A quality pizza oven is a handy addition to any open-air kitchen. Whether you’re working with limited space and need to choose one external appliance that will give you the most bang for your buck, or you’re looking to expand your options for cooking outside, this is one tool worthy of your consideration. Similar to the versatility of your indoor kitchen stove, the backyard pizza oven presents virtually endless culinary potential. In this blog, we’ll present ten surprising and fun alternatives to the classic pie that will have you itching to fire up your oven and start cooking!
Before we get into that list, keep in mind that the versatility of your appliance depends on the model you choose. Characteristics such as shape, size, available accessories, and fuel type can all play a role in what foods you can prepare in your oven and how you can prepare them. There are many options to choose from, so figure out what best serves your needs and purchase accordingly. Our partners at BBQGuys offer a great selection of outdoor pizza ovens, and you can view it here.
- Convert Your Pizza Oven Into a Rotisserie! We love this outdoor pizza oven from Blaze because it comes equipped with a vertical rotisserie rod. The addition of this one simple accessory opens a whole new world of culinary possibilities. Are you in charge of the turkey for Thanksgiving this year? Throw it into your rotisserie and take roasting to the next level!
- Did We Mention the Mouth-Watering Meats? You don’t necessarily need a rotisserie attachment to roast and grill meats in your pizza oven. Got company coming over? Prepare a succulent prime rib. Want to impress your significant other on date night? Make a juicy steak. Craving seafood without a trip to the seaside? Add the perfect level of char to a whole fish or your favorite shellfish. And the next time you’re the designated grillmaster for a family get-together, do Texas proud and use your pizza oven to smoke some mind-blowing barbeque!
- Skip the Store-Bought Bread and Bake Your Own! Food tastes infinitely better when it’s made from scratch, and this is particularly true of bread. Back in Covid times, in a desperate attempt to vary our menus and keep our boredom at bay while we were all stuck at home, many of us tried our hand at breadmaking. Sourdough became (and has remained) especially trendy. Now, you may be a sourdough veteran, or perhaps you have just been waiting for the perfect excuse to jump on the bandwagon. Either way, take this as your cue to get yourself some sourdough starter and begin using your pizza oven to bake loaves. It may take some practice, but you won’t be disappointed with the results!
If maintaining a sourdough starter is too much work for you, don’t fret! Your pizza oven will churn out many other tasty types of bread too! For example, if you have an adventurous palate and like to partake of global cuisines, you can use your pizza oven to bake fantastic flatbreads, including focaccia, naan, and pitas. - Elevate Your Vegetables and Fruits! They’re good for us, and we know we have to eat them, but do you ever get tired of making the same old vegetable sides? Spruce your veggies up by roasting them in your pizza oven! Seriously, if you haven’t roasted a big pan of vegetables, you are truly missing out! Keep it fresh by swapping out which vegetables, herbs, and seasonings you use.
Don’t stop at vegetables either! Prepare fruit in a new way by throwing it in the oven too!
Have you ever tried grilled pineapple? The caramelization makes it almost dessert-like, and if you season it with a little butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon it is simply delightful. - Add Excitement to Your Weeknight Cooking! One of the great challenges of adulthood is having to come up with a meal plan every week for the rest of your life. Even for those of us who love to cook, it can get old. Shake up your weeknight cooking by preparing your favorite dishes in your pizza oven! Give your go-to casseroles a new depth of flavor! Offer a hot sandwich bar and have everyone pick their favorite bread, toppings, and sauces! Cook a giant platter of sizzling fajitas!
An added benefit of making these meals in your outdoor kitchen is that it will reduce the amount of heat generated indoors, allowing your AC to work more efficiently. We all know how important that is in the heat of North Texas summer! - Create Delectable Desserts! If you’ve ever been to a pizza buffet, you’ve probably sampled a dessert pizza. Have you ever thought of creating your own at home? Take a cue from the restaurants and try topping yours with chocolate, apples, or berries!
Alternatively, use your pizza oven to make some true Southern classics: cobblers and crisps. In Texas, stone fruits like peaches and plums are plentiful during the summer, and they hold up great in these types of desserts! See what’s in season at your local grocery store or farmer’s market and craft the perfect complement to your dinner!
S’mores are a summertime classic, but if you want to skip the campfire, your pizza oven can be used to roast the perfect, evenly-browned (or charred, depending on your preferences!) marshmallow! Treat your family without the hassle of camping! - Kick Your Game Day Cooking Up a Notch! Do you like to host family and friends to watch the big game? No sporting event is complete without great food! Now, you can use your pizza oven to prepare your favorite game day snacks or try new ones.
Nothing screams sports like a huge plate of chicken wings! Impress your guests by utilizing different marinades and spices. Add further variety with a fun assortment of sauces and dips.
Some other game day favorites that can be enhanced by preparing them in your pizza oven include nachos and potato skins. What types of foods would you enjoy if you were at the big game instead of watching it at home? Challenge yourself to prepare it in your outdoor kitchen! - Give Your Charcuterie Board an Upgrade! Charcuterie boards are all the rage these days. Add a homemade touch to your spread by cooking some of the components in your pizza oven! Use your pizza oven to smoke some meat. Bake a couple of different cheeses; brie and camembert are both excellent when served hot! Make some crusty baguettes or crispy breadsticks, and whip up a few hot dips or infused olive oils to serve alongside them.
If you’re hosting a backyard event, using the pizza oven in your outdoor kitchen to cook your charcuterie items allows you to be present for the festivities instead of inside missing all the fun. Plus, your guests are sure to be impressed with your extra efforts! - Make Your Own Snacks Instead of Buying Them! Nuts have a decent amount of protein as well as other nutrients, so depending on how you cook them, they can be a healthy and delicious snack. Use your pizza oven to experiment with different flavor combinations and discover your favorite! Pecan season in Texas is fast-approaching, so that might be a good place to start!
Chips are another snack you can make at home. Cut up some corn tortillas and bake your own tortilla chips or opt for potato chips! Go classic with a little oil and salt, or scour the internet for funky and unique recipes. Just like in the chip aisle at the store, the flavor combinations are virtually limitless! - Prepare a Gourmet Brunch at Home! We Texans love our brunch, don’t we? Instead of wasting hours and money going out, take advantage of your outdoor kitchen and stay in instead! If you’re into savory breakfast foods, try out a breakfast casserole or a hash. You can even find recipes for breakfast pizza! And for those with a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong with cinnamon rolls!
We hope this blog has whet your appetite and given you a taste of all that your pizza oven can do! If you opt to include this appliance in your open-air cooking and eating space, you won’t regret it! Rather, you’ll guarantee yourself a never ending variety of tasty foods that you can prepare in your own backyard.
