Landscape Design
10 Party-Ready Specialty Outdoor Kitchen Features
Pizza ovens, smokers and beverage fridges make outdoor entertaining that much more enjoyable and efficient
If you’re in the process of adding an outdoor kitchen or looking to update your current setup, take a look at the following specialty features that will make hosting more convenient and enjoyable. Warming ovens, fridges and built-in kegerators can all help cut down on trips back and forth to the kitchen. Specialty cooking features, such as smokers, pizza ovens and two-sided grills, can bring outdoor cooking to the next level and may inspire a theme for an outdoor party. Wood-fired pizzas and Negronis, anyone?
The best time to install many of these outdoor kitchen features is when you initially add an outdoor kitchen or during a remodel, when it’s easier to run gas, water or electricity lines. Don’t have the budget to outfit your kitchen with as many features as you’d like? Leave the design open to accommodate the future appliances and have your contractor run required lines to the future installation spots.
The best time to install many of these outdoor kitchen features is when you initially add an outdoor kitchen or during a remodel, when it’s easier to run gas, water or electricity lines. Don’t have the budget to outfit your kitchen with as many features as you’d like? Leave the design open to accommodate the future appliances and have your contractor run required lines to the future installation spots.
Electric and gas-powered pizza ovens heat up faster than wood-burning ovens, take up less square footage and often cost less than their wood-burning counterparts. Choosing a portable pizza oven that can sit on a countertop or rollaway cart can be the most budget-friendly option, as no additional installation is required.
Shop for pizza ovens on Houzz
Shop for pizza ovens on Houzz
2. Ceramic Grills and Smokers
Big Green Eggs, Komodo Kamados and other kamado-style ceramic grills promise to combine the cooking features of a grill, outdoor oven and smoker into one tidy unit. They’re not cheap, but many cooking enthusiasts would argue that they’re well worth it for the tender, slow-cooked meats and crispy-crust pizzas they can produce.
Big Green Eggs, Komodo Kamados and other kamado-style ceramic grills promise to combine the cooking features of a grill, outdoor oven and smoker into one tidy unit. They’re not cheap, but many cooking enthusiasts would argue that they’re well worth it for the tender, slow-cooked meats and crispy-crust pizzas they can produce.
For clients in Texas, austin outdoor design used a minimalist mounting system for a Big Green Egg. The grill unit floats in a custom-made 14-foot-long stainless steel countertop. This allows for plenty of counter space and room below for bar seats.
See more kamado-style grills
See more kamado-style grills
3. Double-Sided Grill
A double-sided grill is the outdoor equivalent of upgrading from a 4-burner stove to a 6- or 8-burner model. It gives you more space and more control over cooking multiple dishes at once. Some double-sided grills offer dual options for burning gas or charcoal. Many come with temperature gauges on the lids so you can have the control to cook some items hot and others low and slow. Another practical consideration of a two-sided grill is to keep meat and vegetables separated for vegetarians.
For this outdoor kitchen in Sussex, England, landscape designer Andy Stedman added a full outdoor kitchen, including a brick pizza oven and a double-sided temperature-controlled grill, to give his clients ultimate outdoor cooking flexibility.
A double-sided grill is the outdoor equivalent of upgrading from a 4-burner stove to a 6- or 8-burner model. It gives you more space and more control over cooking multiple dishes at once. Some double-sided grills offer dual options for burning gas or charcoal. Many come with temperature gauges on the lids so you can have the control to cook some items hot and others low and slow. Another practical consideration of a two-sided grill is to keep meat and vegetables separated for vegetarians.
For this outdoor kitchen in Sussex, England, landscape designer Andy Stedman added a full outdoor kitchen, including a brick pizza oven and a double-sided temperature-controlled grill, to give his clients ultimate outdoor cooking flexibility.
4. Warming Drawer
If you’re grilling for a crowd, keeping veggies or buns hot while you finish the burgers can be a challenge.
Enter the warming drawer. Unlike the top warming rack of a grill, a warming drawer has consistent temperature and can keep food piping hot, if so desired, or be set low to keep grilled bread warm without drying it out. The electrically heated stainless drawer can also be used for slow roasting. (Most units offer heat settings from 85 to 215 degrees Fahrenheit.)
If you’re grilling for a crowd, keeping veggies or buns hot while you finish the burgers can be a challenge.
Enter the warming drawer. Unlike the top warming rack of a grill, a warming drawer has consistent temperature and can keep food piping hot, if so desired, or be set low to keep grilled bread warm without drying it out. The electrically heated stainless drawer can also be used for slow roasting. (Most units offer heat settings from 85 to 215 degrees Fahrenheit.)
5. Side Burner
Side burners that allow you to take traditional stovetop cooking outdoors are becoming increasingly popular add-ons to outdoor kitchen setups. Imagine being able to boil potatoes while you grill a steak, for example. Once again, this is an add-on designed to keep you outside and cut trips back to the house.
“If you have limited counter space and want to add something more than a grill but don’t have space for a kamado or a griddle, power burners are the way to go,” designer Karie Zemlicka of Mom’s Design Build says.
Side burners that allow you to take traditional stovetop cooking outdoors are becoming increasingly popular add-ons to outdoor kitchen setups. Imagine being able to boil potatoes while you grill a steak, for example. Once again, this is an add-on designed to keep you outside and cut trips back to the house.
“If you have limited counter space and want to add something more than a grill but don’t have space for a kamado or a griddle, power burners are the way to go,” designer Karie Zemlicka of Mom’s Design Build says.
This outdoor kitchen in Minneapolis by Mom’s Design Build was made for large-group entertaining. The kitchen features a grill, side burner, pizza oven, kegerator, outdoor sink and fridge, as well as ample outdoor seating and a TV for watching the game.
