached. Pulse a few times to mix thoroughly.
- Turn the food processor on low. Slowly pour in the water. Mix until fully combined, about 15 seconds. Turn off the machine and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
- Add the oil and salt to the dough and turn the machine on low until fully mixed into a sticky ball.
- NOTE: If you don’t have a food processor, you can mix the dough by hand.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for about 1 minute, until the dough is smooth. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, covered with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate the dough for at least a few hours or for up to 3 days.
- Spread the flour onto a flat dry surface. Form the dough.
- Spread on the pizza sauce and top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni (or other toppings, as you wish).
- Preheat the smoker to 400°F (205°C).
- Place the pizza directly on the grill rack, pizza pan, or on a preheated pizza stone.
- Smoke for 10 minutes. Rotate and smoke for another 5 minutes, or until the toppings are bubbly.
Equipment Needed
- Pellet smoker
- Smoker pellets
Notes
- You can use whatever pizza tray you usually use, as long as it’s oven-safe. I use this one that has great airflow for the crust.
- Use whatever wood pellets you like. I usually use a gourmet blend or cherry wood.
- If you don’t have a smoker or pellet grill, you can smoke pizza in your BBQ on low with a wood chip smoker box.
Nutrition
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Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes and currently has a cookbook in development.
This one is good! Made several since finding your recipe, all got thumbs up from my boys.
These were a quick & simple recipe that packed a lot of flavor.
We tried these smoked pizzas and they were so good! We all did different toppings so we got to personalize them just the way we wanted!
I’m gonna say they don’t look amazing, but they do taste amazing
I love my Traeger Grill, but I never would have thought to put pizza on it! This turned out excellent!