Why You Should Always Bring Frozen Pizza to a BBQ

What do you bring when you show up to a cookout? Some chips? A six-pack of light beer? A Jell-O mold that will almost certainly turn to liquid before anyone ever even considers a slice? Next time, bring a frozen pizza.

I’m serious.

Here’s the thing: Pretty much everyone likes pizza. And grilled pizza is incredible. That little bit of char makes it taste like it came out of a thousand-degree Neapolitan oven. But grilling pizza made from scratch is practically impossible. Don’t believe all of the articles from the food mags. The dough melts through the grates or it totally warps when you try to flip it. Plus, it’d be weird to show up to a party with a ball of dough.

But showing up to a party with a frozen pizza? Okay, it might seem weird at first. But when you scoot a few hot dogs aside and slap your pizza down on the grill, people will get excited. And when you follow the instructions for how to grill a frozen pizza (it’s really easy, just heat the grill, put the pizza directly on the grates, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes), people’s mouths will start to water. And when you serve them that pizza with its crisp crust, hot, melted cheese, and slightly smoky flavor? Well, they’ll never question you again. And they will invite you to every party for the rest of your life.

Now that I’ve convinced you to bring a frozen pizza to your next BBQ, it’s time to talk about what the best frozen pizza is to grill. Stick with something small—around 10-12 inches. And skip anything with a super thick crust. You want a classic frozen pizza from your childhood—like a Tombstone, which came in at number seven in our best frozen pizza ranking. While pepperoni is a classic, cheese is maybe the better option. (Try Newman’s Own Four Cheese, it was the best thin crust we sampled in our best frozen cheese pizza tasting.) That way, you can customize the toppings with things like fresh summer veg or BBQ chicken and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.

I won’t take up any more of your time. I know you probably need to stock your freezer now. Party season is almost here.

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.