Have you ever wondered what can you cook in a wood-fired pizza oven besides pizza? Many people think it’s just for baking pizza, but a wood-fired oven is the ultimate cooking accessory for so much more. You can cook juicy meats, roasted vegetables, fresh sourdough bread, and even delicious desserts. A wood-fired oven makes outdoor cooking easy, fun, and full of flavour.
Why choose a wood-fired oven? It’s all about the high heat and the smokey flavour you get from the fire. Whether you're using a cast iron skillet or a pizza stone, food cooked in a wood-fired oven tastes better than in a regular oven. Plus, you can easily cook different foods at the same time, saving time and adding extra flavour to every dish.
Ready to unlock the full power of your wood-fired oven? Industry Kitchens has all the gear and oven recipes you need. Let’s explore the top 10 dishes you can cook in it, beyond just pizza!
Top 10 Dishes You Can Cook in a Wood-Fired Pizza Oven
1. Roast Chicken (Spatchcock Style)
Preparation: Cut out the backbone and flatten the chicken. Rub with olive oil, salt, herbs like rosemary and thyme, pepper, and crushed garlic. Let it soak up the flavours for at least 30 minutes.
Cooking: Heat your wood-fired oven to 200-220°C. Put the chicken skin-side up in a cast iron pan or on a wire rack.
Cooking Time: Cook for 40-50 minutes until the skin turns golden and crispy. Check that the inside reaches 75°C at the thickest part. Rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
2. Ribeye Steak
Preparation: Season a thick ribeye steak with salt and pepper. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Brush with a little olive oil.
Cooking: Get your wood-fired oven very hot, about 350-400°C. Heat up a cast iron pan in the oven for 15 minutes.
Cooking Time: Cook the steak for 2-3 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Take it out, rest on a rack for 5 minutes, then add a sprinkle of salt and herb butter.
3. Sourdough Bread
Preparation: Make your sourdough as usual and let it rise for 8-12 hours. Shape it and put it in a well-floured basket for the final rise (2-4 hours).
Cooking: Heat your wood-fired oven to about 230°C. Warm up a Dutch oven or baking stone for 30 minutes.
Cooking Time: Put your dough onto a pizza peel, cut the top, and move it to the hot Dutch oven or stone. Bake with the door closed for 20 minutes. If using a Dutch oven, take the lid off and bake for another 15-20 minutes until deep golden brown.
4. Wood-Fired Lasagna
Preparation: Make your favourite lasagna recipe with meat sauce, white sauce, and cheese. Put it together in a cast iron or clay dish.
Cooking: Heat your wood-fired oven to about 190-210°C. Place the dish away from direct flames.
Cooking Time: Bake uncovered for 35-45 minutes until bubbling with a nicely browned top. The wood smoke makes the tomato sauce taste amazing. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
5. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
Preparation: Cut eggplants, zucchini, capsicums, red onions, and cherry tomatoes into chunks. Mix with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Cooking: Heat your wood-fired oven to about 180-200°C.
Cooking Time: Spread vegetables in a large cast iron pan. Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring once halfway. They're done when soft and the edges start to brown. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh herbs.
6. Seafood Platter
Preparation: Get a mix of seafood: whole fish (like bream or snapper), prawns, scallops, and mussels. Add lemon, herbs, and olive oil to the fish. For shellfish, make a simple garlic butter with white wine and herbs.
Cooking: Heat the wood-fired oven to about 220-240°C.
Cooking Time: Cook each type of seafood for different times: whole fish (15-20 minutes), prawns and scallops (5-7 minutes), mussels in a covered dish (5-6 minutes until opened). Put everything on a big platter with fresh herbs, lemon wedges, and extra garlic butter.
7. Slow-Cooked Stews
Preparation: Brown your meat (beef, lamb, or chicken) and cook onions and garlic in a Dutch oven. Add vegetables, herbs, stock, and wine.
Cooking: Use your wood-fired oven as it cools down, around 150-170°C.
