Can you put flatbread as a pizza on grill?

Flatbread can absolutely be used as the crust for pizza cooked on a grill. Grilled flatbread pizza is a fun and delicious way to enjoy pizza in the summertime. Using flatbread as the crust allows the pizza to cook quickly over high heat on a grill. The toppings get nicely charred and caramelized from the grill, giving great flavor. Grilled flatbread pizzas are a crowd-pleasing meal for backyard barbecues, camping trips, or any outdoor gathering.

Quick Answers

Yes, you can make pizza using flatbread crust on a grill. Flatbread is an ideal crust for grilled pizza because it is thin enough to cook quickly and evenly over the high direct heat of a grill. Naan, lavash, tortillas, and other flatbreads can all be used as the crust. Toppings like vegetables, cheese, meats, and sauce will melt and caramelize nicely from the grill. Grilled flatbread pizza is a fun, tasty way to enjoy pizza in the summer.

Some tips for grilling flatbread pizza:

  • Use a fairly thin flatbread crust so it cooks quickly.
  • Brush the crust lightly with oil to prevent sticking.
  • Cook the crust over direct high heat for just 1-2 minutes per side.
  • Top with sliced veggies, sauce, cheese and meats before or after grilling the crust.
  • Close the grill lid to melt the cheese.
  • Watch closely to prevent burning.

With the right preparation, flatbread can absolutely stand in for traditional dough as the crust for delicious grilled pizzas all summer long.

What types of flatbread work well for grilled pizza?

Many different types of flatbread can be used to make tasty grilled pizzas. Good options include:

  • Naan – Naan is a popular Indian flatbread that works perfectly on the grill. It has a soft and chewy texture that holds up well.
  • Pita – Both white and whole wheat pita breads grill up crispy and delicious as a pizza crust.
  • Lavash – Lavash is a soft Armenian flatbread that can be used to make a thin, almost cracker-like grilled pizza crust.
  • Tortillas – Flour or corn tortillas, warmed on the grill first, make for quick and easy personal pizzas.
  • Focaccia – The oiled surface of focaccia crust gets nicely browned and crispy on the grill.
  • Flatbread dough – You can make your own thin flatbread dough with flour, water, yeast and oil. Roll it out thinly.

The key is to use a bread that is fairly thin, without too many toppings, so it will cook evenly over the direct heat on the grill without burning.

What toppings work best for grilled flatbread pizzas?

Grilled flatbread pizzas taste amazing with lots of different toppings. Some good options include:

  • Fresh vegetables like tomatoes, onions, peppers, zucchini, mushrooms
  • Cooked meats like chicken, sausage, pepperoni
  • Cheeses like mozzarella, feta, Parmesan, goat cheese
  • Sauces like tomato sauce, pesto, BBQ sauce
  • Fresh herbs like basil, oregano
  • Dollops of ricotta or goat cheese
  • Arugula, spinach, other greens
  • Olives, artichokes, other veggies

The best toppings for grilled flatbread pizzas are foods that will cook quickly or that can be pre-cooked first. Try to avoid massive amounts of sauce or moisture, as that can make the crust soggy. Going light on toppings allows the flatbread crust to cook evenly and get crispy from the grill.

Steps for Making Grilled Flatbread Pizza

Follow these simple steps for grilled flatbread pizzas that are crispy, charred and delicious:

  1. Heat your gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
  2. Lightly brush or drizzle flatbread crust with olive oil or cooking spray.
  3. Place flatbread crust directly on the grill grates and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly charred.
  4. Remove flatbread crust from grill and top with desired sauces, cheeses, veggies and meats.
  5. Return the topped flatbread crust to the hot grill and close the lid.
  6. Cook for 3-5 minutes until cheese melts and toppings are hot.
  7. Remove pizza from grill, slice and serve immediately.

Make sure to watch the pizzas closely as they can burn easily if overcooked. Use a spatula to carefully flip and rotate the pizzas as needed. Let kids get involved assembling their own mini pizzas on tortillas or pita breads.

Tips for the Best Grilled Flatbread Pizzas

Follow these tips for grilled flatbread pizzas with perfectly crispy crust and melty toppings:

  • Start with a very hot grill – this ensures the crust gets crispy and charred rather than soggy.
  • Use flatbreads that are fairly thin – thick breads won’t cook evenly and can burn.
  • Only add toppings to one side before returning to the grill – this prevents the bottom from getting soggy.
  • Brush crust lightly with olive oil before grilling – this helps prevent sticking.
  • Try pre-cooking meats and vegetables – this prevents raw toppings from making crust soggy.
  • Close the grill lid while toppings cook – this melts the cheese evenly.
  • Use fewer toppings than a traditional pizza – too many will make flatbread crust soggy.
  • Work in batches for consistent heat – avoid overcrowding the grill.
  • Use a baking sheet or pizza stone – prevents crust sticking if grill grates are too wide.

With high heat and the right prep, flatbreads transform into the ultimate crust for easy, delicious grilled pizzas all summer long.

