It’s not always easy to come up with a dinner plan that accommodates a group of family or friends, especially if some of them have certain food allergies and/or restrictions. This why a “Make Your Own Pizza” party is an ideal solution! You can accommodate a large group or a small gathering. Got a food allergy? No problem. Your guest can choose what to put on their pizza. Lactose intolerant? Leave off the cheese and load up on the other goodies! Wheat intolerance? There are numerous gluten free pizza dough options out there! Your guests can customize their pizza any way they choose.
Not only are homemade pizzas delicious, making pizza allows your guests to get creative and is great conversation starter! In this post, we will guide you step by step on how to create a fun and delicious no-fuss dinner that will fit every just about any budget and taste.
Step 1: Start with pre-made dough.
If you do not have time to make your own dough (and many of us don’t) purchase some pre-made dough. Contact your local pizza parlor and ask if you can purchase pre-made dough (tell them the number of guests you are hosting so they can estimate how much). If this is not an option, many grocery stores will carry pre-made dough. Figure this out in advance so you are not scrambling the day of your party.
Step Two: Prep your dough in advance of your party.
Follow these dough tips from slice.seriouseats.com (visit this page for more great pizza tips!)
- Make more than you need: Have at least 1 1/2 times the number of dough balls or shells as you have expected guests. Everybody loves leftovers, and you’re inevitably going to have a botched pie or two that will need to be reworked.
- Make your dough at least a day in advance. Dough that’s had a three to five day rest in the refrigerator will be tastier and easier to work with than freshly made dough. It also makes set up for you planning simple.
- Cold dough is impossible to work with. Pull your dough out, portion it into individual size balls, then let them sit on a lightly floured cutting board covered with plastic wrap and a towel for at least a couple hours before your guests arrive so it’ll be in prime condition to stretch.
Step Three: Offer a simple tomato pizza sauce
Start with a basic homemade pizza sauce. If you are feeling adventurous, add in a couple of fun alternative sauces like BBQ Pizza Sauce, Bechamel (white sauce) or Pesto.
Step Four: Set out a variety of toppings for your guests to choose from.
Prep these in advance. Start with the basics (cheese, pepperoni) and kick things up with some unexpected ingredients (see below). Let your imagination go wild!
- Cheese: fresh mozzarella, feta, smoked cheddar, parmesan, ricotta
- Meat: Prosciutto, pepperoni, Italian Sausage, diced chicken breast
- Veggies: Sliced tomato, minced garlic, Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives , Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes, Jalapeño Stuffed Olives, Garlic Stuffed Olives, Sliced Greek Kalamata Olives, Sliced Peperoncini, Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, fresh herbs, mushrooms, Sliced Tamed Jalapeños, artichoke hearts, Sliced Hot Cherry Peppers, Roasted Bell Pepper Strips , diced onions, etc.
Step Five: Let your guests assemble their pizzas.
Depending on the number of guests you have, you can stagger the number of people assembling the pizzas to accommodate your space and your oven.
Bake 2-3 pizzas at a time for 10-12 minutes at 425 degrees. Enjoy and Repeat as necessary!