BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch Review: The Backyard Pizzeria Game-Changer on a Budget

For years, my quest for the perfect homemade pizza felt like a noble but ultimately futile endeavor. I’ve kneaded dough until my arms ached, sourced the finest San Marzano tomatoes, and splurged on artisanal cheeses. Yet, every time, my standard kitchen oven, even with a pre-heated stone cranked to its max, delivered a result that was merely… good. It lacked the explosive oven spring, the leopard-spotted char, and that ineffable crispy-chewy texture that separates a decent home pie from a true Neapolitan-style masterpiece. This “crust gap” is a familiar frustration for any serious pizza lover. The truth is, a domestic oven simply cannot generate the blistering, ambient heat required. That’s what led me down the rabbit hole of dedicated outdoor pizza ovens, a journey that culminated in us getting our hands on the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch.

What to Consider Before Buying an Outdoor Pizza Oven

An outdoor pizza oven is more than just a backyard appliance; it’s a key solution for unlocking a new tier of culinary creation. It solves the fundamental problem of inadequate heat that plagues conventional ovens. By reaching temperatures of 800-1000°F and beyond, these specialized ovens cook pizzas in minutes, not tens of minutes. This rapid cooking process sears the outside, creating a crisp crust while keeping the interior moist and tender—a texture combination impossible to achieve at lower temperatures. The main benefits extend beyond pizza to searing steaks, roasting vegetables, and baking bread with unparalleled flavor and speed, transforming your patio into a versatile open-air kitchen.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who has hit the ceiling of what their kitchen oven can do and is passionate about elevating their cooking game. They are the home chefs, the entertainers, and the families who love gathering for a “make your own pizza” night. It’s for those who appreciate the craft and flavor of authentic, high-heat cooking. Conversely, this might not be suitable for those with limited outdoor space, apartment dwellers with balcony restrictions, or the very casual cook who only makes pizza once or twice a year. For them, a high-quality pizza steel for their indoor oven might be a more practical starting point.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A portable oven isn’t necessarily small. The BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch measures 22.5″D x 22″W x 19.5″H. You need a stable, non-combustible surface like a metal or stone-topped table with adequate clearance from walls and overhead coverings. Always measure your intended space to ensure a safe and comfortable fit.
• Capacity/Performance: Performance is measured in heat. Look for ovens that can exceed 750°F. The 23000 BTU rating on this model is impressive, promising rapid preheating and recovery times between pizzas. A 13-inch capacity is perfect for personal or couple-sized pizzas, but for large families wanting to cook multiple large pies simultaneously, a bigger model like a 16-inch oven might be necessary.
• Materials & Durability: Stainless steel is the gold standard for outdoor cooking appliances due to its resistance to rust and corrosion. It’s easy to clean and withstands the extreme temperature fluctuations of a pizza oven. Cheaper, painted steel models may look good initially but can chip and rust over time, especially if left exposed to the elements.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Gas-powered ovens offer the ultimate convenience—simply turn a knob and you have instant, controllable heat. This contrasts with wood-fired ovens, which require more skill to manage the fire and temperature. For maintenance, look for features like a removable stone and simple construction that allows for easy cleaning of soot and food debris.

Ultimately, choosing the right outdoor oven comes down to matching its features with your culinary ambitions, available space, and budget.

While the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing a Backyard Pizzeria

When the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch arrived, we were immediately struck by the packaging. As one user noted, “I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was shipped and packaged perfectly… No scratches, no dents, not one thing to complain about.” Our experience mirrored this; every stainless steel component was well-protected. Assembly was straightforward and took less than 15 minutes. It primarily involves unfolding the legs, attaching the chimney stack, and sliding the 13-inch cordierite pizza stone into place. While we had all our hardware, it’s worth noting a couple of users reported missing screws for the chimney, a minor hiccup that shouldn’t deter you.

Once assembled, the oven has a commanding presence. The polished stainless steel gives it a professional, high-end look that belies its affordable price tag. It feels sturdy and stable on its four anti-skid feet. The control knobs have a solid, tactile feel, and the inclusion of a pizza peel and the propane regulator hose means you have almost everything you need to start cooking right out of the box. Compared to some of the minimalist, dome-shaped competitors, this model’s more traditional oven shape with a chimney looks and feels substantial. We were eager to fire it up and see if its performance matched its impressive appearance, and you can see its full feature set and build details online.