6. Griddle
An outdoor griddle is another specialty outdoor kitchen feature that Zemlicka recommends. “Having a griddle is a great way to take your outdoor kitchen to the next level,” she says. “Craving bacon, eggs and breakfast potatoes? Griddle time. Want some at-home hibachi? Griddle.”
For the outdoor kitchen of a lake house near Minneapolis, Zemlicka included a wood pellet-fired Memphis grill, a single side burner, a griddle top and a double-drawer fridge. The clients report that they spend nearly all of their time outdoors enjoying the cooking and dining space.
An outdoor griddle is another specialty outdoor kitchen feature that Zemlicka recommends. “Having a griddle is a great way to take your outdoor kitchen to the next level,” she says. “Craving bacon, eggs and breakfast potatoes? Griddle time. Want some at-home hibachi? Griddle.”
For the outdoor kitchen of a lake house near Minneapolis, Zemlicka included a wood pellet-fired Memphis grill, a single side burner, a griddle top and a double-drawer fridge. The clients report that they spend nearly all of their time outdoors enjoying the cooking and dining space.
7. Outdoor Fridge
If you’re planning on hosting guests, having an outdoor fridge can help eliminate trips back and forth to the kitchen to fetch drinks and anything else you’d like to keep cool. Stock the fridge before a party with bottled water, fizzy drinks and white wine, as well as soft cheeses and cured meats, and you’ll have drinks and appetizers ready to go while you fire up the grill. Most outdoor fridges are in the range of 3 to 6 cubic feet, which is large enough for drinks for a family or smaller party and small enough to slot in under a kitchen counter.
Browse outdoor fridges
If you’re planning on hosting guests, having an outdoor fridge can help eliminate trips back and forth to the kitchen to fetch drinks and anything else you’d like to keep cool. Stock the fridge before a party with bottled water, fizzy drinks and white wine, as well as soft cheeses and cured meats, and you’ll have drinks and appetizers ready to go while you fire up the grill. Most outdoor fridges are in the range of 3 to 6 cubic feet, which is large enough for drinks for a family or smaller party and small enough to slot in under a kitchen counter.
Browse outdoor fridges
8. Kegerator
If you frequently host parties where you serve beer, investing in a kegerator or keg fridge can make a lot of sense. This Massachusetts backyard by ZEN Associates was designed for clients who love to entertain large groups. Having the ability to serve cold beer on draft eliminates the need to chill dozens of beer bottles and makes for easy serving.
Learn more about this backyard designed for entertaining
If you frequently host parties where you serve beer, investing in a kegerator or keg fridge can make a lot of sense. This Massachusetts backyard by ZEN Associates was designed for clients who love to entertain large groups. Having the ability to serve cold beer on draft eliminates the need to chill dozens of beer bottles and makes for easy serving.
Learn more about this backyard designed for entertaining
9. Ice Maker
While an ice maker may not be necessary for most outdoor kitchen setups, it can be convenient if you frequently host parties; it eliminates that day-of pressure to pick up a few bags of ice at the store. In this New Jersey outdoor kitchen, a fridge and ice maker make it easy to serve drinks to guests seated along the 10-foot-long granite bar while they wait for meats from the grill or pizzas from the built-in countertop pizza oven.
While an ice maker may not be necessary for most outdoor kitchen setups, it can be convenient if you frequently host parties; it eliminates that day-of pressure to pick up a few bags of ice at the store. In this New Jersey outdoor kitchen, a fridge and ice maker make it easy to serve drinks to guests seated along the 10-foot-long granite bar while they wait for meats from the grill or pizzas from the built-in countertop pizza oven.
10. Built-In Ice Trough
Less expensive than installing an ice maker but much more chic than using a plastic cooler, adding a built-in ice trough can be a nice middle ground for keeping drinks cool. Designer Beth Dotolo of Pulp Design Studios added an ice trough to the bar counter of this outdoor entertaining deck for clients in the Dallas area. She also used a coffee table unit that can be filled with ice for parties to serve as a second ice trough for the built-in lounge area.
Tip: When not in use for cooling drinks, ice troughs can be filled with potted succulents or preserved moss, or lined with candles for an attractive table centerpiece.
Less expensive than installing an ice maker but much more chic than using a plastic cooler, adding a built-in ice trough can be a nice middle ground for keeping drinks cool. Designer Beth Dotolo of Pulp Design Studios added an ice trough to the bar counter of this outdoor entertaining deck for clients in the Dallas area. She also used a coffee table unit that can be filled with ice for parties to serve as a second ice trough for the built-in lounge area.
Tip: When not in use for cooling drinks, ice troughs can be filled with potted succulents or preserved moss, or lined with candles for an attractive table centerpiece.
Your turn: What specialty features do you dream of having in your outdoor kitchen? Tell us in the Comments.
More on Houzz
10 Stylish and Efficient Outdoor Kitchens
Browse thousands of outdoor kitchen photos
Work with a landscape contractor in your area
Shop for outdoor products
More on Houzz
10 Stylish and Efficient Outdoor Kitchens
Browse thousands of outdoor kitchen photos
Work with a landscape contractor in your area
Shop for outdoor products
Sponsored
Virginia's Top Rated Kitchen & Bath Renovation Firm I Best of Houzz
Wood-fired pizza ovens sit at the top of many outdoor kitchen dream lists. If you too are longing for homemade pizzas, wood-fired breads or roast meats, it may well be worth the splurge of adding one to your backyard. Check local building codes for permitting requirements before getting started. Larger wood-fired ovens take up square footage (and a portion of one’s budget) but are reported to be easier to cook in than smaller ovens, which can easily be overwhelmed by flames. The larger models also allow users to cook multiple dishes or pizzas at once.
Find an outdoor kitchen designer on Houzz