Who says the grill is only for steaks, kebabs, and burgers? With the right cookware, you can turn your grill into a fully functional outdoor oven—perfect for baking bread, cookies, pizzas, pies, and even cakes. Whether you’re using a pellet grill, gas grill, or charcoal setup, the secret lies in choosing the right pans and heat-safe accessories.
In this guide, we break down the best cookware for baking on the grill and how each piece elevates your outdoor cooking game.
Why Bake on a Grill?
Outdoor baking comes with a few delicious advantages:
🔥 Higher temperatures
Grills easily reach 400–700°F, giving you elite-level crusts on breads and pizzas.
🌿 Smoky flavor infusion
Pellet, charcoal, and wood-fired grills add natural aroma that indoor ovens can’t replicate.
🏕️ Outdoor convenience
Perfect for summer gatherings, camping trips, or keeping heat out of your kitchen.
⭐ Best Cookware for Baking on the Grill
1. Cast Iron Skillets – The Outdoor Baking Powerhouse
Cast iron is the king of grilling cookware.
Why it's perfect for grill baking:
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Withstands extreme heat
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Retains heat evenly
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Creates crispy edges in cornbread, brownies, and skillet cookies
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Works in both direct and indirect heat zones
Great for baking:
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Cornbread
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Crisp-topped brownies
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Giant chocolate chip cookies
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Garlic pull-apart bread
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Cinnamon rolls
Pro Tip: Preheat your cast iron on the grill before adding the batter for even cooking.
2. Dutch Ovens – Your Outdoor Oven Inside a Grill
When you want perfect heat circulation, a Dutch oven is unbeatable.
Why a Dutch oven works well:
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Traps heat and moisture—ideal for bread
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Creates a mini "oven" inside the grill
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Cast iron Dutch ovens can go directly over flames
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Great for long, slow, indirect baking
Best for:
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Artisan sourdough bread
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Cobblers & crisps
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Lasagna-style pasta bakes
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Cakes and quick breads
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Roasts and stews
Tip: For pellet grills, keep the lid off until the last few minutes if you want more smoke flavor.
3. Pizza Stones & Baking Steels – Serious Heat for Serious Crust
If you want crisp, restaurant-style pizza, this is where you start.
What they do:
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Absorb and radiate high heat
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Create evenly browned bottoms
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Prevent soggy dough
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Work at very high temperatures
Great for:
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Neapolitan pizza
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Flatbreads
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Naan
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Calzones
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Thin crispy cookies
Tip: Preheat stones for at least 20 minutes on high heat.
4. Sheet Pans & Baking Trays – Lightweight & Versatile
Not all sheet pans are grill-friendly—but heavy-duty aluminum pans are.
Why they work:
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Perfect for indirect cooking zones
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Nonstick versions help with sticky doughs
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Great for delicate or small items
What to bake:
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Biscuits
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Cookies
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Sheet cakes
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Pastry twists
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Grilled granola
Warning: Avoid thin, cheap pans—they warp under grill heat.
5. Ceramic or Stoneware Bakeware – For Gentle, Even Baking
If your grill maintains steady temps (like a pellet grill), ceramic bakeware is a solid choice.
Best uses:
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Fruit crumbles
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Deep-dish pies
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Quiches
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Bread puddings
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Cheesecake (indirect heat only)
Tip: Never place cold ceramic directly on a blazing hot grill—preheat slowly to avoid cracking.
6. Stainless Steel Pans – Durable & Grill-Proof
Stainless steel bakeware is excellent for grilling because it resists warping.
Good for:
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Baked potatoes
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Focaccia
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Roasting veggies before adding to baked dishes
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Crisping casseroles
Stainless steel doesn’t hold heat like cast iron, but it's great for consistent baking.
🔥 Best Grill Setups for Outdoor Baking
Pellet Grills
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Superior temperature control
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Ideal for bread, cookies, and casseroles
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Adds a gentle smoky flavor
Gas Grills
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Fast preheat
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Reliable indirect heat setup
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Great for sheet-pan baking
Charcoal Grills
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Best flavor
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Slight learning curve
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Perfect for Dutch oven breads and rustic bakes
⭐ Tips for Successful Baking on the Grill
✔ Use indirect heat
Place your bakeware away from the flames to prevent burning bottoms.
✔ Preheat your cookware
A hot surface = consistent baking.
✔ Monitor temperature carefully
Use a grill thermometer or ambient probe.
✔ Rotate your pan halfway through
Grills don’t heat exactly like ovens—rotation ensures an even bake.
✔ Keep the grill lid closed
You want oven-like heat retention.
🎉 Final Thoughts
Baking on the grill opens up a whole new world of outdoor cooking. With the right pans—cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens, pizza stones, sheet trays, or ceramic dishes—you can easily turn your pellet or gas grill into a flavor-packed outdoor bakery.
If you want to level up your grill baking game, start with the cookware above and experiment with indirect heat, temperature control, and flavorful smoke.
