Campfire Pepperoni Pizza: The Ultimate Crispy, Cheesy Outdoor Pizza Recipe
Campfire Pepperoni Pizza is a crispy, cheesy, and flavorful outdoor meal that's easy to prepare over a campfire or grill. Ready-made dough, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni come together in a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven to create a perfectly cooked pizza with smoky campfire flavor. It's quick to prepare, endlessly customizable, and ideal for camping trips, backyard cookouts, and family gatherings. Every bite delivers a delicious balance of crispy crust, melted cheese, and savory toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 prepared pizza dough (12-inch) or 2 large flatbreads
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 24–30 pepperoni slices
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Cornmeal (for dusting the pan, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a campfire with medium, steady heat or preheat a grill to medium.
- Lightly grease a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven with olive oil and dust with cornmeal if desired.
- Stretch the pizza dough to fit the skillet and place it inside.
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce.
- Arrange the pepperoni slices across the cheese and add any optional toppings.
- Season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum foil and place it over indirect campfire heat.
- Cook for 15–20 minutes, rotating the skillet occasionally for even cooking.
- Once the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly, remove the pizza from the heat.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Cast-iron skillets produce the crispiest crust.
- Indirect heat prevents the bottom from burning.
- Fresh mozzarella creates a creamier texture.
- Ready-made dough saves preparation time.
- Keep the lid on while cooking to melt the cheese evenly.
- Rotate the skillet regularly for consistent cooking.
- Add vegetables after partially cooking the crust for best results.
- Leftover pizza reheats well over the grill.