Pizza Night on the Porch and Patio

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Tonight is the perfect evening for a summer pizza night on the back porch and patio. I wanted to find a unique location for a fun dinner and this is the perfect spot!

Summer Pizza Night on the Back Porch and Patio

I have wanted to have a fun pizza night at our home to celebrate the start of summer. I thought I would just host it on the table under our porch. But then I got thinking … and I walked around the backyard looking for an unexpected spot to host this fun evening. I finally decided on the porch and patio at the back of our home. It is just perfect.

Dinner on the Porch and Patio

Summer Pizza Night on the Back Porch

I love to entertain in unexpected places. And you should do this too! Walk outside and find a place you have never served a dinner before. What about your front porch? Or a side yard? What about on your back patio or the middle of the yard?

We have a few dining areas in our back yard so our back patio seemed like the perfect spot. Plus, our outdoor kitchen is adjacent so I had the perfect spot to plug in my countertop Brevile Pizza Maker and cook the pizzas!

Summer Pizza Night on the Patio

I have teamed up with my friend KariAnne from Thistlewood Farms and we are sharing lots of Summer Entertaining ideas.

So far we have shared:

Summer Entertaining Ideas

I started on the back porch and then moved to the Carriage House. The back porch and patio seemed like the perfect spot.

I decided to make a nice green salad and three different pizzas. I made an Arugula, Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Goat Cheese Pizza, an Italian Sausage, Mozzarella, and Basil Pizza, and a Caprese Pizza.

Can I just say that I love them all?

Summer Pizza Night on the Patio

I am excited to share my recipes for these pizzas with you.

For all of the pizzas I used Trader Joe’s pre-made pizza dough. It’s delicious and easy and I love it. You can also use a pre-made version, like the ones that come in a popup can, or make your own.

I also used my Brevile Pizza Maker. To be truthful, I have two of these pizza makers. I bought them for a New Year’s Eve Party when my guests made their own pizzas and I cooked them. All forty of them! It was such a fun and festive party and I loved covering my kitchen island with tons of different pizza toppings!

My pizza maker only takes about 15 minutes to cook a pizza. My only piece of advice is not to make the pizza too thick (or pile way too many ingredients on top) as the top items on the pizza might burn if they touch the coils. This doesn’t happen too often but it helps to roll the pizza dough so it’s not 1″ thick! Hah!

How to Make Arugula, Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Goat Cheese Pizza

Arugula, Goat Cheese and Artichoke Pizza

All of these pizza recipes are so easy! Just roll out the dough, top with olive oil and a handful of arugula. Add the artichoke hearts and crumbled cheese. Bake it in the oven and enjoy!

Yield: one 10" pizza

Arugula, Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Goat Cheese Pizza

Arugula, Goat Cheese and Artichoke Pizza
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 package Trader Joes Garlic and Herb Pizza Dough
  • 1 Tbl Olive Oil
  • Handful of Arugula
  • Approximately 6 Marinated Artichoke Hearts
  • Goat Cheese, crumbled (to taste)

Instructions

    1. Spread 1 Tbl of olive oil over the rolled out dough;
    2. Top the olive oil with a handful of arugula;
    3. Top the arugula with the marinated artichoke hearts;
    4. Top with crumbled goat cheese

Bake in pizza oven approximately 15 minutes. To cook in the stove, heat the oven at 550 degrees for thirty minutes. Place pizza on baking sheet or a pizza stone and cook for 5 minutes. Rotate and cook for 3 - 5 more minutes until done.

Notes

Add ngredients to taste. Add more or less depending on your taste.

How to Make Italian Sausage, Mozzarella, and Basil Pizza

I used a different pizza sauce for this recipe. I used red pizza sauce and also some chopped bruschetta. Doesn’t that sound fabulous? I topped it with pre-cooked chicken sausage, mozzarella balls, and freshly chopped basil. I actually think this was my favorite pizza of the three.

Yield: one 10" pizza

Italian Sausage, Mozzarella and Basil Pizza

Cooked Sausage, Basil, and Mozarella Pizza
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Package Trader Joes Pizza Dough (plain)
  • 2 Tbl Trader Joes Pizza Sauce
  • 2 Tbl Trader Joes Bruschetta Sauce, strained
  • 1 link Chicken Italian Sausage, sliced
  • Approximately 8, Trader Joes Marinated Mozzarella Balls
  • Fresh Basil (rolled and sliced = chiffonade) (to taste)

Instructions

    1. Spread pizza sauce over the rolled out dough;
    2. Top with strained bruschetta sauce;
    3. Top with sliced sausage;
    4. Top with marinated mozzarella balls;
    5. Top with fresh basil

Bake in pizza oven approximately 15 minutes. To cook in the stove, heat the oven at 550 degrees for thirty minutes. Place pizza on baking sheet or a pizza stone and cook for 5 minutes. Rotate and cook for 3 - 5 more minutes until done.

