How to Cook a Pizza in a Wood Fired Pizza Oven

When you first start cooking pizza in a wood fired oven, you will probably go through a process of trial and error! Learning the different results you can get from different temperatures and cooking times takes practice - though it is worth it when you finally perfect that pizza!

Making Wood Fired Pizza in a Brick Pizza Oven...

To get started, you need to light your wood fired oven. Read our complete guide to lighting a wood fired pizza oven to find out how to use a pizza oven first!

How to Make Pizza in a Pizza Oven - Step-by-Step Guide

1. Make the Pizza Dough

First of all, you need to create your dough. You can start this an hour or so before you begin heating your wood fire oven up, which should give you plenty of time - allowing up to an hour for the dough to proof.

The great thing about making your own homemade pizza dough is that you only need a few ingredients in your store cupboard, and you can make it any time - all that goes into it is flour, yeast, a little bit of salt and sugar and a drizzle of oil.

There are plenty of pizza dough recipes out there for you to choose from, such as this one from Jamie Oliver.

You can also find gluten-free pizza dough recipes too, such as this one from BBC Good Food - there is no need for anyone to miss out on the fun!

Rolling the pizza dough

You don't need a rolling pin to shape your dough - it's actually better to do it by hand to get that authentic taste. You also want to avoid rolling it too thin. Simply give your work surface a dusting of flour and, with lightly floured hands, begin to spread the dough out from the centre with the heel of your hand. Once you've stretched it out to about a 20cm diameter, flip it over and continue stretching until it's about 30cm across. For a classic, thin crust wood fired pizza, it should be about 1/2 centimetre thick.

TIP: You can make your dough ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Simply place it in a lightly greased bowl and cover with cling film. You can keep it for up to 48 hours, but it's best to use it the same or next day.

2. Prepare the Wood Fired Pizza Toppings

wood fired pizza topping

Next, you can get your toppings ready. With a wood fired pizza oven, you can cook as many pizzas as you like, since they only take a couple of minutes to cook and the oven will stay hot for hours. So, try out a few different combinations, mix and match and maybe even invent your own pizza? There really is no wrong way to top your pizza here!

To get you started, we’ve collected a few tasty looking wood fired pizza topping recipes you might want to try out…

Wood fired pizza topping recipes

Pizza Express's homemade recipes - you can make a whole Italian banquet with these tasty recipes from pizza express, including their classic Margherita and dough balls
Sausage, broccoli and fennel pizza recipe from Jamie Oliver – an unusual mix that will make a lasting impression.
Kalamata olives, prosciutto, vine ripened tomatoes and fior di latte pizza recipe from delicious.com – a traditional, Italian-style wood fired pizza recipe.
Perfect Neapolitan Pizza recipe from A Couple of Cooks - keep it classic with this simply authentic Italian style pizza
Simple vegan pizza from Minimalist Baker - pizza ovens are for everyone, whatever their preference, so why not try out this tasty vegan pizza topping idea?

3. Put the Pizza in the Oven

Once you have your dough rolled and toppings arranged, it’s time to cook your pizza. It is best placed towards the front of the oven, and you can lay it directly on the oven floor. However, you will need a pizza peel or paddle for getting it in and out.

Keep a close eye on your pizza while it cooks - it should only take a couple of minutes at most. Turn it a few times to ensure it cooks evenly. When done, the crust should be nice and crisp, with the cheese steaming on top and a soft, gooey centre.

Take a look at Jamie Oliver’s video on how to cook a pizza in a wood fired oven for some expert tips: