So, what can you cook in an electric pizza oven? Truth is, a lot more than pizza. These ovens can knock out roast veg, seafood, bread, and even slow-cooked meats, and still keep up with service.
While working with different venues, Industry Kitchens recognised that many kitchens rely on standard ovens that don't always deliver even heat or consistent results. Fortunately, a pizza oven pulls double duty. They're fast, versatile, energy-friendly, and built for more than one dish.
In this blog, we summon the top ten dishes you can cook in an electric pizza oven.
TL;DR: What else can you cook in a pizza oven?
Go beyond pizza. For savoury and sweet menu options, you can cook classic pizzas, focaccia, flatbreads, and even cinnamon rolls.
Level up your mains. From spatchcock chicken to steak, seafood, and roast vegetables, the electric pizza oven delivers fast, even cooking with great flavour.
Don't skip the sides and desserts. Think garlic bread, baked Camembert, cheesy dips, and skillet brownies or cookies using residual heat.
1. Classic Pizzas
Pizza ovens are built for pizza, no doubt about it. With an electric model, you’re hitting high temps that give you a crisp base and even melt every single time.
From Neopolitan to deep dish (and even something in between), you’ll get consistency without the hassle of managing a wood-fired pizza oven. That means less stress for the team and quicker turnaround for service.
2. Focaccia and Flatbreads
Here’s where you can stretch your dollar further. That same pizza dough can do more. Turn it into focaccia, pita, or naan, and suddenly you’ve got sides or share plates that cost next to nothing to run.
The oven heat makes the bread puff quickly with a golden crust, so you’re saving time while adding more options to the menu. It’s a smart way to reduce waste and bump up margins.
3. Cinnamon Rolls
Electric pizza ovens aren't just for savoury. You can run sweet options like cinnamon rolls through them and get soft centres with a golden crust, batch after batch. They're quick to prep, use low-cost ingredients, and can be sold as add-ons for coffee or dessert, giving you an easy upsell that boosts margins without slowing the kitchen.
4. Spatchcock Chicken
Whole chicken in a conventional oven? You'll be waiting for ages. But in a pizza oven, a spatchcocked chicken cooks fast, stays juicy, and gets that golden, crackly skin we all chase.
Just throw it in a cast-iron skillet with a bit of olive oil, garlic, and whatever herbs you've got. It's easy and a crowd-pleaser that looks fancy, making it perfect for hospitality kitchens looking to do more with less.
5. Roast Vegetables
Proteins, yes, but vegetables come out beautifully from pizza ovens, too. The oven's high heat gets carrots, potatoes, and capsicum roasted fast with that tender inside and crisp edge diners love. It’s also a great way to use the oven’s residual heat after the rush, so you’re not wasting energy but still turning out sides, share plates, or bulk prep for service.
6. Seafood (Salmon or Prawns)
Seafood can be tricky, easy to overdo or dry out. But in an electric pizza oven? It's a breeze.
Salmon fillets or prawns cook quickly in a cast-iron tray, and the high heat gives you that light char outside while locking in moisture. It’s efficient, consistent, and lets you serve seafood specials without tying up other equipment on the line.
7. Steak in Cast Iron
Steak is a menu staple, and an electric pizza oven makes it easy to deliver consistent, restaurant-style steak every time. Preheat a cast-iron pan, add your cut with butter and garlic, and the high heat locks in flavour with a crisp sear while keeping the centre tender. Compared to a narrow grill or even an outdoor pizza oven setup, the cooking process here is faster, more controlled, and built for service.
8. Garlic Bread and Cheesy Pull-Aparts
These are no-brainers for any menu since they're cheap to make, fast to turn out, and always a hit with customers. The pizza oven’s heat crisps the base while the cheese melts through, giving you sides that pair perfectly with pizza, pasta, or steak. They’re simple, reliable add-ons that boost spend-per-head without slowing service.
9. Baked Camembert and Cheese Dips
Cheese dips are one of those simple crowd-pleasers you can simply prepare in an electric pizza oven. Drop a Camembert into a cast-iron pan or ceramic dish, sprinkle over garlic, herbs, or olive oil, then bake until the centre turns molten. The result is a rich, melty dip with that woodfired pizza oven taste, ideal for bread, veg, or even leftover pizza stone bases.
10. Skillet Brownies or Cookies
Residual heat is gold for desserts, and a pizza oven handles them just as well as mains. Pour brownie or cookie mix with a chocolate spread filling into a cast-iron pan, let the intense heat taper off, and it bakes into a warm, soft centre with a crisp edge. Once baked, you've got a dessert any customer can dive into, proving these ovens go far beyond just cook pizza.
Conclusion
Knowing 'what can you cook in an electric pizza oven' gives you an advantage in the cooking game. Sure, it nails a classic margherita, but we've seen chefs flip leftover pizza dough into garlic flatbreads, pull out seafood trays, and even bake sweet foods as the heat drops.
Indeed, these ovens are not your average 'just pizza ovens'. With different foods you can come up with, experimenting gives you a fun and rewarding experience while taking care of your bottom line.
Not sure which pizza oven to get for your kitchen? Industry Kitchens can help you find the right fit for your menu, space, and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you make in a pizza oven that isn't pizza?
A pizza oven can be used to make many dishes, such as roast chicken, garlic bread, seafood, or even cinnamon rolls. The oven's design gives foods a crisp finish while keeping the inside tender, making it an easy way to expand your menu with fresh, well-cooked dishes. As the oven cools, you’ve got more ideas to work with: lighter dishes, sides, or even finishing touches that make service smoother.
Can you cook steak in an electric pizza oven?
Yes, steak comes out excellent in an electric pizza oven. Place it in a cast-iron skillet with butter and garlic; the high heat will crisp the outside while keeping the inside juicy. It's a simple way to serve steak with the same quality you'd expect in a restaurant.
Can you cook chicken in a pizza oven?
Absolutely. Spatchcock chicken or more minor cuts cook evenly in a pizza oven. Using high heat, the skin crisps while the meat stays moist. A cast-iron pan or tray works best for holding juices and flavour. It's a faster, more efficient way to prepare chicken than standard ovens.
Can you cook raw meat in a pizza oven?
Absolutely. High heat works a treat for beef and chicken, giving you that crispy outside, while a lower temperature suits delicate proteins like fish. The even heat you’d normally rely on for perfect pizza or bubbling tomato sauce also works for proteins, so you can push your oven beyond the usual recipes.
How is a pizza oven different from a regular oven?
A pizza oven reaches higher temperatures and cooks faster than a regular oven. This gives food a crisp finish and cuts down cooking time. It also holds heat well, letting you use residual warmth for lighter dishes. Regular ovens don't deliver that same speed or consistency.
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