Performance Under Fire: A Deep Dive into the Big Horn Experience

An outdoor oven lives and dies by its ability to generate and manage extreme heat. This is where we focused the bulk of our testing, moving from initial heat-up trials to cooking dozens of pizzas, and even experimenting with other foods. The BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch didn’t just impress us; it fundamentally changed what we thought was possible for homemade pizza.

The Dual-Burner Advantage: A Revolution in Heat Management

The single most important feature of this oven is its innovative dual-burner system. Unlike many popular models that rely on a single flame at the back or side, the Big Horn employs two independent burners. There’s a circular burner directly beneath the 13-inch pizza stone and a powerful, L-shaped tube burner that runs along the back and left side of the oven’s interior. This design is a genuine game-changer, especially at this price point. In our testing, this system allowed for unprecedented control over the cooking environment. We could crank the bottom burner to super-heat the stone for a perfect, crispy crust, while simultaneously adjusting the top burner to control the ambient temperature and melt the cheese to perfection.

The raw power is staggering. With a combined 23,000 BTUs, the oven roars to life. We consistently clocked preheat times of 6-7 minutes to get the stone over 650°F, as promised. Pushing it further, we easily reached ambient temperatures of over 850°F on the built-in thermometer within 15 minutes. This rapid heat-up means less waiting and more cooking, a sentiment echoed by users, one of whom stated, “The oven heated up to 700f with 5 minutes.” This speed is crucial for pizza parties, as the oven recovers its temperature almost instantly between pies. As another happy owner confirmed, it “doesn’t need much time to get back to temp before throwing the next pizza in.” This dual-burner system is a feature that really sets it apart from single-burner competitors.

Mastering the Flames: The Learning Curve to Pizza Perfection

With great power comes great responsibility, and a steep learning curve. Our first few pizzas were, to put it charitably, “sacrificial offerings.” One user perfectly captured this experience: “It took a lot of burnt offerings to dial in what to do.” The primary challenge stems from the immense heat generated by the under-stone burner. While it’s fantastic for getting a crisp base, it is also not adjustable—it’s either on full blast or it’s off. Leaving it on throughout the entire cook almost guarantees a blackened bottom before the toppings are done.

Through trial, error, and by incorporating tips from the user community, we developed a winning technique. The secret is to preheat the oven with both burners on high for about 15 minutes to get the stone thoroughly saturated with heat. Just before launching the pizza, we would turn the bottom burner completely off and turn the top side-burner down to its lowest setting. This allows the residual heat in the stone to cook the base perfectly while the low top flame provides the ambient heat to cook the toppings and create that coveted “leopard spotting” on the crust. Constant turning is non-negotiable; a 90-degree turn every 20-30 seconds is essential for an even cook. Once we mastered this rhythm, we were churning out perfectly cooked, restaurant-quality pizzas in about 2-3 minutes flat. It takes practice, but the reward is pizza that, as one user put it, “looks and tastes better than” inconsistent pizza shops.

Built to Last: Design, Portability, and Construction

The all-stainless-steel construction of the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch gives it a durable, premium feel. It’s built to live outdoors (though we recommend a cover for longevity). The material is easy to wipe down after use, and after numerous high-heat sessions, we’ve seen no signs of discoloration or warping. The oven’s body does get extremely hot during operation, a point noted by users, so it’s critical to be mindful of this, especially with children or pets around. The four foldable legs make it surprisingly portable for its size, allowing it to be easily moved from a patio table to storage in a garage or shed.

Its internal design, an arc-shaped furnace chamber, is engineered for efficient heat circulation. The flame from the side burner rolls across the domed ceiling, cooking the top of the pizza evenly. Some advanced users have noted that the dome is a bit high, causing some heat to escape up the chimney rather than rolling over the pizza as effectively as in some lower-profile ovens. However, for the vast majority of users, the cooking performance is phenomenal. The 13-inch cooking surface is spacious enough for a decent-sized pizza, and as one reviewer noted, “The size of the oven is large and easy to turn the pizza.” The side-swing door with its small viewing holes is a nice touch, allowing you to keep an eye on the flame without letting all the heat escape.

