Pizza on the Big Green Egg
In the mood for a perfect pizzeria-style pizza? Thanks to the Big Green Egg, you don’t need a wood-fired brick oven in your back yard to get the best pizza. Everyday grillers as well as chefs around the world know that the EGG performs just like a super-efficient firebrick oven.
In fact, EGG owners know a secret … that the Big Green Egg bakes even better than wood-fired ovens ever could, because heat from the natural charcoal radiates within the thick ceramic walls of the dome, allowing your food to bake quickly and evenly.
You can bake and roast your way to culinary perfection by cooking with indirect heat in your EGG. With indirect cooking, the food is not directly exposed to the flames and heat of the fire. A convEGGtor, which acts as a heat shield, is placed beneath the food to deflect the heat. Food is cooked by convection heat – heated air circulating within the dome – and radiant heat, which reflects off the charcoal, the ceramic walls and the dome.
Pizza Pro Steps
Cooking the perfect pizza on a Big Green Egg is quick and easy but there are a few key steps, from preparing the dough and toppings to setting up the grill and cooking the pizza itself. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you achieve a gourmet style pizza at home:
1. Prepare the Dough
- Make the Dough: Prepare your dough in advance. Let it rise according to the recipe’s instructions.
- Shape the Dough: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness. Use cornmeal on the peel to prevent sticking.
2. Preheat the Big Green Egg
- Set Up the EGG: Place the ConvEGGtor in the Big Green Egg for indirect cooking.
- Add Charcoal: Fill the EGG with lump charcoal and light it.
- Heat the EGG: Allow the EGG to reach 500-600°F (260-315°C). This high temperature is essential for a crispy crust and evenly cooked toppings.
- Place the Pizza Stone: Once the EGG reaches the desired temperature, place the pizza stone on top of the ConvEGGtor and let it heat up for at least 15 minutes.
3. Prepare the Pizza
- Assemble the Pizza: Spread the sauce evenly over the rolled-out dough. Add cheese and desired toppings.
- Transfer to the Peel: Use a pizza peel to transfer the assembled pizza onto the pizza stone in the Big Green Egg. A little cornmeal or flour on the peel will help the pizza slide off easily.
4. Cook the Pizza
- Monitor the Pizza: Close the lid and cook the pizza for about 5-8 minutes. Keep an eye on the pizza through the top vent to avoid burning.
- Rotate if Necessary: If the pizza is cooking unevenly, rotate it using the peel to ensure an even cook.
5. Finish and Serve
- Check for Doneness: The pizza is done when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Remove the Pizza: Use the pizza peel to carefully remove the pizza from the stone.
- Cool and Slice: Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing to prevent the toppings from sliding off.
Pizza Recipes
EGGcessories for Baking Pizza
Our full line of baking EGGcessories makes it easy to cook the perfect pizza. Our convEGGtor and baking stones are made to the same specifications as the EGG itself, so they distribute heat evenly for better baking and browning, and the ceramics pull moisture from the outer surface of the dough for delicious brick oven crispiness.