7 Ways You're Not Using Your Pizza Steel Enough

If you own a Hybrid Pizza Steel, you already know it turns out restaurant-level pies. Maybe you’re already relying on it for weekly rounds of Grilled White Clam Pizza or DIY pizza night with a batch of homemade pizza dough.

But did you know that the steel's talents go well beyond pizza? Use it for meatball-stuffed calzones worthy of your favorite red-sauce joint, Montreal-style bagels that could pass muster up north or pretzels destined for your at-home Oktoberfest celebrations. It even nails frozen pies and acts as a rock-solid grill topper for vegetables and seafood.

Below are seven tasty reasons to reach for that steel every night (not just on Fridays).

1. Homemade Meatball Calzone

Sure, you could bake calzones on a sheet tray, but the pizza steel delivers the crisp, blistered crust this marinara-and-meatball pocket deserves. The recipe makes eight calzones, perfect for feeding a crowd or stocking the freezer for easy meal prep. We love making dough, sauce and meatballs from scratch, but for nights when time is tight, store-bought shortcuts still land a stellar result. Just assemble, slide onto the steel and pull out golden, crisp pockets that stay sturdy under all that saucy, cheesy filling.

2. Challah Pita

Think of this as the hybrid recipe you never knew you needed. A simple yeasted dough rises light like pita yet carries the gentle sweetness of challah. Baked on the pizza steel, each round puffs into a tender pocket with a golden sheen. Tear them open and dip into whipped cream cheese sweetened with a drizzle of honey for an easy, anytime treat.

3. Hamantaschen

Hamantaschen are three-cornered cookies made for Purim, traditionally filled with jam or poppy seeds. According to recipe developer Leah Koenig, the pizza steel is a sleeper hit for these pastries: Its hybrid surface releases the dough cleanly without parchment, and the even heat browns every cookie at the same pace. The built-in handles also make moving the steel in and out of the oven far less awkward. Purim falls in late winter or early spring, but nothing says you can’t enjoy these sweet pockets any time of year.

4. Pissaladière

This Provençal classic layers a tender, buttery pie dough with a tangle of caramelized onions dotted with anchovies and briny oil-cured olives. The pizza steel earns its keep here, getting the dough crisp all the way through while keeping the onion topping plush and jammy. Slice the finished tart into slender strips for a party nibble, or pair generous wedges with a peppery arugula salad for a weeknight dinner that feels far fancier than the effort suggests. A chilled glass of rosé wouldn’t hurt, either.

5. Montreal Bagels

Montreal’s signature bagels get their distinct flavor from a quick boil in lightly sweetened water. After boiling, press each ring into sesame, poppy or an everything mix, then slide them onto the pizza steel. The steel gives them a toasty crust while the interior stays tender and lightly chewy. Split and schmear the bagels with cream cheese or turn them into a canvas for an epic breakfast sandwich. There are no wrong answers.

6. Bavarian Pretzels with Obatzda Spread

Channel a Munich beer tent without leaving the kitchen. Give each rope of dough a baking-soda bath for that classic color and hint of tang, then twist and bake on the pizza steel; the consistent heat delivers a deep bronze sheen while the centers stay airy. Blend soft Camembert with butter, paprika and a splash of wheat beer to whip up Obatzda, then hand out the pretzels warm for dunking.

7. Giant Spinach & Ricotta Calzone

The pizza steel’s large, evenly heated surface lets you bake one hefty calzone without risking a soggy underside. As it cooks, grated Parmesan melts into a deep golden shell while the ricotta–spinach filling stays creamy. Serve the calzone in hearty slabs with warm marinara for easy dunking. For extra punch, wilt the spinach in olive oil with chopped garlic before folding it into the cheese. Reheat leftovers right on the steel. After five minutes the dough crisps back up and the center warms through.

Grab the steel, skip the sheet tray, thank us later.