Beginner BBQ Tips And Grilled Thin Crust Pizza | Kingsford

This #KingsfordFlavor sponsored post has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always, my charcoal grilling opinions are my own. 

The season of the grill is upon us. And after seeing yet another gas grill rust away? Well, I started thinking that this year I needed something different. One that brings back the thrill of the grill. 

So I did what any newbie to the charcoal grilling world would do. I totally asked for advice. And that is when Jessica of New Hampshire set me up for success. Here’s what she had to say:

1) Make sure you light the charcoal at least 20 minutes before you want to start cooking.
2) Go easy on the lighter fluid, a little dab’l do ya!
3) Don’t start grilling until your charcoal is all white.
4) Buy a grill basket for veggies.
5) Try grilling sliced fruit (pineapple is great- cook it longer than you think with indirect heat).

Fawn in Ohio also mentioned that she preferred using a barbecue chimney starter. Which Jennifer from Idaho, totally agreed she loved as well. So I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into…but I certainly felt like I could do it!

And so there I was at The Home Depot. Checking out chimney starters and lighter fluid. One easy decision was the great deal on Kingsford Original Twinpack. Over half off, this two-pack was only $9.88, and just the deal I was looking for!

And with renting, a small grill fits my cooking and storage space best now. But I can certainly see getting a larger round grill with a lid in the future. For now however, my petite charcoal grill is the perfect size for grilling our favorite thin crust pizza.

Which when it comes to the kids, they love a simple cheese pizza. Warmed over the charcoal, I was pleasantly surprised seeing it cooks up like it would in a wood fired oven. The sauce boiled up so pretty. And the mozzarella and provolone melted to perfection.

For our second pizza, I got more creative. One of my favorite combinations for thin crust pizzas, is a barbecue sauce and chicken. But for this one, I also pulled out fresh pineapple, turkey bacon bits, cheddar cheese, and green peppers. Then I stirred the coals to prepare the grill.

To begin, I placed my pre-cooked crust directly on the grill and began building my pizza. There isn’t any need to preheat the crust. So grab a spoon and slather on that thick, spicy barbecue sauce right away.

Next, sprinkle on a little cheddar cheese. My first layer is always to concentrate on piling on the shredded chicken and bacon base. Next you’ll need more shredded cheddar cheese. And then top it off with fresh pineapple, green peppers, and another sprinkling of turkey bacon.

The end result? Magic. And lets just say that I’m totally hooked on charcoal grilling. Which is good. Because I just happened to get a stellar deal on two 18 pound bags from The Home Depot. And that my friends…is a lot of charcoal.

Compared to gas grilling, I would agree that the Kingsford flavor is by far better. It wasn’t difficult to light the charcoal. The kids loved drawing with the briquettes. And I dare say it was nice having the chance to give pause while the grill heated up for cooking. All I need now? Is Jessica’s recommended basket for grilling up veggies!

Want to find even more recipe inspiration and store locations for charcoal grilling? Then make sure to check out Kingsford on Facebook and Twitter. I know I will be!