22 Covered Outdoor Kitchen Ideas for Cooking and Dining Alfresco
Photo: istockphoto.com
A covered outdoor kitchen allows you to take advantage of good weather by cooking and eating outside. The best covered outdoor kitchen designs will be both functional and attractive, with a spacious layout, top-quality outdoor appliances, and plenty of aesthetic appeal.
If you’re ready to start planning an outdoor kitchen, these covered outdoor kitchen ideas can give you the needed inspiration to transform your backyard into your own personal outdoor oasis.
RELATED: The 8 Biggest Outdoor Living Trends for 2022
1. Patio and Pergola
Photo: istockphoto.com
Convert your patio area into a spacious outdoor kitchen by adding a grill, comfortable seating, and a pergola paired with some climbing vines to help provide cooling shade and cover from the elements.
If you plan to build everything yourself, don’t forget one of the most important tips for building an outdoor kitchen: Make sure the foundation is level before adding any pavers or placing grills, cabinets, or appliances in the space.
2. Pool-Side Haven
Photo: TKImages via Texas Custom Patios
Take outdoor cooking and entertaining to the next level with an outdoor kitchen and pool house with a built-in fireplace. If your covered outdoor kitchen plans include granite countertops, a built-in grill, refrigerator, drawers, cabinets, and a bar, this example by Texas Custom Patios should provide plenty of inspiration. The freestanding structure’s wood and stone columns, gabled roof, vaulted ceiling, and double-sided fireplace add a touch of luxury to the space.
3. Grilling Headquarters
Photo: overstock.com
Need simple outdoor kitchen ideas? The Backyard Discover Saxony XL Grill Gazebo may be just what you need for any non-charcoal grill. Designed with a corrosion-resistant steel roof, you can grill outside in nearly any weather conditions. Plus, the steel roof helps to reduce heat transfer by up to 20 degrees, making grilling outside more comfortable and enjoyable.
The gazebo is spacious enough to accommodate two grills, griddles, or smokers, and it features two built-in countertops for preparing and serving food and 10 accessory hooks to keep all your favorite grill tools right at your fingertips.
4. Clean and Modern
Photo: istockphoto.com
If you’re looking for modern covered outdoor kitchen designs, stick with clean lines and neutral colors. This design idea offers a generously sized island with plenty of space for food prep, a large kitchen sink, and a gas cooktop. With the right outdoor lighting and paint colors, it can be the ideal addition to a modern home.
5. Cooking and Entertaining
Photo: Homedepot.com
Create the ideal spot for outdoor cooking and entertaining with a functional and inviting set-up such as this outdoor galley design. The Cal Flame Outdoor Kitchen 4-Burner Barbecue Grill Island offers prep space, an outdoor refrigerator, and a stainless steel grill to cook up burgers, hot dogs, kebabs, and all of your other favorite recipes.
Add three outdoor bar stools along the backside of the island for guests to enjoy their meals fresh off of the grill. You can further enhance the space with a pizza oven, sink, or other outdoor cooking essentials.
RELATED: How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost?
6. Outdoor Retreat
Photo: Trex.com
If you have ample backyard space, consider creating an outdoor cooking retreat with a Trex outdoor kitchen like this one. With room to fit a large grill, a smoker, a kitchen sink, a refrigerator, or other outdoor appliances, you may find that your outdoor kitchen is just as functional as your indoor kitchen. Plus, a Trex outdoor kitchen is designed to be durable, long-lasting with minimal required maintenance.
7. Grillin’ and Chillin’
Photo: istockphoto.com
Turn your backyard into a personal refuge with a covered outdoor kitchen like this. With elegant yet rustic stone pillars, your outdoor kitchen can double as a backyard statement piece. The covered space will afford you with plenty of room to grill and entertain while your guests relax in the shade.
8. Open and Spacious
Photo: istockphoto.com
Mixing different textures is an outdoor kitchen design idea you may just want to steal from this example. The wood, stainless steel, stone, wicker, and canvas materials work together to create an elegantly natural feel. Rather than looking haphazard, the different neutrally-colored textures offer a unique, calm, and inviting ambiance to the space.
9. Stately Outdoor Kitchen
The right materials can help you create a truly luxurious and upscale outdoor kitchen, and this design by Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens features a large bar area with seating for four. With stone countertops, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and elegant wooden columns, this kitchen may become your guests’ favorite new hangout.
10. Covered Grill Gazebo
Photo: Homedepot.com
Add this Hampton Bay Hard Top Grill Gazebo to your outdoor kitchen to keep the grill master comfortable as they prepare a backyard feast. With the interior storage shelves and counter tops, you can keep all your grilling tools, seasonings, and items ready and in reach. The open sides of the gazebo also allow the countertops to double as serving buffets for beverages or food.