Cooking Time: Cover and cook for 2-3 hours, until the meat is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened. The steady heat of the cooling oven is perfect for slow cooking, and the wood smoke adds subtle flavour even through the covered pot.
8. Sweet Treats: Dessert Pizzas & Fruit Crumbles
Preparation: For dessert pizzas: Roll pizza dough thin and top with things like Nutella and banana, mascarpone and berries, or cinnamon sugar and apple slices. For fruit crumbles: Mix seasonal fruits with sugar and spices in a cast iron pan and top with a simple crumble mix.
Cooking: Heat your wood-fired oven to about 200-220°C.
Cooking Time: Dessert pizzas cook fast in 5-7 minutes until the crust is golden and toppings are hot. Fruit crumbles need 20-25 minutes until the fruit is soft and the topping is golden brown. Use the leftover heat from your oven after cooking dinner.
9. Roasted Garlic & Herb Oils
Preparation: For garlic: Cut the tops off whole bulbs, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap loosely in foil. For herb oils: Put hardy herbs (rosemary, thyme) and flavourings (orange peel, peppercorns) in heat-safe containers and cover with olive oil.
Cooking: Use the leftover heat in your wood-fired oven, around 150-160°C.
Cooking Time: Roast garlic for 30-40 minutes until cloves are soft and golden. Heat herb oils for 20-25 minutes to bring out the flavours without burning.
10. Flatbreads & Focaccia
Preparation: For focaccia, make a wet dough with olive oil and let it rise twice. For flatbreads, mix flour, water, and salt. Top focaccia with herbs, sea salt, and thinly sliced vegetables before baking.
Cooking: Heat your wood-fired oven to 230-250°C.
Cooking Time: Flatbreads cook quickly in 3-5 minutes – watch for bubbling and char marks. Focaccia needs 15-20 minutes until golden with a crisp bottom. The wood-fired heat gives you a crisp outside and soft inside.
Tips for Successful Wood-Fired Cooking
Mastering your wood-fired pizza oven is easier than you think — a few simple techniques can make a huge difference. Here’s how to get the most out of every cook:
Use the Right Wood
Choose hardwoods like oak, ironbark, or hickory for a clean, steady burn. The right wood creates high heat, perfect wood-fired flavour, and less ash. Avoid softwoods like pine, which can make your food taste bitter.Preheat Properly
Allow your wood-fired oven at least 45 minutes to heat up. A fully heated oven ensures even cooking and that delicious, smokey flavour we all love.Manage the Fire Smartly
Keep a small but consistent flame burning on one side of the oven. This maintains high temperatures without causing hot spots or burning your dishes.Use Cast Iron and Pizza Stones
Cast iron skillets, cast iron pans, and pizza stones are essential for even heat distribution. They also help prevent food from burning on the bottom while allowing the top to cook beautifully.Take Advantage of Residual Heat
After firing pizzas or roasting meats, use the lower temperature to bake cinnamon rolls, Basque burnt cheesecake, or even slowly roast vegetables. Residual heat is perfect for gentle baking.
Ready to take your wood-fired cooking skills even further? Learn simple tips and tricks to get even better results with your pizza oven. Check out our easy guide on How to Use a Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Effectively and start cooking like a pro!
Essential Tools for Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Cooking
Having the right tools on hand makes wood-fired cooking easier, safer, and more enjoyable. Here are the must-have accessories for your outdoor pizza oven:
Pizza PeelThe ultimate cooking accessory for sliding pizzas, bread, and other dishes into the oven safely. It also helps turn food easily during cooking time.
Cast Iron Skillet or Cast Iron Pan
Perfect for searing ribeye steaks, roasting salmon, or baking cinnamon rolls. Cast iron handles high temperatures and enhances the smokey flavour.Wire Rack
Ideal for roasting meats like whole chicken or spatchcock chicken. It lets hot air circulate evenly around the food for crispier results.Pizza StoneEssential for baking pizza, sourdough bread, or even chocolate dessert pizzas. A pizza stone distributes heat evenly and gives that satisfying crispy bottom.
Oven Brush
Keep your pizza stone and oven floor clean by brushing away ash and food debris between cooks.
