Tips for Hosting a Pizza Party

Written by Dan Hall, aka mozza_fella

Pizza parties are fun by nature, but hosting one can be stressful - especially if you’re juggling cooking, entertaining, and cleanup. Here’s my go-to guide for throwing a pizza party where everyone has fun, including you.

Snacks and Sides

Pizza is the star, but it helps to have light finger foods ready while guests wait. Think olives, bruschetta, charcuterie, or a big salad. Dips like whipped feta or hummus are also great with dough strips (just slice a dough ball into strips and quickly bake). These little bites keep guests happy while the pizzas finish baking.

Parbake or Not?

Parbaking (cooking pizza 90% of the way and storing it for later) can be a lifesaver for feeding a crowd. It lets you prep a lot ahead of time, but you’ll need space to store the pizzas until guests arrive. You can also try the ice cube method or blind bake an untopped pizza using a metal plate over stretched dough to keep things simple.

Whatever method you choose, remember: it’s a pizza party, not a restaurant. Your guests aren’t expecting lightning-fast service!

Get Guests Involved

Don’t cook alone while everyone else chats. Set up topping stations with ingredients and show guests how to stretch and top their pizzas. This turns dinner into an activity and lets everyone join in the fun. One of my favourite things is teaching friends and family to make their own pizza - it’s joyful, social, and takes the pressure off you.

Topping Station Setup

If you’re using something like the Ooni Topping Station, prep your ingredients in advance and keep them chilled until needed. Use a long table or counter and arrange items logically: sauce, cheese, meats, veggies, etc. Provide spoons, ladles, and tongs so guests can build pizzas quickly without making a mess. This setup is a game-changer if you’re cooking a lot of pies.

Optimizing Your Cook

Depending on your oven, you might cook more than one pizza at a time. Stagger them by a few seconds to avoid burning and maintain a smooth workflow. Once a batch is cooked, stretch and top the next batch while the oven recovers heat.

Managing Stone Temperature

If cooking multiple pizzas quickly, give the stone a few minutes to recover between bakes to prevent pale or undercooked bottoms. An Ooni Infrared Thermometer helps monitor temperatures. Also, make sure you have enough fuel to keep your oven going throughout the party!

Different Dough Styles

Feeling adventurous? Mix it up with different dough styles. Detroit-style pizzas are ideal for parbaking, NYC-style pizzas reheat well, and both are forgiving for larger parties. Each style can add variety and excitement to your menu.

Making Large Batches of Dough

Scaling up dough requires the right container and attention to ratios. Use baker’s percentages to maintain consistency; this avoids unpredictable results when multiplying small recipes. Precision is key - guests notice good dough!

Keeping Pizzas Warm and Crisp

Use wire racks or mesh screens instead of trays to prevent soggy bottoms. Reheat pizzas gently in a low oven rather than leaving them in a turned-off oven. Let cooked pizzas rest briefly before slicing so steam can escape - this keeps them crisp.

If you plan to use coolers or takeaway containers, know that they trap steam and can make pizza soggy quickly.

Final Thoughts

Remember why you’re hosting a pizza party: to share great food with great people. Have fun, don’t stress, and get your guests involved. Burn a pizza or poke a hole in one? It happens! Take a breath, laugh it off, and get back to the fun - it’s all part of the experience.