Whether you’re a fan of pizza or a fan of snacking during family gatherings, an outdoor pizza oven is a must-have. So, we compiled a list of the best outdoor pizza ovens and created a handy buying guide for you.
Let’s talk about why you need homemade pizza in your life, our favorite outdoor ovens, and the things you need to consider when buying the best outdoor pizza oven.
What is an Outdoor Pizza Oven?
An outdoor pizza oven is a device that cooks pizza outdoors. The best outdoor pizza ovens are different from your standard backyard grill because they regulate the heat and cook each slice of pizza evenly. They also come in a variety of styles and materials.
If you’re looking for a way to cook all sorts of dishes outside, an outdoor pizza oven might be the answer!
There are four main types of fuel sources for pizza ovens. They are gas, electric, wood-fired, and charcoal.
- Gas – They’re quick to start up, easy to use, and offer consistent heating.
- Wood-fired – They create an even heat distribution throughout the oven, but they require more maintenance than other kinds of pizza ovens.
- Charcoal – They produce higher heat than gas or electric pizza ovens and can handle pulled pork or ribs at the same time as you’re cooking pizza.
- Electric Pizza Ovens – They work best if you want to make smaller pizzas like personal-size pies or calzones. They do require electricity but don’t need anything else like gas or wood to keep them going.
Do You Need an Outdoor Pizza Oven?
You need an outdoor pizza oven if you’re a fan of delicious pizzas. They’re also great if you love making your own pizza dough or cooking pizza yourself. Best of all, cooking pizzas with family and friends is a good reason to hang out.
Besides, outdoor pizza ovens are also versatile. They can be used for cooking other foods besides pizza, so you can use them throughout summer and other seasons for many different recipes.
They also make your outdoor space look nicer and more inviting, but a major downside is they can get pretty expensive. Then again, they’ll last you many years with proper maintenance and upkeep, so you’ll plenty of cooked pizzas and bonding sessions throughout your oven’s lifespan.
Additionally, you may also want to get the best outdoor pizza oven to:
- Be in charge of making your own dough and pizza toppings.
- Not need to spend money on processed pizza.
- Have guests that adore you for having perfect pizza.
- Have stylish and functional furniture in your backyard.
- Not need to build brick and mortar ovens all around you.
- Go creative on your pizza toppings.
Top 10 Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Reviews:
So, if you’re convinced and are trying to get the perfect outdoor pizza oven for your home, see our list of recommendations. We kept this list as versatile as possible to suit different preferences and needs.
Some pizza oven models perfectly fit backyards with a small patio, while others are perfect for beginners with their easy-to-use features. Of course, the best pizza ovens that give you value for your money are also included, including a pizza oven conversion kit.
1. Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Fired Oven
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Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven is the latest addition to the range of outdoor pizza ovens. The Fyra’s innovative pellet hopper will automatically feed through hardwood pellets, keeping your Ooni ready to cook at any time, day or night!
The oven has been designed with simplicity in mind and will be ready to cook authentic stone-baked Neapolitan-style pizza in just 60 seconds. This means you’ll spend more time relaxing outside with friends and family while the Ooni does the cooking for you.
Ooni Fyra 12 is the proud successor of the world-famous Ooni 3 outdoor pizza oven, which was the first portable wood pellet-fueled pizza oven to go global. They have now sold over 50,000 Ooni’s worldwide and are continuing to grow at an unprecedented rate.
Fyra 12 is the Ooni’s lightest, most portable outdoor countertop pizza oven, weighing only 22 pounds and folding into a compact size for easy transportation. So, if you love the taste of wood-fired pizza but don’t have space for a bulky outdoor oven, you need an Ooni Fyra 12.
It comes with a powder-coated carbon steel shell, which provides optimal heat retention and cooks pizzas in just 60 seconds. It also features an amazingly efficient wood pellet burner, which heats up from cold to cooking temperature in less than 8 minutes.
