Everything You Can Cook in a Pizza Oven (That Isn't Pizza)
Here at Direct Stoves, we live and breathe everything to do with fire. From the cosy warmth of a living room log burner to the roaring heat of an outdoor kitchen, we know that nothing beats the flavour and atmosphere of real flames. That’s why we’re such huge fans of the outdoor pizza oven.
Yes, they are undeniably brilliant for creating perfect, leopard-spotted pizzas in under two minutes. But to limit them to that one job is to miss their true potential. A quality pizza oven is a high-performance, wood-fired mini-kitchen, transforming your garden into a hub of culinary creativity. Its power to hit scorching temperatures for the perfect sear, and then retain gentle, rolling heat for hours, makes it one of the most versatile cooking tools you can own.
This guide is designed to inspire you to move beyond the margherita. Get ready to discover the incredible range of mains, sides, desserts, and snacks you can create all year round, proving that your pizza oven is one of the best investments you’ll ever make for your home and garden.
Flatbreads & Garlic Bread
The perfect opening act for any outdoor feast, quick-cook flatbreads are a fantastic way to use your oven’s heat. Whether it’s roaring at full temperature or gently cooling down, you can produce incredible bread in minutes. Think of fluffy, garlic-and-herb naan, blistering instantly to mimic a traditional tandoor, or a cheesy tear-and-share loaf that’s perfect for dipping.
Top Tip: Simply adapt your pizza dough. Roll it out, brush with garlic butter, sprinkle with sea salt and rosemary, and launch it in with your pizza peel. In a minute or two, you’ll have a smoky, irresistible starter that will vanish before the first pizza is even cooked.
Baked Camembert or Feta
For an appetiser that delivers maximum flavour for minimum effort, nothing beats baked cheese. Place a wheel of Camembert or a block of feta into a small cast iron skillet or a dedicated ceramic baking dish, like those in our DeliVita cookware range.
Get creative by scoring the Camembert and studding it with garlic and rosemary, or drizzle the feta with honey and chilli flakes for a sweet and spicy kick. A few minutes in the oven’s ambient heat is all it takes to turn it into a molten, bubbling pot of joy. Serve with crusty bread for dipping – ideally, bread you’ve just warmed in the oven itself!
Roast Veggies with Serious Char
Forget soggy, oven-roasted vegetables. A pizza oven elevates them to a whole new level. The intense, dry heat caramelises the natural sugars in courgettes, peppers, aubergine, and cherry tomatoes, leaving them lender on the inside with a delicious smoky char on the outside.
For best results, toss your chopped veg in a heavy-duty cast iron roasting tray with a generous amount of olive oil and herbs. Slide it into a hot oven and let the fire do the work. Served as part of an antipasti platter or as a side dish to a sizzling steak, these veggies are a game-changer.
Meat, Fish & Skewers
Your pizza oven is a searing machine, capable of producing results that will make any grill-master jealous. The intense heat is perfect for creating a deep, flavourful crust on a thick-cut steak. Simply preheat a cast iron grizzler pan until it’s screaming hot for that perfect steakhouse finish.
But why stop there? Whether you own a compact DeliVita oven or a grand Fontana Forni, the potential is enormous. Wood-fired kebabs, sizzling sausages, butterflied leg of lamb, and even a whole spatchcock chicken can be cooked to juicy perfection. Use the hottest zone near the flames for searing, and the cooler edge of the oven floor for finishing the cook.
Cast Iron Cooking (Stews, Chilli & More)
One of the most overlooked features of a quality pizza oven is its incredible heat retention. Long after the flames have died down, the insulated dome and floor hold a steady, even heat that’s perfect for slow cooking. This is where a good quality, lidded cast iron pot or Dutch oven becomes your best friend.
Prepare a rich beef stew, a smoky chilli, or a classic ratatouille, and place it in the cooling oven. The retained heat will gently simmer your dish for hours, tenderising the meat and melding the flavours beautifully. It’s an incredibly efficient use of energy and a brilliant way to have a second course ready with zero extra effort.
