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8 Outdoor Kitchen Plans with Cost-Effective Accents

Design plans for low to moderate budgets

outdoor kitchen

The Spruce / Francesca Maiolino

Step up your entertaining game with one of these DIY outdoor kitchen plans you can put outside on an existing patio, deck, or yard area. Some outdoor kitchen plans make space for a grill, refrigerator, sink, and even a pizza oven. Add cabinets and counters, so you have more room for prep and storage for all those fun grilling tools.

You can do this inexpensively using upcycled accents like wood, stone, or title. Poured concrete is another way to have something last, clean easily, and not break the bank. Here are eight free outdoor kitchen plans to inspire and spur you to start your next DIY home project.

  • 01 of 08

    Outdoor Serving Cart

    A blue serving cart with food and drinks

    RemodelaCasa

    If you're on a budget or not up for such a big project, this DIY outdoor serving cart with wooden countertops may be what you're looking for. Sit it beside your grill, and you have extra prep space, a serving area, and some much-needed storage.

    This complete plan from RemodelaCasa includes a cut list, materials and tool list, step-by-step building instructions, and many photos.

  • 02 of 08

    Patio Storage Cabinets

    A set of patio cabinets with flowers and artwork

    Build, Sew, Reap 

    Here's a project from Build, Sew, Reap that meets the prime outdoor kitchen need: storage cabinets. Purchased base cabinets make construction easy, but they're refinished with scrap cedar to give them a custom look. Cement board and tiles top the cabinets, making them a great, outdoor-friendly place to serve a crowd buffet style.

  • 03 of 08

    Sewing Cabinet Outdoor Bar

    A mini outdoor kitchen made out of a sewing cabinet

    Sweet Pea 

    A bar is a popular addition to an outdoor kitchen, and you can do it in style with this sewing cabinet-turned outdoor bar idea from Sweet Pea. There's room for a big basin filled with ice to keep your drinks cool and a serving area. This could work as an outdoor kitchen island if you already have a grill and table.

  • 04 of 08

    Covered Concrete Countertop With Sink

    Outdoor Kitchen with Concrete Countertop

    Lowe's

    An outdoor kitchen doesn't have to be super elaborate; sometimes, you only want a counter and storage space with a sink that can withstand the elements. Move your barbecue grill or smoker, and you're all set. Use this free plan from Lowes and, with a budget of less than $1,000 and one to two weeks, you'll have a compact entertaining hub. Pouring concrete is a little more advanced, but this step-by-step tutorial can help you get it right.

    This all-weather outdoor kitchen design includes a spot where people can pull up stools to eat or hang out. This poured concrete countertop is an inexpensive alternative for a counter surface that also cleans easily. This design plan comes with a slatted cover, but you can modify that and fully enclose it for more coverage.

    Continue to 5 of 8 below
  • 05 of 08

    Patio Turned Outside Kitchenette

    An outside kitchen with a dog

    Remodelholic

    This DIY outdoor kitchen from Remodelholic started as just an ordinary patio. This space became a lovely outdoor kitchen with the addition of cabinets, concrete counters, a sink, and a built-in grill and refrigerator.

    Small details such as a river rock backsplash, extra shelving, a TV, and fun decor make this space somewhere the family can gather over the weekend or even after a long day.

  • 06 of 08

    DIY Outdoor Kitchen on a Deck

    An outdoor kitchen made of wood and stone

    The Cow Spot

    In this outdoor kitchen plan from The Cow Spot, the kitchen is built on an existing part of a deck. It includes a cinder block and brick pizza oven, a built-in area for the grill, custom cabinets, concrete counters, and a place for a Big Green Egg.

    This plan takes you through the build weekend by weekend, giving lots of directions, tips, and tricks. Be sure to visit the second part of the outdoor kitchen build, so you don't miss any details. The reveal shows the finishing touches and how everything came together.

    Tip

    Outdoor pizza ovens are a little more complex to build, but with a good plan in hand and a lot of patience and attention to detail, you can do it for less than $400.

  • 07 of 08

    Outdoor Kitchen Build

    An outdoor kitchen with a TV and dining table

    Refresh Restyle 

    A large concrete patio becomes home to a great entertaining space with this DIY outdoor kitchen plan from Refresh Restyle. A closed pergola is built to protect the kitchen against the elements, and then the cabinets are added, leaving room for a grill, refrigerator, Big Green Egg, and a small hot water heater.

    There's a lot of counter space here that provides prep space and a place for the outdoor sink. A large TV, dining room table, and ceiling fans are added to make this kitchen somewhere you'll never want to leave.

  • 08 of 08

    Backyard Wood Fired Pizza Oven

    An outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven

    Tikkido

    A popular item for an outdoor kitchen is a wood-fired pizza oven, and this free plan from Tikkido shows you exactly how to build one and incorporate it into your outdoor kitchen.

    This large pizza oven is built with a cinder block base and then shaped with a wooden frame and brick dome. As a finishing touch, decorative stone is added to the outside of the oven. This would go great in any outdoor kitchen or as a standalone feature.