Description
Grilled Sausage and Peppers Pizza is a smoky, cheesy delight featuring Italian sausage, vibrant bell peppers, and onions atop a crispy grilled crust. This recipe takes classic pizza ingredients and infuses them with a delicious charred flavor by cooking directly on a hot grill, perfect for summer evenings or anytime you crave a flavorful, homemade grilled pizza.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 lb pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
- Cornmeal or flour, for shaping the dough
Sausage and Vegetables
- 8 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
Toppings
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, around 450–500°F (230–260°C). Clean the grates thoroughly and lightly oil them to prevent sticking.
- Cook the sausage: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the Italian sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until browned and fully cooked. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté peppers and onions: In the same skillet, heat the olive oil and add the sliced red, yellow, and green bell peppers along with the red onion. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until they just soften. Set aside.
- Prepare the dough: Divide or shape the pizza dough into a large round or two smaller rounds. Dust the dough lightly with cornmeal or flour to aid in handling.
- Grill the dough: Carefully place the dough directly onto the hot, oiled grill grates. Grill for about 2–3 minutes until the bottom develops a light char and the top starts to bubble.
- Flip and add toppings: Flip the dough over and immediately spread the pizza sauce evenly over the grilled side. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Add sausage and vegetables: Top the cheese with the cooked Italian sausage and the sautéed bell peppers and onions.
- Finish grilling: Close the grill lid and cook for another 3–5 minutes until the crust is crisp and the cheese has melted completely.
- Season and garnish: Remove the pizza from the grill and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, black pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and fresh chopped basil.
- Rest and serve: Allow the pizza to rest for 2–3 minutes before slicing to let the flavors settle and make slicing easier. Serve warm.
Notes
- Prepare all toppings before placing dough on the grill as grilling proceeds quickly.
- Use a pizza peel or a large flat baking sheet to transfer dough to and from the grill for easier handling.
- Avoid overly wet toppings or excessive sauce as they can make the grilled pizza soggy and tough to manage.
- Choose sweet Italian sausage for mild flavor or hot Italian sausage if you prefer more heat.
- Additional toppings such as mushrooms, black olives, or banana peppers can be added for variety.
- For optimal texture and flavor, serve the grilled pizza immediately after cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Pizza, Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired, American
