5 Easy, Party-Ready Meal Ideas To Use With Deck Ovens

For many people, outdoor entertaining is the pinnacle of summer. Deck ovens are one must-have that can make entertaining an intimate gathering of people or a huge crowd easy, affordable, and exciting! Here are 5 super simple, party-ready meal ideas to use with your deck oven. 

1. Wood Fired Pizza 

What says "party" better than pizza? Few things are as delicious as a wood fired pizza, and if you have a deck oven, you won't want to miss out on this. A deck oven lends itself well to outdoor pizza cooking, no matter what toppings you and your guests like. You can make your pizza crust and sauce from scratch, or you can take a shortcut and use refrigerated crust. After just 8-10 minutes on a pizza stone nestled in the warmth of your deck oven, you'll have mouthwatering, wood fired goodness. 

2. Tandoori Chicken

Although this traditional Indian dish is cooked in a tandoori (brick) oven, you can easily use your deck oven to achieve the same flavors. Tandoori chicken can make an inexpensive party food, because you can use lesser quality cuts of chicken like wings, thighs, and drumsticks. Simply use an easy yogurt and spice marinade to soak the meat in overnight, and place the chicken pieces in your deck oven about an hour before they'll need to be ready. The marinade penetrates deep into the chicken, and the wood fire will give the outside a crispy, tasty "crust" your guests will love! 

3. Dry Roasted Lobster 

If you're having a small get-together of just a few friends, lobster is a great addition to the menu. You can cook lobster in an outdoor oven quickly, and the dry heat will give the shell a beautiful, even bright red color. The inside meat will be tender and juicy, without a lot of extra work on your part. Place the uncooked lobster in a well heated deck oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the outside of the shell turns red. Split the tail down the middle to remove the meat and serve with lemon and clarified butter.  

4. Bruschetta 

Bruschetta is an easy Italian appetizer that almost everyone loves. The tomato and basil topping can be made separately and refrigerated overnight, making prep even easier the day of your party. Simply slice a baguette diagonally into 1" pieces and place them in your deck oven for a few minutes until they are toasted and golden brown. Top with the tomato mixture right before serving and voila! You've got a fast appetizer that will keep everyone engaged while you whip up your main dish. 

5. Grilled Corn on the Cob

Grilled corn on the cob may sound too simple, but if you've never had it in a deck oven, you've just never had it. Pull the husk of a fresh corncob down to the base to expose the corn and rub a generous layer of butter over the kernels. Replace the husk and set inside your outdoor oven for 10-15 minutes. Fresh corn is easy to overcook, so feel free to check it every so often to ensure the corn inside the husk is tender yet firm. Remove the husks before serving. 

If you love entertaining outdoors, or simply enjoy an alternative place to cook a delicious meal for your family, a deck oven can be a great addition to your outdoor area. Put a seating area near the oven to enjoy its warmth on cool evenings, or set up an outdoor bar nearby so you can enjoy drinks with your wood fired treats. Remember, anything you can cook in a traditional oven, you can cook in your deck oven and it's bound to taste even better!

If these delicious party-ready meal ideas have convinced you to purchase a deck oven, then go to websites like this one to browse the selection.