Pros:
- Lightweight and mobile
- Intelligently designed
- Easily assembled
- Feature-packed
- Quick: cooks pizza in 60 seconds
- Uses environmentally sustainable fuel
- Produces authentic wood fire pizzas
- Affordable
Cons:
- Managing the wood pellets and the pizza at the same time needs some getting used to.
- The roof builds up soot and needs cleaning from time to time.
2. Ooni Koda 12 Gas-Powered Oven
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When it’s time for a family gathering or a big football game, you need a pizza oven that can keep up with the demands of your hungry guests. With the Ooni Koda 12-gas-powered outdoor pizza oven, you’ll have a pizza oven that can cook pizzas in just over two minutes.
With its built-in flame keeper and adjustable heat control dial, this is the most efficient and convenient way to make your favorite pies. Basically, it’s a compact, gas-powered outdoor pizza oven that’s versatile and practical. With it, you can cook pizza, roast fish, vegetables, and others on the grill.
Moreover, Ooni Koda 12 is the only gas-powered outdoor oven that cooks from the top and bottom simultaneously to deliver even heat distribution for fast cooking times, delivering Neapolitan-style pizza in just 120 seconds.
Pros:
- Gas-powered and with an add-on burner adapter.
- Great durability at an affordable price.
- When it comes to propane, you’ll only need a canister of 20 or 30 pounds.
- No chimney.
- No door, which means the oven doesn’t lose any heat.
Cons:
- Flimsy softcover.
- Legs don’t lock.
3. Bertello Everything Bundle
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The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Everything Bundle is your complete kit for authentic wood pizza. It includes the Original Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven, a Gas Burner Attachment, and a pair of stainless steel pizza pans.
You’ll be cooking at over 930 degrees Fahrenheit (500 Celsius) in no time and enjoying a nice snacking and gathering event.
Pros:
- Simple design
- Easy to clean
- Gas-powered
- Comes with thermometer
- Easy to store
Cons:
- Pizza peel is metal and with holes
4. Pizzacraft PizzaQue Deluxe Kit
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You don’t have to hit the web with searches like “best pizza open outdoor” if you have a Weber 22-inch kettle grill, or any kettle grill, for that matter. You already own the best backyard pizza oven. All you need is a Pizzacraft Kettle Grill Conversion Kit and your kettle grill will turn into the perfect pizza oven.
The PC7001 PizzaQue Deluxe Kit comes with a stainless steel kettle converter with a built-in thermometer. This thermometer helps attain the correct cooking temperature. Besides that, other members of the kit are a 15 inches round cordierite pizza stone, 13 inches wide folding aluminum pizza peel, charcoal fence, and a flex door.
The maximum temperature that your pizza oven converted kettle grill will reach is about 900 F, which is not at all bad. Cooking time is around 3-5 minutes, and the results are great. If you cook meats like chicken, beef, or turkey, too, you’ll find them to be adequately juicy.
Best of all, this convertible kit operates with a modern heating system, so you can use wood chunks, charcoal, or similar fuels to run it.
Pros:
- Super affordable
- An innovative alternative to whole pizza ovens
- Fits a range of grill models
- Relatively fast
Cons:
- Not entirely for outdoors
5. ROCCBOX Gozney Oven
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In a great number of outdoor pizza oven reviews, Roccbox by Gozney reigns supreme. It gets high reviews consistently, and I Serious Eats rated it as the number 1 stand-alone pizza oven, so you can consider having this one pretty seriously!
This portable outdoor pizza oven is dual-fueled, meaning there are both wood-burning and gas-burning options. It heats to 932 degrees Fahrenheit, producing a perfectly puffed artisan thin-crust pizza within 60 seconds!
Moreover, its retractable legs and detachable dual fuel burners make cleaning and storage very convenient. There’s a color-coded thermometer for monitoring the temperature, and a silicon jacket insulates the outer surface of the oven. You won’t need to worry about a baby or a pet being around when using Roccbox.
