Skip to content
Find A Dealer

Pizza

Donna M. Skolnick
February 20 2025
, ,

Sure! Below is the revised blog post formatted in a way that should copy and paste seamlessly into your blog without any unwanted formatting issues.

The Ultimate Guide to Making Delicious Pizza in Your Outdoor Pizza Oven

Have you ever dreamed of making the perfect pizza right in your own backyard? With an outdoor pizza oven, you can turn that dream into a tasty reality! In this guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about making mouthwatering pizzas in your outdoor pizza oven or kitchen. Get ready to become a pizza master!

CasaBella Outdoor Kitchens have many design options for you to have a pizza oven in your dream outdoor kitchen. Check us out at CasaBellaOutdoor.com

 

What You'll Need

  • Before we start cooking, let's gather our tools and ingredients:

  • An outdoor pizza oven (wood-fired or propane)

  • Pizza dough

  • Pizza sauce

  • Cheese (mozzarella is a classic choice)

  • Your favorite toppings

  • A pizza peel (a flat shovel-like tool for moving pizzas)

  • A pizza stone (if your oven doesn't have one built-in)

  • An infrared thermometer

  • Oven mitts

  • Setting Up Your Outdoor Pizza Oven
  • First things first, let's get your pizza oven ready:

  1. Find a safe spot: Put your pizza oven on a sturdy, flat surface away from anything that can catch fire.

  2. Check for safety: Make sure your oven is secure and won't tip over.

  3. Gather your fuel: If you're using a wood-fired oven, get some dry hardwood. For propane ovens, make sure your tank is full.

  4. Clean the oven: Sweep out any old ashes or debris.

  • Firing Up Your Pizza Oven
  • Now, let's heat things up:

  1. Start the fire: For wood-fired ovens, build a small fire in the center. For propane ovens, turn on the gas and light it according to the instructions.

  2. Let it heat up: This can take 15-30 minutes, depending on your oven.

  3. Check the temperature: Use your infrared thermometer to measure the oven floor. You want it to be between 700°F and 1000°F.

 

 

Preparing Your Pizza Dough

 

  • While the oven heats up, let's get our dough ready:

  1. Make or buy dough: You can make your own or use store-bought dough.

  2. Let it warm up: If your dough was in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

  3. Stretch it out: Use your hands to gently stretch the dough into a circle. Don't use a rolling pin - it can squish out all the air bubbles that make pizza crust yummy!

  4. Put it on the peel: Sprinkle some flour or cornmeal on your pizza peel and place the stretched dough on it.

Adding Toppings

  • Now comes the fun part - adding toppings!

  1. Spread the sauce: Use a spoon to spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on your dough. Don't use too much, or your pizza might get soggy.

  2. Add cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Remember, less is more!

  3. Choose your toppings: Add your favorite toppings. Some classic choices are pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions. Don't overload your pizza, or it might not cook evenly.

 

Cooking Your Pizza

  • It's time to cook your masterpiece:

  1. Slide it in: Carefully slide your pizza from the peel onto the hot oven floor or pizza stone.

  2. Watch it cook: In a hot pizza oven, your pizza will cook fast - maybe in just 1-2 minutes!

  3. Rotate the pizza: If your oven cooks unevenly, use the peel to turn your pizza every 20-30 seconds.

  4. Check for doneness: Your pizza is ready when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

  5. Take it out: Use the peel to remove your pizza from the oven.

  • Enjoying Your Pizza
  • Congratulations! You've made a delicious pizza in your outdoor oven. Let it cool for a minute or two, then slice and enjoy!
  • Tips for Pizza Perfection

  • Here are some extra tips to help you make the best pizzas:

  1. Practice makes perfect: Don't worry if your first few pizzas aren't perfect. It takes time to get the hang of it.

  2. Experiment with toppings: Try different combinations to find your favorite.

  3. Keep it simple: Sometimes, less is more. A classic Margherita pizza with just sauce, mozzarella, and basil can be amazing.

  4. Use fresh ingredients: Fresh toppings will make your pizza taste even better.

  5. Don't forget to clean: After you're done cooking, let your oven cool down and clean it out. This will keep it in good shape for next time.

