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The Ultimate Pizza Party Guide

Are you planning a pizza party and looking for some creative ideas to make it a memorable event? I have you covered! We will explore a variety of fun and unique pizza party ideas that are sure to delight your guests. 

A pizza party is a fun way to celebrate a special occasion! In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know to have the best pizza party ever, from how to have create a make your own pizza bar to decorations and more!

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If you’re looking for a way to celebrate that is a ton of fun and won’t break the bank, read on for our ultimate pizza party guide.

How do you host a pizza party?

First things first, how do you host a a pizza party, anyway? The key is all in the preparation, which isn’t that difficult with this guide.

Here are the things you need to think about when hosting a make your own pizza party:

  • Pizza Dough
  • Pizza Toppings
  • Assembling Pizzas
  • Baking the pizzas
  • Pizza Party decorations (including tablecloths, cups, plates, and napkins)
  • Appetizers and Desserts (if desired)
  • Drinks

We’ve got you covered for everything on this list when it comes to a pizza themed party!

Let’s take a closer look at each of these items.

pizza party guide

Pizza Dough for Pizza Parties

The key to the pizza party is of course your dough, which we have a recipe for so be sure to read to the end! This is probably the most difficulty part of the pizza party.

The first thing is to decide how many pizzas you’ll need to make. Our dough recipe is eight 6″ individual pizzas or four 12″ larger pizzas. You may need to double it or even triple it depending on your party size.

For a pizza party, mini pizzas are the way to go most of the time. This lets each guest customize their favorite pizza!

You can also buy pre-made dough to make your party experience even easier…however I will mention it is cheaper to make it yourself, and our recipe is fool proof and has complete step by step instructions.

The key here is to make the dough the day before. This makes pizza party prep so much easier the day of, because the hard part is done!  Be sure to take it out of the refrigerator about a half an hour before you want to use it.  The same goes if you bought the dough from the store.

It is much easier to work with when it is closer to room temperature than when it is cold straight from the refrigerator.

Do you really want to jazz up your Pizza party?  Are you celebrating a holiday like Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s Day?  Consider adding some fun food coloring to the pizza dough to get really personal and help theme your pizza party even more!

​Can I make a gluten free pizza crust?

Absolutely! And, I bet your gluten free friends or friends with celiac disease will totally appreciate you thinking of them when making a gluten free pizza crust recipe.

If you’re new to making things gluten free, it’s important to realize that cross contamination can happen so easily and can cause big problems, so it’s important to talk with friends about allergies and how to best manage them. Using the same pizza oven where a pizza crust containing gluten can mess with some people depending on their tolerances or autoimmune diseases.

It is definitely important to make sure they have their own pizza cutter too. 

Just make sure to spend a few minutes chatting with them to see how you can best accommodate them!

Don’t forget the pizza sauce!

When hosting your own pizza party, the crust is essential and then you must have a good pizza sauce. 

Ask your guests if they have a favorite pizza sauce, or even a good pizza sauce recipe to try out. Buying a big container in bulk is a great option for making sure you have enough sauce, but making your own is a great way to do that PLUS save some money. 

You can set out jars of pizza sauce or containers of sauce at each pizza-making station for your guests to use. 

Grab enough cheese

Make sure you have enough cheese for all of the pizzas you plan on making. Covering the pizza with fresh shredded or fresh grated mozzarella cheese is the best way to make a delicious pizza before adding the different toppings.

Be sure to have a cheese grater and a few blocks of cheese for guests to use.

What toppings can you put on pizza?

The next thing to think about are of course the toppings for the pizzas!

This is the fun part! We have a whole list of pizza topping ideas to help you get started. Some are classics like pepperoni or sausage, or you can be more adventurous such as breakfast pizzas with bacon eggs ham & cheese for that weekend brunch vibe.

You could even have a whole pizza party around dessert pizzas!

If you’re looking for the tried and true classic Italian style pizza party, here is our list of the most amazing pizza toppings to have at your pizza bar.

Pepperoni
Sausage
Meatballs
Steak sandwich meat
Chicken (plain, BBQ, or buffalo)
Mushrooms
Fresh Tomatoes
Sun Dried tomatoes
Fresh basil
Black Olives
Onions
Jalapeños
Green Peppers
Pineapple
Ham
Bacon
Mozzarella Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Ricotta Cheese
Feta Cheese
Blue cheese
Parmesan cheese

Create bowls of toppings to put at your pizza bar, so guests can choose their favorites for each. You may also want to provide gloves for guests to wear while making their pizzas to make clean up easier.