It’s available in multiple colors and has a sleek design. It’s also easy to assemble and operate with no learning curve involved.
Pros:
- Runs on both wood and gas
- Versatile
- Sleek design
- Lightweight
- Convenient storage
- Silicon jacket for insulation
- Multiple steel layers add to its durability
- Color-coded thermometer
Cons:
- Expensive
6. Pizzacraft Pronto Oven
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Pizzacraft PC6000 Pizzeria Pronto turns pizza-making into a child’s play. It’s basically a magic wand that can transform any first-time pizza chef into a professional pizzaiola. You’ll hardly find anyone complaining about this one, and that is quite an accomplishment.
It’s a compact machine with a sturdy build, which is just the right thing if you are setting off for camping or tailgating. Its oven preheats to 700 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes, followed by a 5 minute cooking time. Moreover, you can adjust the flame with a knob – something many pizza ovens won’t offer.
There’s also a vent on the lid, allowing excess moisture to leave the oven. Likewise, it has a reflective shield to ensure that heat spreads evenly to both the crust and the topping.
Basically, Pizzacraft Pronto bakes the ingredients of the topping at the same temperature as the crust, resulting in supreme quality pizza.
You can also just easily clean this pizza oven. Just slide the pizza tray out and clean it. Then wipe the surface of the oven. Your work is done.
Pros:
- Amazingly user friendly
- Easy maintenance
- Intelligent design
- Compact
- Sturdy body
- Performs like an authentic brick oven
Cons:
- Only compatible with propane fuel
7. Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven
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Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven is loyal to its name, so you might pack it along with you the next time you hit the trail. It’s compact and lightweight, so you won’t regret carrying it around with you.
Camp Chef is propane-powered and operates with a 1-lb camping tank. It can connect to a 5-foot adaptor hose so you can plug it into a larger tank. And since it runs on propane, there is no soot build-up. It also features a stainless steel body to make it even easier to clean.
However, to add a more smokey tone to your pizza, you’ll need a few wood pellets. Camp Chef can easily accommodate two 10-inch pizzas at the same time, too: something that many ovens can’t offer. And it’s not only for pizzas – it’s great for grilled steaks and baked bread, too.
A double-layered ceiling prevents heat from escaping, making the internal temperature of the oven shoot up pretty high within a pretty short time. The result is impressively similar to an artisan brick oven pizza. Pre-heat time is around 15 minutes and cooking time is just 5 minutes.
It’s one of the best gas ovens out there, but you’ll need to know that it doesn’t have a door. Instead, it has a gap where you take the food in and out, and that gap can cause some heat to escape. Its body also tends to heat up, so keep children away from it.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Affordable
- Heats up quite fast
- Specially designed burners for a traditional pizza experience
- Can cook 2 quantities of 10 inches pizza at once
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Must be kept away from children and pets
- Does not have carrying handles
8. GoPlus Electric Stainless Steel Pizza Baker
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It’s technically an indoor electric pizza oven, but we figured this is the best electric pizza oven with small patios. If space is an issue and owning a wood-fired oven isn’t mandatory, this one can adorn your patio.
Operation, cleaning, and maintenance are fairly easy. Its crumb tray is removable and easy to clean, and its handles are insulated for your safety. It also has an auto shut-off feature where the device turns off after preset time.
With GoPlus, you can bake egg rolls, pretzels, cheese, bread, and much more. However, don’t cook greasy food here and never operate it without the crumb tray or food rack.
Pros:
- Quick bake frozen pizza and more
- Easy to clean
- Auto shut off timer
- Insulated handles
Cons:
- You have to stay away from the surface
9. Mont Alpi Table Top Gas Oven
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Mont Alpi Table Top Pizza Oven always makes it into the best countertop pizza oven reviews. It’s stainless steel throughout, stylish, durable, and does not rust that easily.
It runs on propane, therefore, so you can expect no soot build-up. It’s also easy to clean, easy to carry around, and easy to store.