Challenges of Using Flatbread for Grilled Pizzas

While flatbreads make fantastic grilled pizza crusts, there are some potential challenges to be aware of:

  • Burning or scorching if grilled over too high heat.
  • Drying out or becoming hard if grilled too long.
  • Sogginess if too many wet toppings are used.
  • Sticking to the grill if not properly oiled or cooked on too low heat.
  • Difficulty transferring if the flatbread is too flimsy.
  • Tearing or ripping if dough is rolled too thin.
  • Raw dough if the flatbread is too thick to fully cook.
  • Uneven cooking between top and bottom.

Paying attention to details like grill temperature, crust thickness, and moisture content of toppings will help avoid potential pitfalls when grilling flatbread pizzas. With a little practice, you’ll be making restaurant-quality pizzas from your own backyard grill.

FAQs about Grilled Flatbread Pizzas

What temperature should I grill flatbread pizzas?

Grill flatbread pizzas over direct high heat, ideally at a temperature between 450-550°F. This level of heat will cook the crust quickly while nicely charring and caramelizing the toppings. Make sure to preheat grill thoroughly before cooking.

How long does it take to grill flatbread pizzas?

Grilling time can vary based on thickness, but most flatbread pizzas will take 2-5 minutes per side. Grill the crust briefly first before adding toppings, then finish cooking with lid closed for 3-5 minutes more to melt cheese.

What’s the best way to transfer grilled flatbread pizzas?

Use a large spatula or wooden pizza peel lightly coated in flour or cornmeal to easily slide flatbread pizzas on and off the grill. Transfer carefully to prevent toppings from sliding off.

Should toppings be cooked before adding to the flatbread?

Pre-cooking meat toppings is a good idea to prevent raw meat from contaminating the pizza. Onions, peppers and other veggies can be briefly grilled first too. But things like tomato sauce and cheese can go on raw.

How can I prevent grilled flatbread pizza from sticking?

Lightly brush or drizzle flatbread crust with olive oil before grilling to help prevent sticking. Use a very hot grill and don’t flip too early. Allow one side to release naturally before flipping with a spatula.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While grilled flatbread pizzas are fairly easy and intuitive to make, there are some common mistakes that can sabotage your success:

  • Not preheating grill properly – Fail to fully preheat to high temp and crust may stick or bake unevenly.
  • Using too thick of a crust – Thick crust may raw inside or burn outside.
  • Overloading on toppings – Too many toppings will make crust soggy.
  • Grilling over direct low heat – Will steam rather than crisp the crust.
  • Grilling with lid open – Closes lid to melt cheese evenly.
  • Adding sauce under the crust – Will make the bottom soggy.
  • Forgetting to oil crust – Can lead to sticking to the grill.
  • Grilling too long – Will burn crust and toppings.
  • Assembling pizza on grill – Toppings will slide right off.

Pay attention to grill heat, crust thickness, and topping amounts. Follow the prep tips outlined here and you’ll be enjoying restaurant-caliber grilled flatbread pizzas all summer!

Alternative Grilling Methods

While using direct high heat is the traditional method, there are some alternative grilling techniques that can also work well for making flatbread pizzas:

  • Two-zone fire – Arrange coals for direct and indirect heat, searing crust over high heat before moving to low heat zone to finish.
  • Rotisserie – Cook pizza on a rotisserie attachment to get an even, revolving cook.
  • Pizza stone – Pre-heat pizza stone on grill before sliding flatbread crust directly onto it.
  • Cast iron skillet – Place in skillet over direct heat to mimic a pizza oven.
  • Plank grilling – Cook flatbread crust directly on pre-soaked wooden pizza planks.
  • Covered kettle – Mimic a pizza oven by cooking in a covered kettle grill with some hardwood added for flavor.

Part of the fun is experimenting with different grilling methods to achieve the perfect balance of crispy crust and melting toppings. Don’t be afraid to get creative!

Grilled Flatbread Pizza Recipes to Try

Here are some delicious recipe ideas for putting grilled flatbreads to work as the crust for amazing pizzas:

Simple Margherita Grilled Flatbread Pizza

Top grilled naan or other flatbread with sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Grilled Veggie Flatbread Pizzas

Top grilled lavash or tortillas with grilled veggies like zucchini, eggplant, onions, mushrooms, and roasted red peppers. Finish with crumbled feta cheese.

Mediterranean Grilled Flatbread Pizzas

Spread hummus on grilled pita before topping with artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and feta cheese.

Grilled Hawaiian Flatbread Pizza

Top grilled naan or flatbread dough with ham, pineapple, mozzarella and homemade Hawaiian sauce.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizzas

Brush grilled flatbread with BBQ sauce, then fill with chopped grilled chicken, red onion, cilantro, and shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese.

The possibilities for flatbread pizza recipes are endless! Use your favorite sauces, cheeses, veggies and meats to personalize your own signature grilled flatbread pizza.

Conclusion

Grilled flatbread pizzas are a fun and easy way to enjoy a tasty pizza meal during the warmer months when grilling outside. A variety of flatbreads like naan, pita, lavash, tortillas or flatbread dough work great as the crust. Top them simply with tomatoes, cheese and fresh herbs, or load them up with your favorite meats and veggies. Cook over direct high heat for a crispy crust with charred topping. Watch closely to avoid burning and use a spatula for easy transferring on and off the grill. Follow the tips here for grilled flatbread pizzas that will be a hit at your next barbecue or summer gathering.

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