Pie Iron Pizza Pockets

It’s fun to cook personal pizzas for everyone on the site in your pie irons.

This would be one of the first items we started making with our pie irons when we went camping. The crispy crust with the melty cheese and the tasty toppings makes this a wonderful meal for those ready to move up from grilled hot dogs or cold sandwiches. So, pull out those favorite toppings and make pie iron pizzas for everyone.

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This would be one of the first items we started making in our pie irons when we went camping. It’s fun to cook personal pizzas for everyone on the site. And the crispy crust with the melty cheese and the tasty toppings make this a wonderful meal for those ready to move up from grilled hot dogs or cold sandwiches. So pull out those favorite toppings and make pie iron pizzas for everyone.

Who doesn’t love food cooked over a campfire? Actually we know a lot of people who don’t and we just have to feel sorry for them. Because we love to cook over a campfire, especially in a pie iron. These are sometimes called camp cookers, pudgy pies, or even hobo pies, but we use the term pie iron. Whatever you choose to call it, know that these trusty tools make extremely delicious food cooked over the campfire.

What we love about Pie Iron Pizza Pockets:

• They are quick, easy, and fun
• We can customize them to everyone’s tastes
• They can be cooked over wood, charcoal, or gas
• This recipe doesn’t require lots of fancy ingredients
• It’s pizza for goodness’ sake!

The Ingredients:

• Cooking spray (don’t want that crust to stick)
• Readymade pizza crust (buy the tube, it is worth it)
• Pizza sauce (homemade or store bought is fine)
• Shredded cheese (you don’t have to limit yourself to mozzarella)
• Assorted toppings (pepperonis, black olives, pepper slices, etc.)
• Dried basil, oregano, pizza dust (optional)

The Process:

1. (Optional) Preheat your pie irons over the fire while getting your supplies ready.
2. Spray insides of three single, or one single and one double per tube of pizza dough, pie irons with cooking spray.
3. Cut rectangle of dough into pieces and place one piece on each pie iron, see photo. If you are using single pie irons, each piece would be equal in size. We use both singles and doubles so we adjust accordingly.
4. Spread about three heaping teaspoons (yes one tablespoon) of pizza sauce on the side of the dough inside the pie iron.

5. Add cheese and any other toppings you wish. A personal favorite is pepperoni and sliced black olives.
6. Fold the remaining dough over your toppings to create your pocket. Pinch the dough edges together using clean fingers.
7. (Optional) Sprinkle the top of your sealed pocket with dried herbs such as basil, oregano, or some sort of pizza mixture. We especially like Penzey’s Pizza Seasoning for topping ours. Add the top of the pie iron.
8. Cook over hot coals, flipping after about 5 minutes. Continue cooking until crisp and warm. Time needed will depend on how hot your coals are.

FAQ and How to Customize:

Q.    Why do you use pie irons?

A.    Pie irons are extremely versatile and help cook food evenly over the coals or fire. They also make it fun for everyone to be involved in cooking their own meal; plus, it is just fun to say “pie iron pizza pockets.”

Q.    Do I need to preheat my pie irons?

A.    We do state that this step is optional because if kids are involved, they can burn themselves on the hot irons. However, preheating the cookers helps prevent your food from sticking.

Q.    How do I make the crust crispy?

A.    This is one of the reasons we recommend cast iron pie irons. They will help make that crust crisp up.

Q.    What if my dough sticks to the pie iron?

A.    We spray our irons with cooking spray prior to putting our dough in and have never had a problem with sticking.

Q. What cheese do you recommend?

A. We enjoy the standard shredded mozzarella but not everyone likes preshredded cheese. You can take your own block of cheese and grate your own or use sliced cheese of your preference.

Q.  Can I use different toppings?

A.  Yes please! One of the best things about a recipe such as this is getting to choose the toppings you want to eat. Just remember that denser ingredients will take longer to cook than more thinly sliced items such as bell peppers.

Q. We don’t like tomato-based sauces. Any other ideas?

A. We have used pesto sauce, white sauce, barbecue sauce, and even gone sauceless with seasoned olive oils. A personal favorite of mine is a sauce formed from roasted vegetables such as carrots, onions, and bell peppers. Just make sure the toppings you select work with your flavor profile.

Q.  Can I use a different type of dough such as crescent roll dough?

A.  While a thinner dough such as crescent roll dough will bake faster, it will also be more apt to leak. We recommend sticking with pizza crust or using a bread dough.

Q.    What if my pockets aren’t fully sealed?

A.    Pockets that are not fully sealed will begin to come apart when you open the pie iron, creating a mess. Use clean fingers to seal all edges of your pocket before cooking over coals. If they still don’t hold together well enough for you to eat them, then try adding less sauce or toppings to your pocket next time.

Q. How do I clean my pie iron after cooking?

A. The best way to clean your cast iron pie iron is to allow it to cool off. Then, while it is still warm, use a damp paper towel or rag to wipe it clean. Do not use soap as you will need to reseason the cooker. The easiest way to clean a Teflon coated cooker is to use a little bit of camping safe soap and water. Make sure to get all the soap off before cooking with it again.

Equipment needed:

• Pie iron(s): We have two cast iron double pie irons, two cast iron single pie irons, and two aluminum single pie irons. Pie irons also come in a variety of specialized types such as circles, hamburger (round with slots for draining grease), hot dog/bread baker, and (hard to find) waffle versions. Most of our pie irons come from Rome. We recommend a square or rectangle for this recipe.
• Cutting board and knife: You will want to have a clean surface to cut your pizza dough into pieces that will fit inside your pie irons along with the knife to cut them.  
• Heat resistant gloves: If you are going to be working around a fire, at some point you will probably get burned. These gloves can help prevent that.

More Pie Iron Recipes to Enjoy:

• Philly Cheesesteaks in the Pie Iron
• Pie Iron Simple Steaks
• Tasty Taco Pockets

Pie Iron Pizza Pockets are great for camping because they cook quickly and can be customized to everyone’s tastes.

Plus, you can eat them with your hands if you don’t want to dirty up a bunch of dishes. Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @campinganswer and show us what crazy toppings you’ve put in your pizzas! We are always looking for new ideas to try.