Have you ever hosted a party for people you’d never met? Or entertained guests who were strangers to one another? Yeah, me too, and it was a good challenge. I had to figure out a way to make everyone comfortable and get the guests to mingle so it wouldn’t be awkward. I went back and forth on themes and then it came to me… a DIY pizza party! It took a little prep work, but once everyone arrived, there was no stress and it was tons of fun.
Here’s how to host your own DIY Pizza Party, the perfect affair to get your guests up, mingling, and involved in the fun.
Buy the dough
Ready-made pizza dough
Ask your favorite pizza place if they will sell dough to you. Of course, you can make it, but why, when those guys are pros? I’ve found that $3-$5/dough ball is about average. You may need to order in advance, so call a few days before your party to secure your special request. Be sure to ask for instructions on how to prep the dough.
Get creative with your toppings
Delicious pizza toppings for days!
Prep your toppings. Get creative here, and go beyond cheese and tomato sauce. I’m talking exotic mushrooms, fig jam, sun-dried tomatoes, BBQ chicken, ricotta cheese, peaches, and bacon. Go for lots of color, and be sure to handle all the chopping and prep work ahead of time.
Make a list of possible combinations to inspire your guests. Here are a few combinations that I came up with:
- Fig & Goat Cheese Pizza: Fig jam, Prosciutto, goat cheese & fresh arugula
- BBQ Pizza: BBQ chicken, cilantro, pepperoncini peppers, onion & cheese
- Pesto Pizza: Pesto sauce, tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, red onions, artichoke hearts & feta cheese
- BLT Pizza: Bacon, fresh tomatoes, cheese & fresh arugula
- Peach & Basil Pizza: Peaches, fresh basil, ricotta cheese & balsamic vinegar
Time to make the pizza
This looks like the makings of a yummy one…
Let the guest toss their own personal pizza. Everyone loves seeing how bad their dough-stretching skills are and it makes for lively conversation. Allow your guests to stretch, spread, and top their pizza masterpieces, and you handle the baking and slicing.
I found these thin pizza baking tins at Target. The perforated bottom gets the crust crispier than a regular baking sheet.
Perforated pizza tins for a crispy crust
Finally! The finished project!
Add a huge Caesar salad, a few bottles of wine, some sparkling water, and you’re set!
Red, white, rosé and you’ve got yourself a pizza party!
I like how you mentioned letting guests spread and top their pizzas. My sister is wanting to have a pizza party at her house this weekend with her friends from the book club. I’ll have to share this with her so she can have the right ingredients.