How to cook a pizza on an outdoor fireplace

Have you ever had the aroma of wood-fired pizza fill your backyard on a warm summer evening? It’s nothing short of magical, and the only thing that beats it is when you finally take that first bite. A crisp base, melted cheese, and that unique smokey flavour that you just can’t beat…

We have already explored how to cook in a wood-fired pizza oven, but you might not have the space for one. So the good news is that you can still make a mouthwatering pizza using your outdoor fireplace as we explore how it can be turned into a pizza-making powerhouse using our premium pizza hood accessory.

Delicious wood-fired pizza from your outdoor fireplace

Making the dough

When you want a fantastic pizza, start by perfecting your dough. You want it to be chewy yet crisp, solid enough to support the toppings while still being light and airy on the inside. Of course, everyone has different tastes, and one of the best things about making your own pizza at home is that you can adjust the dough to your liking. Make it a little thicker for a more substantial base, or keep it slim for that authentic Neopolitan style. 

Here’s a simple recipe - a family favourite from our ultimate guide to cooking on an outdoor fireplace. 

Ingredients:

• 500g high-grade flour
• 7g instant yeast
• 10g salt
• 325ml lukewarm water
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Method:

1. Combine flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in the centre and add water and oil.
3. Mix until it forms a dough, then knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for at least 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
5. Divide into 3-4 balls for individual pizzas.
6. Rest for another 20 minutes before shaping.

The slow rise is important for developing flavour, so no skipping. If you have the time (and fridge space), it’s even better if you just make your dough the day before and let it rise in the refrigerator overnight. This produces a deeper, more complex taste that really intensifies when cooked in a wood-fired environment.

Preparing your outdoor fireplace

Temperature control is something you’ll have to master for a perfect pizza, and it’s even more important with our pizza hood cooking accessory on an outdoor fireplace. Unlike with conventional ovens, wood-fired cooking depends on a balance of direct and ambient heat. But our pizza hood cooking accessory helps this concept by trapping the heat and letting it circulate around your pizza, similar to how traditional brick ovens work. 

Now, here's how to prepare your outdoor fireplace:

1. Fuel your fire at least 60 minutes before cooking.
2. Use dry, seasoned hardwood for the best heat and flavour.
3. Let the fire burn down to hot embers with small flames.
4. Attach your pizza hood cooking accessory to your outdoor fireplace.
5. Check the temperature of the stone, ideally between 250-300°C. You can use your conventional oven to initially get the pizza stone to this temperature.

Patience is key when you cook pizza on an outdoor fireplace. Wait until your fire has a good bed of embers with a small, manageable flame, and this will ensure you keep the heat consistent throughout the cooking process.

Cooking a pizza

This is when the magic happens. The combination of intense heat plus the wood smoke creates that distinctive flavour that you can’t get with a normal oven. 

1. First, stretch your dough on a floured surface to about 30cm diameter.
2. Transfer to a lightly floured pizza peel.
3. Add toppings, but remember less is more.
4. Slide onto the pizza stone included with your pizza hood.
5. Rotate your pizza using the paddle every 20-30 seconds for even cooking.
6. Your pizza should be ready in 2-3 minutes.

Don’t stress if your first few don’t turn out perfect, there’s a learning curve to cooking with fire. With time and practice, you will develop a feel for when to rotate the pizza and when to pull it out. 

Our tip: look for those leopard spots on the crust, wait for the cheese to bubble, and make sure the base is firm enough to be lifted out without losing its shape.

Our favourite topping combinations

Classic Margherita (Red Base)

This classic is still popular for a reason. If you want the quality of your ingredients and your cooking skills to speak for themselves, this margherita is the perfect choice. Naturally, you want to make sure you’re using the best ingredients you can find - ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and aromatic basil. When cooked in your outdoor fireplace, the flavours will intensify and turn into a mouthwatering masterpiece. 

• Tomato sauce
• Fresh mozzarella
• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt

Quattro Formaggi (White Base)

For cheese lovers, this four-cheese masterpiece is irresistible. The white base lets the different characteristics of each cheese shine through without the distracting acidity of tomato. Its complex flavours, from the sharpness of the parmesan to the creaminess of the ricotta, make this a delicious but sophisticated choice.

• Olive oil and garlic base
• Mozzarella
• Blue cheese
• Parmesan
• Ricotta
• Fresh thyme

Endless cooking options

When attached to your outdoor fireplace, our premium pizza hood cooking accessory creates ultimate perfection for an authentic wood-fired pizza, complete with a pizza stone for that crispy base. But it’s only one of our premium cooking accessories specially designed to enhance the aesthetic of your outdoor fireplace, or turn your outdoor fireplace into a complete outdoor kitchen with endless flavour possibilities.

Our outdoor fireplaces can be equipped with a stainless steel cooking frame for grilling, or even a high-quality rotisserie to make succulent roasts. If you’re craving a meal cooked with fire, it’s now as easy as stepping into the comfort of your own backyard.

The heart of your outdoor entertaining area

An outdoor fireplace isn’t just about keeping you warm, it’s a luxurious focal point for your outdoor living area. A dedicated pizza oven might only be used once or twice a month, but your outdoor fireplace provides endless warmth, allowing you to entertain friends and family outdoors. All while serving up a fresh pizza with that unmistakable wood-fired flavour.

Planning to unlock all sorts of flavour possibilities?