The 10 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens for a Backyard Feast

We tested the Ooni Fyra, and it ranks as our favorite for a truly portable outdoor pizza oven. The Fyra is fueled by wood pellets, weighs in at just over 20 pounds and reaches up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit.

We found that it a little took more than 15 minutes to come to temperature, as Ooni claims, but it still tops our list, thanks to its quality (hello, cordierite pizza stone!) and portability. With its foldable legs and optional carrying case, the Frya can come with you to a picnic or campsite—just don’t forget the pellets.

Pros

• Heats up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit
• Relatively lightweight and completely portable
• Easy to assemble
• Heats fast and evenly
• Wood pellet fuel simplifies packing

Cons

• Can only be used with food-grade wood pellets
• Oven needs a few minutes to reheat between pizzas

We know it’s a stretch to call the Commercial Chef pizza maker an outdoor pizza oven since it’s technically an electric countertop appliance. But, because it weighs just 6.7 pounds, it’s highly portable. Just bring it to your outdoor kitchen or another suitable space, plug it in and start making pies. The pizza maker is also a versatile little tool—its nonstick surface is good for making omelets, pancakes, burgers and more. We consider it one of the best outdoor pizza oven options for novice chefs who aren’t sure they want to invest in something bigger.

Pros

• Affordable
• Both top and bottom plates heat up
• Versatility to make lots of other foods
• No wood or propane tank needed

Cons

• Exterior gets very hot to the touch
• Only reaches up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

We tested the Alfa Nano gas-fired pizza oven and, well, we’re sold. This is a high-end home pizza oven made in Italy, where they know a thing or two about pizza. The Nano is available in gas or wood-burning models (we appreciate the ease of cooking with gas, with no fire to get started or stoke).

The oven floor is made from firebrick, which absorbs heat quickly, retains it and heats evenly. At 110 pounds, this is a hefty addition to any patio. If you don’t order the optional cart, you’ll need a sturdy surface to park it on.

Pros

• No fire needed and oven heats quickly
• Quality parts and smoothly welded joints and seams
• Attractive bronze-effect coating
• Large enough for roasting meat and cooking bread

Cons

• High price point
• Only portable with optional cart

We love the look of the Solo Stove Pi Prime pizza oven, which is available in either a wood-fueled or wood and gas model. The wood-only model is less expensive, and is an ideal choice for pizza aficionados looking to graduate to a “real” pizza oven with a cordierite pizza stone.

A big plus: This oven weighs just 30.5 pounds and is lightweight enough to be moved around the backyard. It heats to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, though some users report that it takes a long time for temperatures to climb to this level when they use wood fuel.

Pros

• Wide opening makes it easy to add wood and monitor cooking
• Heats up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit
• Small size makes it easy to move around
• Attractive round design
• Comes with a long-lasting cordierite pizza stone

Cons

• Wood fuel-only model may take longer to heat to high temperatures

You don’t have to choose between wood or gas with the Gozney Roccbox, a portable pizza oven that runs on either wood or propane. Its compact style looks a little like something out of Star Wars, but the airplane-hanger design makes for even heat and a rolling flame over your pizza, meats or vegetables.

We also appreciate the silicone coating that keeps the exterior of the oven cooler than many other outdoor pizza ovens. Weighing 44 pounds and reaching temperatures up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit, this mid-range, multi-function model is a solid investment.

Pros

• Dual-fuel function gives you more options
• Portable and includes a detachable propane gas burner
• Heats up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit
• Available in black, gray and green

Cons

• Medium-priced relative to other models, but still an investment

If you’re serious about upgrading your outdoor kitchen, make a statement with this oven from Summerset. You can mount this substantial stainless steel oven on an outdoor counter or build a masonry structure around it to make it the focal point of your outdoor cooking area. Remember to keep your outdoor pizza oven clean to ensure it stays in the family a long time.

Choose a model powered by propane or natural gas, depending on your setup. A built-in smoker box burns wood chips in case you want to add deeper flavor to pizzas, bread or roasts.

Pros

• Features three cooking racks
• Natural gas and propane models available
• Sleek, stainless steel design
• Can be mounted on masonry
• Built-in smoker box enhances the depth of flavor

Cons

• Time-consuming to install
• Only reaches up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit

Not a lot of space for additional backyard appliances? The Cuisinart grill-top pizza oven kit sits atop nearly any gas, charcoal or pellet outdoor grill. It uses radiant heat from the grill’s flames to cook up pizzas in a similar way to the other pizza ovens on this list. Because it requires zero extra space, it’s ideal for those with small yards.

Stainless steel sides provide a reflective surface for heat to bounce off of, and a temperature gauge prevents burning. On top of that, a fancy cordierite baking stone and pizza peel with a folding handle round out this easy-to-use kit.

Pros

• Works with gas, charcoal or pellet grills
• Lightweight at ‎12.7 pounds
• Reasonable price point
• Cordierite baking stone and pizza peel included

Cons

• Learning curve to get the temperature right

With eight cooking functions in one machine, the Ninja Woodfire is easily the most multi-functional option. Inside the gorgeous terracotta red outer shell is a powerful wood-fire oven capable of baking, roasting, broiling, baking, smoking and dehydrating.

In our review of the Ninja Woodfire, we praise its ability to turn out pizzas in under three minutes. Five different settings satisfy any Italian craving: Neapolitan, thin crust, pan, New York or (if you live that kind of life) frozen. It’s truly the best pizza oven for those short on time. The best part? The small footprint makes it fully portable.

Pros

• Eight-in-one functionality
• Reaches up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit
• Pellets offer wood-fired flavor
• Pro-heat pan and pizza stone included

Cons

• Doesn’t come with a stand

When it comes to grills, we’re continually impressed by Blackstone. Now it offers its own freestanding pizza oven, and we couldn’t be more excited. A mobile cart allows chefs to wheel their oven all around the yard, and the luxe look gives pretty fireplace pizza ovens some stiff competition.

The pro-level stainless steel cooking chamber reaches up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, just what you need for authentic ‘zas. A patented rotating pizza tray makes it easy to avoid burnt spots and uneven cooking. We also love that its double-wall insulation ensures that it stays ripping hot, even after firing up multiple pies.

Pros

• Stylish cart with integrated pizza peel holder
• Patented rotating tray
• Double-wall insulation
• Reaches up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit
• Cooks pizzas in as little as 90 seconds

Cons

• Requires some basic assembly

Authentic pizza ovens come in tons of different styles, but this Talavera clay pizza oven is one of the prettiest. The oven works much like the Kamado grill, since it uses ceramic clay for insulation. It fires up personal-sized pies quickly using temperatures that reach 660 degrees Fahrenheit. Refractory cement insulation keeps it hot for about 20 minutes without maintaining the flame.

Because the clay exterior is so inviting, it doubles as a fire feature for chilly nights. The included ember rake makes it easy to keep the flame going for longer if you’re firing multiple pizzas or enjoying the warmth on the patio.

Pros

• Holds heat for 20 minutes
• Pizzas cook in two minutes
• Chimney hole for ventilation
• Ember rake and clay pizza plate included

Cons

• Pizzas are limited to 10 inches or less

Do you need planning permission for an outdoor pizza oven?

While smaller pizza ovens, like an Ooni or Gozney, don’t require a permit, Falco suggests checking with your local department of buildings or homeowners association (HOA) before installing anything more substantial than that.

Source:

• Anthony Falco, an international pizza consultant, cookbook author and illustrator