The Outdoor Pizza Oven Dream

You know that feeling when you just crave a perfectly crisp, deliciously chewy pizza fresh out of the oven? Well, my friends, I’m about to share a little secret that’s going to make all your pizza dreams come true. Gather ’round, because I’m going to show you how to build your very own outdoor pizza oven from scratch!

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But Kelly, I’m no handyman. There’s no way I could pull that off.” Well, let me tell you, if I can do it, so can you. I’m as regular of a gal as they come, and I managed to build not one, but two outdoor pizza ovens in my backyard. And let me just say, it has been a total game-changer for our family pizza nights.

Gathering the Supplies

The first step in this delicious journey is making sure you’ve got all the right materials. Now, I won’t lie to you, it’s quite the shopping list, but trust me, it’s worth it. You’re going to need:

• 4 pieces of 16-inch x 16-inch pavers for the foundation
• 12 pieces of 8-inch x 12-inch wall blocks for the base
• 28 pieces of 12-inch x 12-inch pavers for the oven itself
• 6 pieces of 8-inch x 16-inch pavers for the oven top
• 2 pieces of metal braces, each cut to 24 inches
• A handful of regular bricks

Today’s Gardens has a great selection of all the materials you’ll need, and they even offer delivery, which is a total lifesaver. Just make sure you’ve got a truck or a large vehicle to get it all home.

Laying the Foundation

Alright, let’s get building! The first step is to prepare your foundation. You’ll want to choose a spot that’s a safe distance from your house or any other flammable areas, and make sure it’s nice and level. We started by laying down a 3-inch layer of gravel, then used a 3-foot level to make sure everything was perfectly flat.

Next, we placed our four 16-inch x 16-inch pavers on the gravel, making sure they were straight and secure. This is the base that’s going to support the entire oven, so you want to make sure it’s rock solid.

Constructing the Base

With the foundation in place, it’s time to start building the base. We used three layers of the 8-inch x 12-inch wall blocks, stacking them in a criss-cross pattern to create a sturdy, level platform. Feel free to add as many layers as you’d like, but three seemed to do the trick for us.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But Kelly, won’t that concrete base crack under all that heat?” Well, my friend, that’s where our research comes in. After a lot of digging, we discovered that while regular concrete or pressed bricks can’t handle the thermal shock of an outdoor pizza oven, good old-fashioned clay bricks or firebricks are the way to go. So, if you want to swap out those wall blocks for something a little more heat-resistant, Forno Bravo has some great recommendations.

Assembling the Oven

Alright, time for the fun part – building the oven itself! Start by placing four of your 12-inch x 12-inch pavers on the base, spacing them about 3/4 inches apart to allow for airflow. This is going to be the floor of your oven.

Next, it’s time to start stacking the bricks. Lay down seven bricks in the back, with two on each side. Then, add another layer of eight bricks, this time with two in the back and three on each side. Keep going, alternating the pattern, until you’ve got four layers of bricks.

Now, this is where the magic happens. Grab those metal braces and place them about 8 inches apart on top of the brick layers. This is going to create the frame for your oven ceiling. Then, simply top it off with your 8-inch x 16-inch pavers, making sure to leave a little overhang in the back for that perfect pizza oven look.

City Girl Meets Farm Boy has an amazing step-by-step guide with photos that really helped us nail this part of the process.

Firing it Up

Alright, the hard part’s done, and now it’s time for the best part – firing up that bad boy and making some pizza! But before you get too excited, there’s one more important step – make sure you’ve got a good pizza peel. Trust me, you don’t want to be trying to slide your dough onto a hot oven floor without one.

Once you’ve got your peel and your favorite pizza dough ready to go, it’s time to light the fire. You’ll want to give the oven about 15 minutes to heat up – you’re aiming for temperatures between 800-900°F. And let me tell you, when those bricks start glowing, you know you’re in for a treat.

This video from Bon Appétit has some great tips on how to get the perfect pizza oven temperature and cook time. But the key is to keep an eye on it and adjust as needed. Remember, no two pizzas are the same, so you’ll have to do a bit of trial and error to find your perfect technique.

Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor

Alright, the moment of truth has arrived – it’s time to slide that pizza into the oven and watch the magic happen. Just be super careful, because those bricks are going to be scorching hot.

And let me tell you, the payoff is so worth it. The second that perfectly crisp crust hits your taste buds, you’ll know it was all worth it. The smoky, wood-fired flavor is unlike anything you can get from a regular oven, and the melty, bubbling cheese is just the icing on the (pizza) cake.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But Kelly, won’t it be a pain to clean up and maintain?” Well, fear not, my friends. Once the fire has died down, you can just give the oven a quick wipe-down, and you’re good to go for next time. And trust me, there will be a next time. This outdoor pizza oven has become the centerpiece of our backyard, and we use it for everything from pizzas to roasted veggies to even the occasional s’more.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab those supplies, get building, and get ready to impress all your friends and family with your very own outdoor pizza oven. It’s the ultimate backyard upgrade, and it’s going to change the way you do pizza night forever.