11. Dining With a View
Photo: istockphoto.com
Adding a covered kitchen doesn’t mean you have to block your view of the great outdoors. Consider adding a glass roof over your outdoor kitchen to allow you to continue to enjoy the overhead greenery, blue skies, and starry nights while you cook and eat.
12. Covered Patio Kitchen
Photo: istockphoto.com
If you’re looking for a way to reinvent your patio, consider converting it into a covered outdoor cooking area. Larger patios and decks often provide ample space to add a kitchen section with a grill, counters, and cabinets, while still having enough room to add an outdoor dining table and even comfortable seating for friends and family. Add some recessed lighting and ceiling fans to make the space more functional after dark and ensure sufficient airflow for maximum comfort.
RELATED: These Outdoor Features Will Improve Your Yard—and Your Home’s Value
13. Wood-and-Steel Gazebo Kitchen
Photo: overstock.com
Install this Outsunny Wood Framed Gazebo with Steel Hardtop Roof over your patio, and you’ll be well on your way to crafting an outdoor kitchen. Once the gazebo is set up, add a grill with prep space and any other needed outdoor appliances. Consider adding a patio dining set, or building a high-top stone bar area with seating. Install some lights or hang string patio lights to finish setting the mood, and then get ready for your next outdoor get-together.
14. Covered Kitchen and Bar
Photo: istockphoto.com
You don’t need a huge space to make a functional outdoor kitchen. Adding a small bar area for prepping food and serving meals alongside your trusty grill can have a huge impact on both the aesthetics and functionality of your deck or patio. Add some recessed lighting for evening entertaining and outdoor ceiling fans to keep air circulating on a hot day.
15. Stone and Steel
Photo: redfin.com
Make a statement with your covered outdoor kitchen by combining a stainless steel grill and other appliances with rustic stone. Add a wooden pergola to further pull the space together and offer some shade and relief from the heat. Installing a fan or growing climbing roses or ivy to offer more coverage can help keep the kitchen even more cool and comfortable for the chef.
16. Kitchen With Awning
Photo: redfin.com
Installing an awning is another novel way to create an outdoor covered kitchen. Choose an awning that is large enough to provide ample shade, and to shelter the grill, prep area, and outdoor seating. Consider using a retractable awning if you want to be able to bask in the sun on nice days when it isn’t too hot.
17. Rustic Retreat
Photo: istockphoto.com
If you love camping, recreate that outdoorsy feeling at home by making a wood, stone, and brick outdoor kitchen. Build a few little canopies to cover your grill, outdoor pizza oven, and picnic table, and you’ll be able to enjoy your own rustic retreat in your backyard.
RELATED: The Best Outdoor Bar Stools
18. Weathered Teak Cabinets
Photo: frontgate.com
Customize the layout of your covered outdoor kitchen with the modular cabinets of this Isola Outdoor Kitchen. Each cabinet is crafted from gorgeous and durable teak wood and features an all-weather wicker door front. Add a grill, refrigerator, sink, and appliances to complete your dream outdoor space. If you place everything under a shelter or pergola, you’ll be all set to cook and entertain in almost any weather.
19. High-Top Dining and Grilling
Photo: redfin.com
If you’re looking for backyard covered outdoor kitchen ideas that will be easy to replicate in your own space, try using a wooden pergola to provide shelter for your kitchen. Use stones and concrete to create a sturdy nook for a built-in grill, then add storage cabinets and a high-top table for dining and relaxing.
20. Contemporary Appeal
Photo: Texas Custom Patios
With its stainless steel appliances and neutral colors, this covered backyard kitchen nicely complements a contemporary outdoor living space. It offers a large built-in grill station with plenty of counter space for food prep or dining. With built-in speakers, recessed lighting, low-voltage step lights built into durable composite decking, and a privacy wall that doubles as the perfect spot to mount a TV, this outdoor kitchen is well-equipped for home gatherings.
21. Stainless Steel Cabinets
Photo: wayfair.com
These New Age stainless steel modular cabinets will allow you to create a custom-built look for your covered outdoor kitchen at a fraction of the price. Another benefit of the cabinets is that the stainless steel material is designed to hold up well to all-season outdoor use; the weather- and corrosion-resistant cabinets feature restaurant-grade 304 stainless steel construction with reinforced double wall doors.
RELATED: 12 Pergola Plans for Building the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space
22. Sleek and Stylish
Upgrade your outdoor living area with a covered kitchen like this one. The space features a large grill with ventilation hood, two sinks, counter prep space, and a large island for preparing or serving meals. The sleek stainless grill and sinks combined with the neutral countertops and a marbled back wall help to give the space an upscale modern feel.