You can also ask friends to bring their favorite toppings. It’s the perfect way to share new pizza recipes with each other!

Need some of the best ideas to make a fantastic pizza? Here is a list of pizza flavors to create with different pizza toppings:

1. Margherita: Classic and simple, topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese.

2. Pepperoni and Mushroom: A classic combination of spicy pepperoni and earthy mushrooms.

3. BBQ Chicken: Tangy BBQ sauce, grilled chicken, red onions, and mozzarella cheese.

4. Hawaiian: Sweet and savory with ham, pineapple, and mozzarella cheese.

5. Meat Lovers: Loaded with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, bacon, and mozzarella cheese.

6. Veggie Delight: Packed with mushrooms, green peppers, black olives, onions, and mozzarella cheese.

7. Four Cheese: A cheesy delight with mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, and parmesan cheese.

8. Bacon and Ranch: Crispy bacon, creamy ranch dressing, red onions, and mozzarella cheese.

9. Mediterranean: Sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, feta cheese, and fresh basil for a taste of the Mediterranean.

10. Buffalo Chicken: Spicy buffalo sauce, grilled chicken, red onions, and blue cheese crumbles.

11. White pizza: Skip the red sauce and make sure you have a white sauce to use- or go sauceless when creating your great pizza for pizza night.

12. Dessert Pizza: Make your crust, add a pie filling and crumb topping, drizzle with a powdered sugar and milk glaze for a sweet treat. 

Feel free to get creative and mix and match toppings to create your own unique pizza flavors! Enjoy experimenting with different combinations and have fun at your pizza bar!

Baking Your Pizzas

If you plan on making individual pizzas, consider large cookie sheets without sides. This makes it easy to slide the pizzas on and off of the tray, so you can bake everything as quickly as possible

Cuisinart AMB-17CS 17-Inch Chef's Classic Nonstick Bakeware Cookie Sheet, Silver

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You’re going to have your oven on 450F, and it is going to take a while to bake all of those pizzas, so be prepared for a HOT kitchen!  Be sure to open doors and windows, and consider bringing out a fan to keep the kitchen cool.

You can also use your pizza oven if you have one. They make a lot of outdoor pizza ovens that you can fit quite a few of your own custom pizzas in. 

What do you serve at a pizza party?

Wondering what else goes with pizza? This is a big question when it comes to planning your perfect pizza party because there are so many delicious appetizers, sides and drinks that can accompany any type of pizza.

What appetizers go with pizza?

If you want to serve appetizers at your pizza part, the possibilities are endless.

Some of our favorite appetizers for a pizza party are:

  • Breadsticks
  • Salad
  • Mini meatballs
  • Bruschetta
  • Garlic bread
  • Vegetables in a vegetable tray

These all keep in line with the pizza and Italian theme of a pizza party.

What is a good dessert to serve with pizza?

If you’re going to have dessert at your pizza party, some great options are cake, ice cream, cookies, brownies, blondies and fruit salad.

These are all classics that will be loved by all, and are quite easy to put together.

What drinks are good for pizza parties?

Think of some of the classics when it comes to drinks for your pizza party! Soda is a great choice, along with water, iced tea, and lemonade.

Also consider classic Italian Limonata, which is a lemon flavored soda.

A' Siciliana Sicilian Limonata Soda 33.8 Fl Oz Glass Bottle

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Don’t forget the Italian sparkling mineral water! You can serve it to even the littlest guests in fancy plastic cups to really make it a fun experience.

100 Plastic Champagne Flutes Disposable | Clear Plastic Champagne Glasses for Parties | Clear Plastic Cups | Plastic Toasting Glasses | Mimosa Glasses | Wedding Party Bulk Pack

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Pizza Party Decorations

Decorations can be a ton of fun when it comes to your pizza party!

There are a lot of options available to you. You can go DIY and personalize your party, or buy pre-made decorations for the event!

Here are some decorating ideas when it comes to your pizza party:

Thank about keeping it Red and white themed, think of the classic red and white checkered table cloths at an Italian restaurant. You can make a trip to the dollar store and load up on red and white table cloths, paper plates, cups, and napkins.