 

 

Why Outdoor Pizza Ovens are Awesome

  • Outdoor pizza ovens are great for many reasons:

  1. They get really hot: This high heat makes pizzas with crispy crusts and perfectly melted cheese.

  2. They cook fast: Your pizza will be ready in just a few minutes.

  3. They're fun: Making pizza outside is a great activity for family and friends.

  4. They're versatile: You can use them to cook other foods too, like bread or roasted vegetables.

 

 

Other Things You Can Cook in Your Pizza Oven

  • Your outdoor pizza oven isn't just for pizza! Here are some other yummy things you can make:

  1. Bread: Fresh, crusty bread tastes amazing from a pizza oven.

  2. Roasted vegetables: The high heat makes veggies crispy and delicious.

  3. Meat dishes: You can cook steaks, chicken, or even whole fish.

  4. Desserts: Try baking fruit pies or cobblers in your pizza oven.

 

 

Maintaining Your Outdoor Pizza Oven

  • To keep your pizza oven in top shape:

  1. Clean it regularly: Sweep out ashes and food bits after each use.

  2. Cover it: When not in use, cover your oven to protect it from rain and snow.

  3. Check for cracks: If you see any cracks, fix them right away to prevent bigger problems.

  4. Season it: For some ovens, you need to "season" them by building small fires over several days before cooking in them.

 

Troubleshooting Common Pizza Problems

  • Even pizza pros sometimes have trouble! Here are some common issues and how to fix them:

  1. Soggy crust: Use less sauce and don't overload toppings.

  2. Burnt crust: Your oven might be too hot; let it cool down a bit before cooking.

  3. Uncooked toppings: Make sure your toppings are sliced thin so they cook quickly.

  4. Stuck dough: Use more flour or cornmeal on your peel.

 

 

Pizza Oven Safety

  • Safety is super important when using a pizza oven:

  1. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

  2. Don't leave the oven unattended when it's hot.

  3. Keep kids and pets away from the hot oven.

  4. Use long-handled tools to avoid burns.

  5. Let the oven cool completely before cleaning or covering it.

 

The History of Pizza

  • Did you know that pizza has been around for a really long time? Here's a quick history lesson:

  • Ancient people in Egypt, Rome, and Greece ate flatbreads with toppings.

  • Modern pizza was born in Naples, Italy, in the late 1700s or early 1800s.

  • The first pizzeria in America opened in New York City in 1905.

  • Today, pizza is loved all over the world!

  •  

  •  

    Fun Pizza Facts
  • Here are some cool things you might not know about pizza:

  1. The world's largest pizza was over 122 feet wide!

  2. In the U.S., people eat about 350 slices of pizza every second.

  3. The most expensive pizza ever made cost $12,000 and had fancy toppings like caviar.

  4. Some people in Scotland like to eat deep-fried pizza.

  5. In space, pizzas are made with a tortilla base because regular dough makes too many crumbs.

 

Pizza Around the World

  • Different countries have their own special kinds of pizza:

  • Italy: Thin crust with simple toppings

  • USA: Thick or thin crust with lots of cheese and toppings

  • Japan: Sometimes topped with squid ink or eel

  • Australia: Often topped with eggs and bacon

  • Brazil: Sometimes topped with green peas

  • Hosting a Pizza Party
  • Your outdoor pizza oven is perfect for parties! Here's how to throw a great one:

  1. Prep ingredients ahead of time.

  2. Set up a topping bar so guests can make their own pizzas.

  3. Have plenty of drinks available.

  4. Make sure you have enough seating.

  5. Play some fun music.

  6. Have other activities ready like yard games!

 

Pairing Drinks with Pizza

  • Pizza tastes great with lots of different drinks:

  • Soda: A classic choice

  • Beer: Goes great with most pizzas

  • Wine: Red wine pairs well with meat toppings; white wine goes well with veggie pizzas

  • Iced tea: A refreshing choice for summer parties

  • Making pizza in an outdoor oven is fun, delicious, and easier than you might think! With practice, you'll be making amazing pizzas that your friends and family will love! So fire up that oven and start cooking!
  •  
  • Ready to become a pizza master? Start planning your next pizza night today! Share photos of your homemade pizzas on social media with the hashtag #BackyardPizzaMaster! And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more tasty tips and recipes!

  • backyard cooking, cooking tips, homemade pizza, outdoor kitchen, outdoor pizza oven, pizza, pizza dough, pizza party, pizza recipes, pizza toppings

Additional pizza resources