Step 1

Unpackage the pizza dough and place it on a piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle a little bit of flour on the parchment paper if your dough is sticky.

Step 2

Rub a little bit of olive oil all over the top of the dough so that it doesn’t dry out. Let the dough come to room temperature as best as possible while you prepare the briquettes.

Step 3

Next, prepare the briquettes. Briquettes typically take 20-30 minutes to pre-heat. They begin to turn white and ashy when they’re ready to be used. You’ll need enough briquettes to create 450°F to 475°F in your dutch oven. The exact amount will vary depending on the size of your dutch oven.

Step 4

On a piece of parchment paper, stretch the pizza dough into a thin circle about the size of your dutch oven. (1 pound of dough usually makes 2 pizzas, so split the dough in half first.)

Step 5

Spread the pizza sauce on top of the dough and then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Step 6

Once the briquettes are heated, preheat an empty dutch oven to about 450°F for about 5 minutes. You want the dutch oven to be nice and hot when you place the pizza inside.

Step 7

With your heat-resistant gloves on, carefully hold on to the parchment paper and transfer the pizza right into the dutch oven with the parchment paper.

Step 8

Top with the dutch oven lid. Cook for about 14 minutes. If you check and it needs more time, simply close the lid and let it cook for a few more minutes.*

Step 9

Carefully remove the pizza from the dutch oven and slide it onto a cutting board.

Step 10

Top with fresh basil (if using), slice, and serve!