Paper lanterns make a great touch if your party is in the evening.

Consider aprons and chef’s hats for the guests to really get them in the pizza party spirit!  Kids will love dressing up like pizza chefs!

SATINIOR 8 Pieces Kids Apron and 8 Pieces Chef Hat Set Kids Apron with 2 Pockets Children Adjustable Chef Apron and Hats for Boys Girl's Kitchen Cooking Baking Painting Wear(White,M for 7-13 Age)

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Here are some of the most amazing decorations you can find for your pizza party, in one place to get you started!

Pizza Party Dinner Pack - Paper Dinner Plates, Lunch Napkins, Cups, Paper Table Cover, and Hanging Cutouts Set (Serves 16)

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4 Pieces Pizza Photo Banner Pizza Pennant Pizza Party Theme Decoration for Pizza Themed Birthday Baby Shower Party Supply, Pre-assembled

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amscan Pizza Party Hanging Swirl Decorations- 12 pcs., Multi-Colored, One Size

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AOSTO 6.5x5ft Pizza Shop Photo Background Newborn Baby Shower Cake Table Decorations Banner Kids Birthday Party Photo Backdrop Studio Props W-3668

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Big Dot of Happiness Pizza Party Time - Baby Shower or Birthday Party Photo Booth Props Kit - 20 Count

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Games to Play at Your Pizza Party

There are all sorts of silly games to play at your pizza making party. 

Head to Google or Pinterest and find a fun Pizza Personality Test to see what kinds of pizzas match up to each guest. 

You can also find some fun pizza scavenger hunts and pizza board games. 

Pizza is a favorite food top contender for so many people and companies have used people’s love for pizza to create some silly games to play while making your homemade pizzas!

Setting Up Your Pizza Party

When it comes time to have your pizza party, here are some tips and tricks for getting everything set up correctly.

Have a designated pizza bar for guests to stretch out their dough and put on their toppings. This will keep mess to a minimum.

Have a designated pizza runner!  This person will pick up the pizzas at the pizza bar after they have been made, and bring them to the kitchen.  Then, when they are cooked, bring them back out again.  This keeps too many people out of the kitchen!

Be sure to assign someone to keeping track of the pizza toppings, and refill them when they are running low.

Use all of these tips when hosting your next pizza party and prepare to take it to the next level with some incredibly delicious slices of pizza pie!

Now, here’s the easiest pizza dough ever to get you started with your pizza party!

Yield: Four 12” pizza crusts or 8 6" pizza crusts

Organized Mom's Easy Pizza Party Dough

pizza party individual pizzas

This is a super simple home made pizza dough that is perfect for your next pizza party!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Flour for rolling out dough

Instructions

    1. Gather your ingredients for this easy home made pizza party dough.making pizza dough for a pizza party
    2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the yeast, water, and sugar. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Mixture will bubble.making pizza dough for a pizza party
    3. Add flour, salt, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bowl.
    4. Using the dough hook attachment, mix until the dough forms a ball.
    5. Dust your counter or a cutting board with flour, and remove dough from bowl of mixer.making pizza dough for a pizza party
    6. Knead until smooth.
    7. Put the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl, and use a paper towel to coat the bowlmaking pizza dough for a pizza party
    8. Place dough in bowl, and cover. Allow to rise for one hour.making pizza dough for a pizza party
    9. Punch down dough. If you are going to refrigerate it for later use, now place it in the refrigerator, and remember to remove it 30 minutes before using.
    10. Knead dough again, and shape back into ball.
    11. Cut ball into either four pieces for 12" pizzas, or eight pieces for 6" pieces.making pizza dough for a pizza party
    12. Roll piece of dough into a ball, then gently stretch it out with your hands on a floured work surface.making pizza dough for a pizza party
    13. Top with pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings.assembling pizzas for partypizza before baking
    14. Bake at 450F for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and browned.finished pizza

Notes

This is a super easy to make pizza dough. No stand mixer? No problem, just roll up those sleeves and grab a wooden spoon. Follow the directions to make the dough, but instead of using a dough hook, stir the dough instead. You still want your dough to form the consistency of a ball. If it is too hard to use the spoon, there's nothing wrong with using your hands to mix it up!

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