Saturday Night Slice: Our Cheeky First Go at Homemade Pizza with the Ninja Artisan Pizza Oven
Introduction – The Dough-lightful Decision
Let’s face it, folks—there are few joys in life quite like biting into a perfectly crisp, piping-hot pizza, fresh from the oven. And no, we’re not talking about the sort that comes in a cardboard box with a “30 minutes or it’s free” promise. No no, we’re talking homemade. Well… mostly homemade.
Yes, this weekend we decided to go full pizzaiolo (that’s fancy Italian for pizza-maker, you uncultured lot ?) and try our hand at crafting our own pizzas in the comfort of our garden.
How, you ask? Enter our shiny new toy—the Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer, complete with Stand and Cover Bundle (#Ad), courtesy of Ninja Kitchen UK. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but oh what a beautiful mouthful it promises to deliver.
The Arrival – A Pizza Oven Appears!
Timely Like a Domino
It all began one rather dreary Wednesday when the doorbell rang, and there it was—our Ninja bundle of joy. It arrived bang on time, which frankly is more than can be said for the bloke who was supposed to fix our dripping tap three weeks ago. Top marks, Ninja Kitchen UK.
Assembly Required? No Sweat
Now, let’s not beat around the basil—some gadgets come with a 400-page instruction manual written in what might as well be ancient Sumerian. Not this beauty. The stand, oven and all accompanying bits and bobs were surprisingly straightforward to assemble. Even I, a proud member of the “DIY Gives Me Anxiety” club, had it set up faster than you can say “pass me another Allen key.”
Saturday Night – Let the Dough-mestic Adventures Begin!
Declaring Pizza Night
Come Saturday evening, the sun decided to grace us with its presence (just in time, thank you very much), and the intoxicating scent of summer BBQs from the neighbours made our decision crystal clear—it was Pizza Night. ?
We might not be ready for MasterChef: Pizza Edition, but armed with enthusiasm, toppings, and a whole lot of mozzarella, we were raring to go.
Dough? Don’t Be Silly
Now, before the flour-dusted purists come at us with their sourdough starters and rolling pins, let me stop you right there. We weren’t brave enough—yet—to make our own dough. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.
Instead, we popped into Tesco earlier that day and picked up a couple of packs of Pizza Express Pizza Dough (#Ad). It’s pre-made, pre-portioned, and honestly? A rather nifty cheat for the novice pizza-makers among us.
The Main Event – Operation Pizza Creation
Heating Things Up
We flicked the dial on the Ninja Artisan Oven to the Artisan Pizza setting (don’t you just love it when an appliance sounds like it should be wearing a beret and speaking in romantic metaphors?), and within 10–15 minutes, it was hotter than a Love Island contestant’s DMs.
Honestly, the heat this thing kicks out is no joke—proper, blistering, pizza-oven temperatures. You could almost feel your eyebrows singe if you got too close. Just the way a real pizza oven should be.
Pizza One – Michele’s Marvel
The Topping Tango
First up was Michele’s pizza. She’s got a refined palate, that one. Her topping choices?
- Cooked chicken breast (already chopped because we are that efficient)
- Sliced mushrooms
- Finely chopped onion
- A smattering of mozzarella pearls
- And a generous handful of grated mozzarella—because one cheese simply isn’t enough
All lovingly laid atop the Pizza Express dough, which we rolled out with the kind of care usually reserved for antique maps or sleeping kittens.
Preparation time? Oh, a breezy 5–7 minutes, mostly because we spent half of it pretending we were on a cookery show.
Into the Inferno
With a theatrical flourish, Michele’s pizza went into the oven. We set the timer for 150 seconds—as recommended—and watched through the window like a pair of mesmerised meerkats.
Turns out, 150 seconds might be a tad too long. It emerged a little more “rustic” than intended, with edges that were less golden brown and more… crispy chic, let’s say.
Still, the verdict? “It’s delicious,” she declared between bites, “but maybe a bit less time next go.” Fair play.
Pizza Two – My Hawaiian Adventure
I Pineapple, Therefore I Am
Now I know what you’re thinking—pineapple on pizza? I can hear the collective Italian ancestors rolling in their graves. But listen here, I will die on this pineapple-topped hill. It’s sweet, it’s savoury, it’s a culinary contradiction that just works. Trust me.
My build was:
- Classic smoked ham (the real deal, none of that wafer-thin nonsense)
- Juicy chunks of pineapple
- Again, those delightful mozzarella pearls
- And a snowstorm of grated mozzarella for good measure
Same dough, same careful rolling, but I adjusted the cooking time to a more modest 90 seconds. And let me tell you, dear reader—it came out bang on.
Flavour Victory
The crust was light and airy with a gentle char, the cheese melted to perfection, and the ham and pineapple combo hit every sweet and salty note on the scale. It was, dare I say, chef’s kiss. ?
I may or may not have done a small dance in the garden to celebrate. I regret nothing.
Pizza vs. Fad – Will It Last?
The Post-Pizza Debate
After the plates were cleared and the crumbs brushed away, we plonked ourselves down with full bellies and asked the big question:
Was it worth it?
You bet your last slice it was. The Ninja Artisan Pizza Oven (#Ad) made the whole process ridiculously easy, and the results were genuinely impressive for our first attempt.
Not Just a One-Slice Wonder
We both agreed—this wasn’t just a novelty appliance destined to gather dust next to the smoothie maker and that yoghurt machine we used once in 2014. Oh no. This was a keeper. A game-changer. A bona fide, garden party essential.
Plus, with the air fryer functionality as well, it’s not just a pizza oven. It’s an outdoor cooking powerhouse with serious credentials. Chips, roast veg, crispy wings—we see you in our near future.
What’s Next? Dough-ing It Properly
Next time? We’re talking homemade dough, baby. We’ll find a recipe that doesn’t involve a PhD in chemistry, get ourselves covered in flour, and try to channel our inner Gino D’Acampo (#Ad).
And yes, we will be experimenting with all manner of toppings. Brie and cranberry? Why not. Spicy lamb kofta with yoghurt drizzle? Don’t threaten us with a good time.
Let’s just say the possibilities are as endless as a Domino’s menu… only with better ingredients, better fun, and (hopefully) fewer calories.
Final Thoughts – Ninja Kitchen, You’ve Done It Again
To the fine folks at Ninja Kitchen UK—a hearty round of applause. ? You’ve built a sleek, powerful, and gloriously fun machine that makes pizza night feel like an event.
It’s not often that a kitchen gadget lives up to the hype, but this one? Absolute winner. Whether you’re a die-hard foodie or someone who just wants to impress the neighbours, the Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer (#Ad) is well worth the investment.
So yes, while we didn’t knead our own dough (yet), we did have a proper laugh, a proper feast, and a properly good time.
Equipment used
We’ve started to gather a number of pieces of equipment to help us make the most out of our home-made pizza making, which I have listed below should you be interested
- Ninja Artisan Electric Outdoor Pizza Oven & Air Fryer
- Silicone Pizza Dough Proofing containers with lids
- Dough scraper & cutter
We are currently only brave enough to use shop bought Pizza Express pizza dough but down the line I intend to experiment & make our own pizza dough.