What Other Users Are Saying

Scouring user feedback reveals a community of incredibly enthusiastic owners. The prevailing sentiment is that this oven is an absolute “game changer,” especially for those graduating from a standard kitchen oven. One user, who had worked in a pizza place for years, lauded its ability to finally replicate a pizzeria’s charred top and crispy crust, stating, “This pizza oven checks all the boxes.” Many, like the person whose boss recommended a propane model over a wood pellet one, praise its sheer convenience and power, noting they get their oven to “800-900 degrees” and cook pizzas in 3 minutes.

The most common piece of constructive feedback centers on the learning curve and the lack of variable control for the bottom burner. One reviewer stated they would have given it 5 stars if not for the “No way to control heat on bottom stone (just on or off).” This sentiment is the key takeaway for potential buyers: incredible power that requires a bit of practice to tame. Some users also reported minor shipping issues, like a cracked stone or missing screws, but in those cases, the seller was responsive in providing replacements. Overall, the consensus is that the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch offers phenomenal performance and value that far outweighs its minor quirks.

How Does the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch Compare to the Alternatives?

While the Big Horn oven punches well above its weight, it exists in a competitive market. Here’s how it stacks up against three notable alternatives.

1. Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven

The Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven is less of a direct competitor and more of a different tool for a different job. It’s a versatile, all-purpose outdoor oven with a twin-burner stovetop, designed for campers and those who need a full-service cooking station away from home. While it can bake pizzas, its maximum temperature is significantly lower than the Big Horn’s, topping out around 400°F. This means it can’t produce the same rapid, high-heat cook. A user should choose the Camp Chef if they prioritize versatility—roasting, baking, and stovetop cooking—over the specialized, high-temperature performance needed for authentic pizza.

2. Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven

The Ooni Koda 16 is a premium competitor and a market leader in the portable pizza oven space. Its primary advantages are its larger 16-inch cooking surface and its powerful, L-shaped flame that creates a very even rolling heat. However, it operates with a single burner system and carries a significantly higher price tag. One user who owned an Ooni actually switched to the Big Horn, preferring its dual-burner system for more even stone heating. You should choose the Ooni Koda 16 if you need the larger cooking area for bigger pizzas and prefer the slick, minimalist design of a market-leading brand, provided you have the budget for it.

3. Green Mountain Grills Pizza Oven Attachment

This product is an attachment, not a standalone oven. It’s designed specifically to fit on top of Green Mountain Grills’ Daniel Boone or Jim Bowie model pellet grills, converting them into a wood-fired pizza oven. It works by funneling the heat from the grill’s firebox up into the steel oven chamber. This is an excellent option for existing Green Mountain Grill owners who want to add pizza-making capability without buying a whole new appliance. However, it’s not a fit for anyone who doesn’t own the specific compatible grill. The Big Horn is the clear choice for anyone wanting a complete, standalone, gas-powered oven.

The Final Verdict: Is the BIG HORN OUTDOORS Pizza Oven Worth It?

After extensive testing and review, our answer is an unequivocal yes. The BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven 13 inch represents one of the best values in the outdoor cooking market today. It brings hyper-performance—blistering heat, rapid pre-heating, and a revolutionary dual-burner system—to a price point that is accessible to the serious home enthusiast. It successfully bridges the gap between lackluster indoor oven pizza and the authentic, crispy-chewy crust of a professional pizzeria.

While there is a learning curve associated with managing its immense power, particularly the non-adjustable bottom burner, the results are well worth the effort. For the person who has been dreaming of making truly great pizza at home, who loves to entertain, and who appreciates getting premium features without the premium price tag, this oven is a fantastic choice. It turns “pizza night” from a simple meal into a fun, delicious event. If you’re ready to stop making merely “good” pizza and start making great pizza, we wholeheartedly recommend you check the latest price and see if the BIG HORN OUTDOORS oven is right for you.