However, note that the pizza stone, although made of quality material, gets too hot while cooking. If you don’t keep a close eye on your pizza, the crust may get burnt.
Pros:
- Stylish
- Durable
- Compact
- Has a slide-out tray at the bottom
Cons:
- No insulation over the body
- Pizza stone gets very hot
10. Harbor Gardens Monterey Pizza Oven
[amazon box=”B079CBCPSG”]
Harbor Gardens Pizza Oven is a great value for money. It performs surprisingly well for a cheap outdoor pizza oven. The body parts and paint may give away its price tag, but if a fun pizza machine is your only priority, then give it a chance.
This backyard wood-fired pizza is versatile and works just as well with steak, chicken, and fish. It cooks food at about 700 degrees Fahrenheit and comes with a temperature gauge with which you can monitor the oven temperature. Cleaning and maintaining take little effort, too.
Pros:
- Super affordable
- Value for money
- Surprising performance compared to the price tag
Cons:
- Not a high-end professional wood-fired pizza oven
- Paint may peel off after some time
Outdoor Pizza Oven Buying Guide
Once you set out to fetch the right outdoor pizza oven, making a mental illustration of exactly what you require in the device will come in handy and save you from making wrong choices.
Here are some basic things that you may want to consider beforehand.
Size
Do you have enough space for a large outdoor oven, or can your backyard only handle a more compact model? A larger machine may adorn a vast front or backyard but will eat up your compact patio or deck like a hungry monster. Conversely, a compact pizza oven may be just the thing your terrace lacked, whereas it goes invisible in a larger space.
Besides the space, also consider that a pizza oven’s size affects your fuel consumption, cooking capacity, and storage ability.
Portability
Portability is an issue when you consider getting an outdoor pizza oven. The best models are portable so you can carry it around while camping, tailgating, and many outdoor activities.
Even if these are not what you have in mind and you just want your outdoor pizza oven to stay and serve from your backyard, keeping the portability option on the table is a wise idea. This will enable you to move it around in your yard according to your convenience and also aid in easy storage.
The more lightweight your oven is, the better. Also, look for features such as detachable and foldable parts and carrying handles which increase the portability of your machine several times.
A sturdy built will also add to its portability by making your device more resistant to the rigor of transportation, so this is something that you may want to look for.
The best portable pizza ovens are ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven, Pizzacraft PC6000 Pizzeria Pronto Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven, Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven, and Mont Alpi Table Top Pizza oven.
It is worth mentioning again that larger and heavier machines should have wheels with locking mechanisms.
Fuel Source
Pizza comes out in its best form when cooked under the heat from a wood fire. Traditional artisan pizza ovens almost always rely on wood logs as their fuel source.
The newer and hassle-free alternatives are wood pellets and propane. Wood pellets are a cleaner version of wood logs in traditional ovens. Many of the best outdoor pizza makers including the Ooni 3 Outdoor Pizza Oven, therefore, run on wood pellets.
This does not necessarily mean that gas-fueled pizza ovens lag behind. Propane-powered machines, like the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven, produce supreme pizzas and are the least messy. These are perfect for camping where all you have to do is plug it to a gas source and you are good to go.
Some wise guys opt for multi-fueled pizza ovens to get the best of both worlds. This is a great idea. Keep it great by making sure you have done careful research on your multi-fueled pizza maker. This review mentions a few great ones including Bartello Wood Fire and Gas Outdoor Pizza maker.
Insulated Construction
Producing the desirable crispy crust in a short time requires some very high-temperature cooking. The top best outdoor pizza ovens should be able to reach high temperatures and retain it. So note the temperature that your device can heat to.
An insulated construction plays a vital role in preventing heat loss and keeping the desired temperature inside the oven. Check whether they build your desired model this way just like Deeco Aztec Allure Cast Iron Pizza Oven Chiminea, or provide an additional jacket for insulation just like ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven.
