When it comes to throwing a laid-back, unforgettable pizza party, we took a page straight from our good friend Kevin Hart’s book. Who better to help us out than the guy who knows how to bring the fun and keep it stress-free? (Plus, we’ve got the picture to prove it!)
Let’s talk about entertaining at home for a second. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Do I gotta get the good china out? Where are those napkin rings? Are people gonna judge my placemats?” Stop. Just stop. I’m here to tell you right now—don’t nobody care about your napkin rings, okay? What we’re doing today is so simple, even I could do it without burnin’ the house down. We’re talkin’ about a pizza party. Yep, pizza. You know it. You love it. It’s foolproof, fun, and—here’s the best part—you don’t even have to do all the cookin’! (You're welcome.)
Picture it: a casual, laid-back pizza party where your friends and fam roll in, make their own pizzas, and everybody has a blast. You’re not stressing, nobody’s worried about undercooked lasagna, and best of all, no one’s judging you on your napkin game. This is the kinda party that screams, “I’ve got my life together, but also... let’s keep it real chill.”
Step 1: Get That Dough Ready, Player
Now, if you’re gonna pull off a pizza night, you gotta be ready. And by ready, I mean you can’t be out here trying to make dough when people are walking in the door like, “Where’s the food?” No, no, no. That’s how you end up with a pizza dough frisbee. Don’t be that guy.
Here’s the game plan: Make your dough a day or two ahead of time, and throw it in the fridge. Let it chill out, have a little spa day. Then, on the big day, you take it out, let it rise, and boom—you’ve got pizza dough that’s ready to rock. Just make sure it’s room temp when your guests start getting fancy with their dough tossing, or else you’re gonna end up with dough that fights back. And trust me—you do not want that smoke. Ain’t nobody got time for a dough fight.
If you wanna go big-time pro status, grab an Ankarsrum stand mixer. This bad boy will make dough for a dozen pizzas like it’s nothin’. That’s enough dough to feed your friends, your neighbors, and probably some random folks that’ll show up when they smell pizza. (You know how people do.)
Step 2: Toppings, Baby!
Now let’s talk toppings. You can’t just roll up with a block of cheese and some pepperoni and call it a day. Nope. You need variety, options, some pizzazz! And here’s the key: room temperature toppings. I’m serious. Cold toppings on hot pizza? You’re gonna get soggy, and soggy pizza is basically a crime. It’s like going to a party and leaving without saying bye. You don’t do it.
Get all your toppings ready in advance. You got bacon? Cook it ahead. Sausages? Pre-cook those too. Vegetables? Get them roasted the day before. Then, when it’s pizza time, everything’s ready to go. And don’t forget the pineapple! (Or... maybe forget it, depending on how you feel about pineapple on pizza. I’m just sayin’, it’s controversial.)
Pro tip: Ask your guests ahead of time what they want. Don’t end up in the “pineapple or no pineapple” debate without backup.
Step 3: Saucy, Saucy, Saucy
You can’t just be rollin’ with tomato sauce alone. Nope, you gotta have options. Throw in some white sauce, some pesto—make it look like you’ve got a whole gourmet thing goin’ on. Homemade sauces are best, but hey, no judgment if you grab a jar from the store. I mean, we’re here to have a good time, not stress about your sauce game.
Step 4: Get Fancy with Finishing Oils
You ever notice how the best pizza joints always have those fancy little bottles of oil on the table? Yeah, we’re doing that at home now. Grab some chili oil, garlic oil, maybe even truffle oil if you wanna get bougie with it. Just throw ‘em on the table, and boom—now you’ve upgraded your pizza game. And don’t forget the fresh basil! People will be like, “Ooh, look at you with your fancy self!”
Step 5: The Side Salad Nobody Asked For But Will Appreciate
Look, I know nobody comes to a pizza party for the salad, but trust me, you gotta have one. It’s like insurance. A nice big salad makes it look like you care about balance and health, even though you know we’re here for the carbs. Keep it simple: rocket, shaved asparagus, pistachios, Parmesan... boom, done. Throw a lemon vinaigrette on there, or leave it on the side so nobody can complain about sogginess. You’re welcome.
Step 6: Drinks—Keep ‘Em Simple
Don’t get crazy with the drinks, okay? Pizza’s already a flavor explosion, so you don’t need to be mixin’ up fancy cocktails on top of that. Keep it chill with some house wine or ice-cold beer. If you wanna throw in a spritz or two, go for it. But let’s not overcomplicate things. This is a pizza party, not a cocktail hour.
Step 7: Dessert (AKA The After-Party)
You don’t need to go all out with dessert. After stuffing our faces with pizza, nobody’s trying to eat a seven-layer cake. Keep it light with some sorbet or a fruit salad. If you’re feeling fancy, add a little mint and lime. But hey, if chocolate’s non-negotiable (and for me, it usually is), then make a tiramisu the day before. It’s easy, it’s delicious, and everyone will love you for it.
And there you have it! A pizza party that’s fun, easy, and stress-free. No napkin rings required. Now get out there, toss some dough, and be the pizza party legend your friends didn’t know they needed!
