Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven review: Making pizza nights a breeze

I love entertaining in my backyard, but even grilling can get a little boring. That’s why I picked up a wood pellet pizza oven a couple years ago — something fun and a bit different. And then I realized how much babysitting it required. Between feeding the fire and constantly turning the pizza, it started to feel more like a chore than a treat.

Enter the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven. It’s basically a sleek countertop oven that happens to live outside, and that’s kind of the beauty of it. No flame, no fuss. Not even a propane tank to attach and refill. Just plug it in, preheat and crank out crisp, bubbly 12-inch pizzas in mere minutes.

The Ninja Artisan delivers a wood-fired look though not the smoky, wood-fired flavor. But if you want a pizza oven that’s simple, fast and consistently delivers solid results, it’s a no-brainer. Among the best pizza ovens, it’s a solid choice for those who don’t want to spend too much – or think too hard – when you have guests over.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven cheat sheet

What is the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven?

An electric-powered outdoor pizza oven with a 12” cooking cavity that also bakes, broils, warms, and proofs dough.

How much is Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven?

It costs $279.99.

Is the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven portable?

It’s fairly heavy at around 40 pounds and designed to stay in one spot near an outdoor outlet.

Does it require propane or wood?

No, it uses electric heat with precise temperature control from 90°F to 700°F.

Price and availability

The Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven is available now for $279.99 from Ninja.com, Amazon, Lowe’s, and Best Buy. That price includes a 12×12″ pizza stone, a baking tray and a quick start guide with recipes.

What it doesn’t include: a pizza peel or protective cover, which are sold separately by Ninja. The company sent me one of each for this review, and the $25 cover at least is a must-have. I didn’t really need the $34 peel as I already owned a couple of them.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven review: Design

At first glance, the Ninja Artisan looks more like a high-end toaster oven than a classic backyard pizza oven. But don’t let the aesthetic fool you; it’s a tough, hardy appliance.

The stainless steel body is weather-resistant, the door seals tightly and the double-paned “Chef’s View Window” adds both style and function. That said, it’s not exactly grab-and-go. At about 40 pounds, it’s hefty enough that once you set it up, you’re probably not moving it around much. Pick a good spot near an outlet (or within reach of an extension cord) and plan to keep it there.

The 12″x12″ interior is roomy enough for a full-size pizza stone or baking tray (both included), and it can handle way more than just pizza — everything from roast chicken to baked potatoes to sourdough loaves. It’s more like a conventional oven that’s placed outdoors than a one-trick pizza oven.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven: Performance

I’ve spent plenty of time wrestling with my wood pellet pizza oven, which can be a real handful: constant monitoring, managing the fire, turning pizzas every few seconds so that nothing sticks or burns. In contrast, the Ninja Artisan is a breeze. It takes about 18 to 20 minutes to preheat to its full 700°F, which is slower than a gas oven but still faster than a typical kitchen oven. And once it’s hot, it stays steady.

Cooking is basically hands-off: slide your pizza in, close the door, pick your crust setting (Neapolitan, New York, Pan, Thin Crust, or Custom), and walk away. No need to turn or tweak the temperature. The crusts come out evenly baked with nice wood-fire-like marks and perfectly melted cheese.

That said, cleanup can get a bit tricky. Cheese or toppings that fall onto the stone will smoke up the oven quickly—especially if you’re on your third or fourth pie during a pizza party. The glass door fogs up fast, and after a few uses, the stone turns completely black. But unlike the unpredictable smoke and flames of a wood-fired oven, the smoke here mostly stays contained, and you don’t have to worry about managing an open flame.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven review: Features

What really sets the Ninja apart are the presets and extra functions. Like I said, it’s not just a pizza oven — you can bake, broil, warm and even proof dough, which is a game-changer if you’re into sourdough but don’t want to heat up your kitchen in the summer.

The five pizza settings make picking your crust type simple. For example, the Thin Crust setting whipped up crispy, golden pies in under three minutes, while the Pan setting took a bit longer to cook a thicker crust but kept the cheese nice and melty.

One thing I didn’t expect to appreciate as much as I did was the Chef’s View Window. It’s a small touch, but I liked being able to watch the crust rise and the cheese bubble without opening the door.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven review: Verdict

If you’re looking for that classic wood-fired flavor and flickering flames, this pizza oven isn’t going to deliver. But if you want fast, reliable pizzas without standing over the oven turning pies every few seconds, the Ninja Artisan is tough to beat.

If you’re looking for something a little more versatile but equally affordable, the Ninja Woodfire has a taller interior space, but it doesn’t get as hot as the Ninja Artisan.

The price is reasonable considering the many cooking options it offers. Sure, it’s a bit on the heavy side and you’ll need to plug it into an outlet (and it’d be nice if the protective cover was included), but those are small complaints for something that takes the stress out of outdoor pizza nights. Your next pie party will be so much more chill.