Wood-Fired Breakfasts
Take your weekend brunch outdoors and add a touch of wood-fired magic. Cooking a full English in a single cast iron skillet in an oven like the Morso Forno is a truly special experience, infusing everything with a subtle, smoky flavour.
A real showstopper is wood-fired shakshuka. Simmer a rich, spicy tomato and pepper sauce in a skillet before cracking in a few eggs and returning it to the oven to bake. The eggs cook to perfection in the radiant heat. Serve with warm flatbreads for a breakfast you won’t forget.
Desserts: Yes, Really!
Baking in a pizza oven? Absolutely. The retained heat is perfect for creating all kinds of delicious puddings. A giant skillet cookie is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser – simply press cookie dough into a cast iron pan and bake until the edges are crisp and the centre is irresistibly gooey.
Fruit crumbles and pies are also fantastic. The top becomes wonderfully golden and crisp while the fruit below bubbles away. You can also try roasted peaches with honey, baked apples, or even cinnamon rolls. And don’t throw away leftover pizza dough – roll it thin, spread with Nutella, fold, and bake for instant, delicious dough balls.
Homemade Breads & Focaccia
Your pizza oven is a first-class baker’s oven. The high, dry heat creates a phenomenal ‘oven spring’, giving your loaves a crisp, crackly crust and a light, airy crumb that’s difficult to achieve in a conventional kitchen oven. For artisan-style loaves, baking inside a pre-heated Dutch oven will trap steam and give you professional results.
Focaccia is another fantastic and easy option. Press your dough into an oiled tray, dimple it with your fingers, and top generously with olives, sea salt, and rosemary. It cooks in minutes and emerges golden, crisp, and infused with wood-fired flavour. For that authentic taste, be sure to use high-quality, kiln-dried logs from our fuel range.
Snacks & Nibbles
While the main event is cooking, use the cooler zones of your oven to prepare a selection of tasty nibbles. Gently toast a bowl of nuts, warm some olives with herbs and citrus peel, or bake mini breadsticks. You can even assemble nachos on a heatproof tray and slide them in for a minute to melt the cheese into gooey perfection. It’s all about using every bit of that glorious heat.
Warm Drinks & Mulled Wine
As the evening draws in and the temperature drops, your pizza oven has one last trick up its sleeve. The residual warmth is perfect for keeping a pot of mulled wine, spiced cider, or hot chocolate gently heated for hours. It’s a wonderful, welcoming touch for garden gatherings and the perfect way to round off an evening of outdoor cooking.
Tips for Success from the Direct Stoves Experts
- Get the Right Tools: Don’t try to manage without the essentials. A long-handled pizza peel, high-quality heatproof gloves, and an infrared thermometer are non-negotiable for safety and precision.
- Invest in Cast Iron: Versatile and virtually indestructible, a good set of cast iron cookware will unlock the full potential of your oven. Skillets, roasting trays, and lidded pots are all fantastic investments.
- Master Your Fuel: Always use dry, well-seasoned hardwood or specialist kiln-dried pizza oven logs. This ensures the oven gets up to temperature efficiently, burns cleanly with minimal smoke, and imparts the best possible flavour.
- Cook in Stages: Plan your cooking around the oven’s heat cycle. Start with high-heat items like pizza and steaks. As it cools, move to roasting and baking. Finally, use the last of the residual heat for slow-cooking or warming.
So, What Will You Try First?
Your pizza oven is far more than a one-trick pony; it’s the key to unlocking a new world of outdoor cooking. It’s a roaster, a baker, a grill, and a slow-cooker all in one, ready to become the heart of your garden.
We hope this has inspired you to get creative and let your oven earn its keep all year round.
Ready to start your wood-fired adventure? Browse our extensive range of wood-fired and gas pizza ovens, and level up your skills with our professional-grade pizza oven accessories.
Happy cooking!