Keeping heat is not the only benefit an insulated body offers. Being insulted means that the body will never get too hot. This saves your loved ones, especially the kids and your furry friends from burn hazards.
Pizza Stone
A quality pizza stone is the last but not the least of the features that you can’t miss while picking your outdoor pizza oven.
A pizza stone imitates the atmosphere of a masonry oven, resulting in a delicious pizza experience. If your machine does not come with it, then you will have to purchase one that suits your machine separately. Save yourself the hassle and make sure your device comes with one.
A cordierite pizza stone is precisely what you are looking for and you will get it with almost all of our top 10 pizza ovens including Pizzacraft PizzaQue Deluxe Outdoor Pizza Oven Kettle Grill Conversion Kit and Ooni 3 Outdoor Pizza Oven.
Alternatives to Outdoor Pizza Ovens
If you’re looking for an alternative to an outdoor pizza oven, there are some other options available.
One option is using a griddle or stovetop to reheat your pizza. This might not be the best option for your guests, who might not want their pizza heated in a way that wasn’t originally intended.
Another option is to use a pizza stone in your indoor oven. With this method, you would cook the pizza in an oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8–12 minutes instead of cooking it on the BBQ. This will help keep the toppings crispy and make it easier for your guests to eat their slices without getting messy.
You can also cook pizza in a gas grill! It’s perfect for people who love outdoor cooking but don’t want to spend all their time flipping pizzas on a pizza stone.
There are also some accessories like insulated bags and boxes that can help keep pizzas warm. These are especially helpful when you don’t have access to any type of oven or grill.
If none of these methods work for you, another option is having someone from your house deliver fresh pizzas throughout the day!
FAQs
What accessories do I need for my wood-fired pizza oven?
I can think of one accessory that is a must-have: Pizza peel.
A pizza peel resembles a paddle with a stick as a handle. It is used to put pizza inside the oven, rotate it during the cooking process and pull it out once it is ready.
Some ovens come with a pizza peel, others do not. Then again, there are basically two varieties of pizza peel that you may want to keep at your disposal. If your oven comes with one variety, you can get hold of the other.
01. A small handle wood peel can prepare the pizza and insert it inside the oven. Mine is Epicurean pizza peel. It is dishwasher safe and is made from sustainably sourced wood.
02. A long aluminum peel is more suited for rotating the pizza inside the oven and pulling it once cooking is complete. I use American Metalcraft Aluminum pizza peel for this job.
Can I cook anything other than pizza in An outdoor pizza oven?
Sure. With an outdoor pizza oven, you can cook all the things that you usually cook in a kitchen oven.
The only difference is you’ll be cooking it in broad daylight or under the stars while having a good time with friends. Most of these devices will cook excellent chicken, steak and roasted veggies.
How do I clean my wood-fired outdoor pizza oven?
You don’t really need to clean your wood-fired outdoor pizza oven. You just have to vacuum or sweep the ash away.
Use a pellet stove ash vacuum cleaner such as the one by Powersmith. You can also use a brush to sweep the ash inside the oven.
Some ovens have a built-in ash collector tray, discard it every once in a while when it is full. For the models that do not come with this feature, collect it in a metal dustpan.
In order to avoid a fire hazard make sure that you do this cleaning once the ash and debris have completed cooled down. A good idea is to do the cleaning a day after using the oven.
Why is food tastier in a wood-fired oven?
A wood-fired oven creates a uniform cooking temperature. This allows all parts of your pizza to be cooked evenly throughout.
Also, a wood-fired oven can reach an amazingly high temperature, another prerequisite for artisan pizza making.
Is a wood-fired pizza oven worth it?
When you’re looking to buy an outdoor pizza oven, one of the first things you might want to consider is whether or not you want a wood-fired pizza oven. Wood-fired ovens can be a little more expensive than some other options, but they’ll also give you a lot more versatility.