With these simple tools, you’ll be ready to cook different foods, bake, roast, and grill all kinds of dishes. You’ll get the most out of your wood-fired pizza oven with ease.
Tip: Need high-quality accessories and tools for your wood-fired cooking? Shop now at Industry Kitchens and get everything you need in one place.
Final Thought
A wood-fired pizza oven isn’t just for pizza. It’s a powerful and versatile tool for cooking all kinds of dishes. You can roast meats like whole chicken and ribeye steak, bake sourdough bread, or grill prawns. The high heat and smokey flavour from the wood fire add something special to everything you cook.
Ready to explore wood-fired recipes beyond pizza? With a wood-fired oven, you can cook all sorts of different foods, try new ingredients, and enjoy the ultimate outdoor pizza experience. Using the right wood and simple techniques will help you cook good food every time.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your wood-fired cooking. Whether you're baking potato chips, preparing a roast, or making a Basque burnt cheesecake, there are endless ideas to try.
Want to know more about what makes wood-fired ovens so special? Check out our easy guide on How Do Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens Work: Everything You Need to Know and get even more out of your cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some easy wood-fired pizza oven recipes for beginners?
Start with simple wood-fired recipes like classic margherita pizza, roasted vegetables, or garlic bread. The high heat of a wood-fired oven makes cooking quick and fun. Just drizzle a little olive oil and enjoy good food without much effort.
What else can you cook in a pizza oven besides pizza?
You can cook different foods like roast meats, sourdough bread, seafood, and desserts. Outdoor pizza ovens aren't just for baking pizza — they're perfect for more ideas like potato chips, spatchcock chicken, and chocolate spread pastries. Wood-fired cooking opens up a world of delicious recipes.
Can you use a cast iron skillet in a wood-fired pizza oven?
Yes, a cast iron skillet or cast iron pan is perfect for wood-fired cooking. It handles high temperatures and gives dishes like meats, salmon, and roasted vegetables a smokey flavour. Always preheat the pan in the pizza oven for best results.
How do you bake a Basque burnt cheesecake in a wood-fired oven?
Use residual heat after baking pizza for a lower temperature, perfect for cheesecake. Place your batter in a cast-iron pan or on a wire rack inside the wood-fired oven. Bake until the top is deeply caramelised but the centre stays creamy.
Do you need a pizza peel to cook in a wood-fired pizza oven?
A pizza peel is the ultimate cooking accessory for a wood-fired oven. It helps you slide pizzas, sourdough bread, and other food safely onto the pizza stone. It also makes it easier to turn dishes for even cooking time.
Can you make crispy potato chips in a wood-fired pizza oven?
Yes! Simply prepare thinly sliced potatoes with olive oil and seasoning. Cook them in the high heat of the outdoor pizza oven on a pizza stone or cast iron skillet for golden, crunchy potato chips packed with flavour.
How do you cook a ribeye steak perfectly in a wood-fired pizza oven?
Sear the ribeye in a hot cast iron pan inside the wood-fired oven. Let it grill quickly at high heat to keep the inside juicy and tender. Rest the steak on a wire rack after cooking to lock in the juices.
Is it possible to bake cinnamon rolls in a wood-fired pizza oven?
Absolutely! Bake cinnamon rolls using the lower temperature stage of your wood-fired oven. Place the dough in a cast iron skillet, brush with butter, and bake until fluffy and golden — a sweet change from just pizza.
How do you achieve the perfect wood-fired flavour in your dishes?
Use dry wood for a clean, steady fire that gives off high heat and a smokey flavour. Cook foods like chicken, cheese dishes, and roasted vegetables directly on a pizza stone. Wood-fired cooking adds a delicious, rich taste you can't get from a regular oven.
What types of dishes work best in a wood-fired pizza oven using a cast iron skillet?
Dishes like roast meats, salmon, vegetables, and even desserts bake beautifully in a cast-iron skillet. The high temperatures of the oven caramelise butter, dough, and toppings perfectly. It's ideal for creating good food with bold flavours in an outdoor pizza setup.
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