Notes

Ingredients to taste. Add more or less depending on your taste

How to Make Caprese Pizza

I have never made a Caprese Pizza but I love Caprese salad so why not? I topped the pizza dough with bruschetta, pre-sliced mozzarella slices, freshly sliced tomatoes and chopped basil. This was so good!

Yield: one 10" pizza

Caprese Pizza

Caprese Pizza
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Package Trader Joes Garlic and Herb Pizza Dough
  • 2 Tbl Trader Joes Bruschetta Sauce
  • Approximately 8 slices of Sliced Mozzarella
  • Approximately 8 slices of Sliced Tomato
  • Fresh Basil (rolled and sliced = chiffonade) (to taste)

Instructions

    1. Spread strained bruschetta sauce over the rolled out dough;
    2. Top with sliced mozzarella;
    3. Top with sliced tomatoes;
    4. Top with fresh basil

Bake in pizza oven approximately 15 minutes. To cook in the stove, heat the oven at 550 degrees for thirty minutes. Place pizza on baking sheet or a pizza stone and cook for 5 minutes. Rotate and cook for 3 - 5 more minutes until done.

Notes

Ingredients to taste. Add more or less depending on your taste

Isn’t this the perfect place to sit outside and have a fun evening?

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Thistlewood Farms

Red, White, and Blue Porch Decorating Ideas

My friend KariAnne shared her blog post today titled Red, White, and Blue Porch Decorating Ideas. Doesn’t this porch look amazing? If you aren’t following KariAnne, be sure to head to her blog Thistlewood Farms now!

Setting the Porch and Patio Dining Area

Summer Pizza Night on the Back Porch 5

It took me no time at all to get the table top set up. I wanted to use my pink plates because they were the perfect size for salad and pizza. Actually, they aren’t really plates they are plates and bowls. Or Ceramic Pasta Bowls. All in one!

Dining on the Porch and Patio

I grabbed a picnic blanket to use as a table cloth and my favorite Pink Linen and Cotton Napkins to ge tthe table ready.

Can you see the hanging cafe lights above our patio? They are perfect for summer evenings.

Summer Dining on the Porch and Patio

Here is a peek through to our outdoor kitchen. We use our grill all of the time and I love our Green Egg. We even cook our thanksgiving turkey in the egg. Every single year!

Pizza Night on the Porch and Patio

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to cook a pizza on the grill?

Use a pizza stone and make sure it is preheated to the highest temperature possible. Place the dough on the stone and flip after a few minutes. Add the toppings to your pizza and then cook until the pizza is cooked through and the cheese is melted.

Summer Pizza Night

Links to the Items Shown in This Post

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How to Host a Summer Pizza Night

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12 Comments

  1. Hi Leslie,
    We were in MN visiting my son for a college tennis match and I had Pioneer Woman on and she shared a pizza recipe. My husband started making pizzas during Covid. I have got to try the pizza dough from Trader Joes. ALso, how/where do you store blankets on porch? The only time it rains here in Colorado is when I have everything out on the patio! I think you are going to Haven! Looking forward to meeting you in person! I was part of KA mastermind! xo laura

    1. Hi Laura, great to hear from you! It rarely rains here either but we normally keep them under the overhang we have on the back porch just in case! Or inside! I look forward to seeing you!

  2. Looks great! I have always loved changing up the eating spaces. Years ago when we lived in Santa Fe I emptied out the family room and set it up like a little restaurant with multiple tables, trees, plants, flowers, candles and a fire in the fireplace. I also made a complete greek dinner from soup, bread, main courses, sides, to Baklava. Ha, only 31 then, could never do all that now! it was fun though and our guests had a wonderful time. Since then we have had a lot of fun entertaining including a pIzza bar with pizzas cooked on the grill. Your pizzas look delicious. Your entertaining posts are lovely and bring back many happy memories as well.

    1. Thanks, Jillian! That sounds like so much fun and such a great idea! I am so glad you are enjoying the posts, I really appreciate your kind words.

  3. Beautiful setting for a pizza party! I also like making Caprese pizza but with olive oil as a base instead of tomato sauce…the flavors of the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil really stand out.

  4. Hi Leslie! So excited to try your ideas! Just yesterday I got a big pizza stone for the grill! Thank you! As usual, you’re such an inspiration! Off to Trader Joe’s!! 💞

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