Wood-fired pizza ovens use firewood as their heat source, and they work by combining it with charcoal for stability. If you plan on cooking pizzas on a regular basis, this type of stove could make sense for your home.
Wood-fired ovens are great because they create a very unique flavor for your pies. They’re also able to reach temperatures upwards of 900 degrees, which means they cook your pizzas quickly and evenly. Plus, there’s nothing quite like that delicious smell of fresh dough turning into crispy perfection!
Can I cook burgers in a pizza oven?
There are so many things you can cook in an outdoor pizza oven. One of the most popular things is cooking pizzas! But, can you actually cook burgers in a pizza oven?
This one is actually a trick question. You can cook just about anything in an outdoor pizza oven.
The one thing you won’t be able to do is cook frozen pizzas because they’re full of moisture and will cause smoke to form inside the oven. For that reason, you’ll need to preheat the oven before adding your frozen pizza.
However, there’s no reason why you couldn’t throw frozen hamburgers on the grill behind your outdoor pizza oven or on another side grill altogether! You could also make some really delicious BBQ chicken if you had an extra grill set up next to your outdoor pizza oven.
How do you use an outdoor oven?
There are a few different ways to use an outdoor pizza oven, depending on the type of oven you buy.
Some may require you to put your pizza right onto the cooking grill. Others will have racks that let you bake pizza in even layers. Outdoor pizza ovens come in all shapes and sizes, so take some time to think about what your needs are before you make a purchase.
An outdoor oven is great for cooking pizzas because it allows for more heat retention. This means that the heat from the fire below will continue to cook your pizza as it’s being cooked on top of the grill. It also helps keep your food warm until you’re ready to eat it.
Does a pizza oven need a chimney?
Chimneys are what help to regulate the heat in an oven. The chimney is attached to the oven and has a damper that controls how air moves in and out of the oven cavity. This helps maintain a steady heat for evenly cooked food.
A pizza oven needs a chimney, but it doesn’t need to be very large or complicated because pizzas cook in much less time than other foods, like meats. If you’re shopping for an outdoor pizza oven, you may want to consider the outdoor pizza oven with chimney.
Can you use wood pellets in any type of pizza oven?
One of the most common questions people ask about outdoor pizza ovens is whether they can use wood pellets in them. The answer is yes! Wood pellets are a great way to add flavor and maximize your cooking time with these ovens.
Wood pellets are just like any other fuel you would use to cook with an outdoor pizza oven. You will need to find out if your preferred brand or type of stovetop grill will work with the type of pellet you want to use. If it does, you’re all set! If not, you’ll need to find another brand or type of pellet that does work with your grill.
Although there are some differences between pellet stoves and grills, generally speaking, any stovetop grill should be able to run on wood pellets.
What is the best temperature for a wood-fired pizza oven?
Wood-fired pizza ovens come in a variety of styles and sizes that produce a number of different heat outputs. That being said, the higher the heat output from your oven, the better it will be at cooking pizzas.
The best temperature for a wood-fired pizza oven is around 500–550 degrees Fahrenheit. This range allows the crust to cook evenly and quickly without burning or drying out too much on top or underneath. The ideal temperature for this type of oven also produces great flavor from the firewood used to cook your pizzas.
Final Thoughts
In the world of outdoor pizza ovens, no one device reigns supreme, but surely there are some brilliant ones ready to make you the best Pizza chef of your clan.
All you have to do is find just the right partner.
This outdoor pizza oven review has hopefully enriched you with quite a bit of pizza oven expertise and provided useful answers to some queries that you may have.
Now it’s your turn to venture into the world of best outdoor pizza ovens.
Good luck!
Before we part ways, here is a bonus segment, just for you.
Best Wood For Pizza Oven:
The best wood for pizza ovens is hardwood. Softwood is cheap but will make you regret it. Hardwoods such as oak, birch, maple, and beech will burn hotter and longer ensuring optimum performance from your outdoor wood-fired pizza oven.
