Can You Cook Pizza in a Toaster Oven?

Yes, a toaster oven can bake pizza if it fits safely inside. Check your oven manual for rack placement and approved cookware, then choose a pizza size that leaves open space around it.

For a compact model, the Breville BOV650XL has a dedicated pizza function and fits a 12 in pizza. The Hamilton Beach Easy Reach also fits a 12 in pizza and includes convection, bake, broil, and toast settings.

For help selecting bake, broil, or convection, read toaster oven settings explained. Our beginner's guide to cooking in a toaster oven covers rack placement and basic oven use.

How do you cook pizza in a toaster oven?

Preheat the oven, place the pizza on a suitable surface, and check it before the full package cooking time has passed. Use the pizza instructions and your oven manual as the main guides.

Measure the pizza and confirm it fits with clearance on all sides.
Preheat to the package temperature if your oven can reach it.
Place the pizza on an oven-safe pan or surface approved by your manual.
Check it early, then continue cooking until the crust and cheese are ready.
Use oven mitts to remove the pizza and let it cool before slicing.

Toaster ovens have less room than full-size ovens, and their heating elements may sit close to the food. Stay nearby while cooking, especially the first time you use a setting or pan.

Should you use a toaster oven's pizza setting?

Use a pizza setting if your oven has one and its manual explains it. The Breville BOV650XL includes a pizza function, but you should still check the pizza as it cooks.

If your oven has no pizza setting, use the package temperature and time as a starting point. Begin checking early and make small changes after you see how your oven browns the crust.

How do you choose an oven for pizza?

Choose by pizza size, counter space, and the other cooking jobs you want the oven to handle. A dedicated pizza function can simplify setup, while convection adds a fan setting for moving heated air.

The Breville is a fit for someone who wants a compact oven with a pizza function and room for a 12 in pizza. Skip it if your typical pizza is larger or you want extra functions such as air frying.

The Hamilton Beach is a fit if you want convection plus bake, broil, and toast in an oven that accommodates a 12 in pizza. Skip it if you need a dedicated pizza preset, which is not among its listed functions.

The Emeril Lagasse 26QT French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven suits cooks who want air frying and multiple cooking functions alongside pizza. Its French doors open with a single pull, and an interior light lets you monitor food.

Skip this style if counter space is tight or you only need a basic oven for occasional pizza.

Which rack position should you use for toaster oven pizza?

Use the baking rack position recommended in your toaster oven manual. If there are multiple positions, the manual can help you keep the pizza at a suitable distance from the heating elements.

Center the pizza on its pan or cooking surface and leave clearance around it. A large pan should not block the door or touch the oven walls.

For a more browned top, check when the broil setting is appropriate in our guide to toaster oven broil settings. Broiling can brown food quickly, so keep the pizza in view and follow your oven's directions.

Should you use a pan, rack, or pizza stone?

Pick a pan or surface that fits the pizza and is allowed by your manual. A pan is a simple option; a stone may absorb moisture from dough and help produce a crisper crust.

The Unicook 12x12 Square Pizza Stone is made of cordierite and measures 12 in square. Unicook recommends checking the oven's interior and leaving 1 in of clearance on every side, so measure before buying.

Unicook recommends preheating the stone in a cold oven. Let it cool completely before cleaning, remove residue with a scraper or brush, and hand wash with warm water.

Don't season it with oil or grease, and don't worry about dark discoloration from use.

Skip the stone if it crowds your oven, blocks airflow, or isn't allowed by the manual. For other useful add-ons and fit checks, see toaster oven accessories worth buying.

Can you cook a 12 inch pizza in a toaster oven?

Yes, some toaster ovens fit a 12 in pizza, but check the actual interior and leave clearance around it. A stated pizza capacity doesn't mean every 12 in pan or stone will fit.

The Breville BOV650XL and Hamilton Beach Easy Reach both fit 12 in pizzas. The Emeril Lagasse oven is also described as fitting 12 in pizzas, but your pan or stone may have different dimensions.

If the pizza can't sit flat without touching the door or walls, choose a smaller pizza or a different cooking method. Don't force an oversized pan into the oven or block its airflow.

Does convection work well for pizza in a toaster oven?

Convection can cook pizza by circulating hot air, but it can change how quickly the crust browns. Treat the package time as a guide, check early, and use only settings described in your manual.

Hamilton Beach says its convection fan circulates heated air and may reduce cooking time by up to 25%. If you want to understand the difference between fan and conventional heat, read toaster oven vs. convection oven.

What mistakes should you avoid with toaster oven pizza?

Most pizza problems start with a crowded oven, a cold cooking surface, or too little attention during cooking. Check the fit first and watch the crust rather than relying on a timer alone.

Soggy center: Preheat the oven and avoid piling on toppings.
Burnt edges: Check early, especially with convection or a small oven.
Uneven browning: Center the pizza and use the recommended rack position.
Smoke or drips: Use a clean, oven-safe pan and follow the manual's advice for catching spills.
Stone damage: Check clearance, preheat it in a cold oven as directed, and let it cool before cleaning.

Never use cookware that touches the heating elements or keeps the door from closing. If your oven can't reach the temperature on the pizza package, choose another cooking method instead of trying to compensate with guesswork.

Which toaster oven pizza option should you choose?

Choose the oven that fits your usual pizza and your counter. Pick the Breville if you want a compact model with a pizza function, the Hamilton Beach if you want convection and simple everyday settings, or the Emeril if air frying and multiple functions matter too.

Choose the Unicook stone only when it fits with 1 in of clearance on all sides and your oven manual allows it. For a first attempt, use a suitable pan, preheat the oven, follow the package directions, and check the pizza early.

Frequently asked questions

Can you cook frozen pizza in a toaster oven?

Yes, frozen pizza works if it fits with space around it and the oven can reach the package temperature. Use the package directions as your starting point, check early, and follow your toaster oven manual for rack and pan guidance.

If the pizza is too large to sit flat, choose a smaller one.

Should I use bake or convection for pizza in a toaster oven?

Bake is a straightforward place to start because it follows the pizza package's usual oven directions. Convection circulates heated air and may shorten cooking time, so check the crust early.

Use the setting your manual recommends, then adjust the time based on how the pizza browns.

Can you put a pizza stone in a toaster oven?

Yes, when the stone fits with its required clearance and your toaster oven manual allows it. Unicook recommends at least 1 in of clearance on all sides for its 12 in square cordierite stone.

Put the stone in a cold oven to preheat, let it cool before washing, and handle it carefully.

How do you keep toaster oven pizza from getting soggy?

Preheat the oven and choose a pan or cooking surface that suits the pizza and fits with room for airflow. A stone may absorb moisture from dough and help make a crisper crust, but it needs to be preheated as directed.

Don't crowd the pizza with toppings, and check that the center is cooked before serving.

Can You Cook Pizza in a Toaster Oven?