How to Host a Pizza Party

Learn how to host a pizza party for your next celebration! Whether it’s a birthday or family gathering, or a commendation for a team win, these pizza party ideas are an easy way to make sure your event is a success.

Hosting a Pizza Party

You don’t have to wait for National pizza party day to host a pizza party. (Or course, this holiday, which falls on the third Friday in May, is another great excuse to dig in!) Host a party or pizza night anytime with our easy tips and ideas for the menu, invitations, and more!

Reasons to Have a Pizza Party

Anytime is a great time to host a pizza party! Here are some of the top reasons to host a pizza party for your next shindig.

• Everyone loves pizza! This delectable meal choice is a huge hit with every generation — from children to adults. It also requires very little effort. (Unless, of course, you’re making pizzas from scratch at home.)
• Pizza parties are budget friendly. As a food option, pizza is a lot less expensive than most other party food alternatives, especially when feeding large groups of people. Therefore, if your expenses are limited, you can still have blast without breaking the bank.
• There are so many different varieties of pizza from flatbreads and veggie to gluten free and vegan. Therefore, pizza makes it simple to accommodate a wide range of food allergies or dietary requests.
• Pizza is portable. So, it’s easy to have a party at home or on the go! Throw a party at a local park, a destination location, or anywhere you can dream up.
• Pizza parties are about as low maintenance as you can get! It’s easy to serve and it doesn’t require a planned set up. Just grab some paper plates and your favorite pizza slicer to feed a crowd.

What Do I Need for a Pizza Party?

Unlike dinner parties, serving pizza requires less planning and fewer utensils to pull off. You can make it as minimal or as extravagant as you like. To throw a basic pizza party, here are the things you will need:

• Pizza Slicer: Pizza slicers are a must to divide your pizza into individual servings. We love using personalized pizza cutters to make a statement. Some great options include the stainless-steel pizza cutter and serving tongs or pizza serving set from LifeLong Gifts. Or, for large groups or promotional parties, be sure to check out the pizza cutter wheels from Magnets USA ® to make serving food simple, yet effective.
• Plates: Nothing fancy is needed here. Leave the dinner plates in your cabinet and opt for paper plates to keep cleanup quick and easy.
• Napkins: Pizza can be messy, especially when kids are involved. Therefore, you’ll want to have plenty of paper towels or napkins on hand.
• Decorations: While not a necessity, party decorations are a fun way to liven up your celebration! You can make them pizza-themed, decorate as you normally would for a birthday party or tailgate, or deck out your party space with simple streamers and balloons.
• Drinks: Eating is bound to make your guests thirsty! Be sure to provide age-appropriate drinks at your party to help wash the pizza down.
• Pizza Party Invitations: While email invitations and social media invites are a popular way to plan a pizza party, sending out traditional paper invitations can make the event feel extra special.  Or send out a personalized thank you card to attendees once the party is over.

How Much Pizza Do I Need for a Party?

The amount of pizza you need to host a pizza party depends on the number of guests that will be attending. The great thing about pizza, however, is that it makes great leftovers. Therefore, you can safely order more than you need to accommodate unexpected guests or big eaters.
 
There are several factors that go into calculating the correct amount of food to feed a crowd. These include the appetite of the attendees — children and adults tend to eat varying amounts of food — as well as the size of the pizzas you order.
 
A large 16” pizza pie is typically cut into 8 slices. Children generally eat two slices on average, while adults eat three. Using this math, you’d want to order three pizzas for every eight adults. For kids, you’d need one pizza for every four children.

Pizza Party Menu Ideas

The only party food you really need to host a pizza party are those pies! Therefore, you want to be sure to include vegetarian or gluten free options for guests with dietary restrictions. These mini eggplant margherita pizzas are a great option that works for both.
 
However, in addition to pizza, there are other menu items you can add to the event. After all, most people delight in digging into those side dishes as well!

What are Good Apps for a Pizza Party?

Here are some other exciting menu ideas for sides and appetizers for the next pizza party you host:

• Chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers and breadsticks are ideal for a game day or tailgate party. Add chips and jalapeño ranch dip to the mix and you’re set!
• Authentic Mexican guacamole with chips and frozen mango margaritas are perfect for summer entertaining. (Try this mango and pineapple mocktail recipe for the kids!)
• Patriotic marshmallow pops and a watermelon jicama salad are great for a Memorial Day or Fourth of July pizza party celebration.
• Popsicles and ice cream make a delicious dessert for summer birthday parties once the pizza is gone.
• Create an upscale adult pizza party with gourmet pizzas served with an antipasto platter, or bruschetta bar, and wine.
• Summer garden salads, like a roasted tomato caprese salad or a simple beet and spinach salad, and pasta salads, such as this cheese tortellini pasta salad, are wonderful additions for hot days or summer pool parties.

Pizza Party Decorations and Ideas

How you decorate for a pizza party depends largely upon the type of party you are hosting as well as your guest list. However, following we’ve provided some examples of popular pizza party themes along with their associated decorating ideas.
 

• To host a classic pizza party, decorate your space with a red and white checked gingham tablecloth, parmesan shakers, and other elements that inspire classic pizzeria vibes.
• If you’re celebrating the end of a season for a sports team, decorate the pizza party with paper garland, cups, napkins, and plates that represent the sport played.
• For a birthday party, you can decorate your pizza party with traditional birthday party décor. This includes streamers and balloons, and colorful cups, plates, and napkins.
• To host a football or Super Bowl pizza party, consider an inflatable field goal post cooler, football-shaped balloons, a turf table runner or tablecloth, football food picks, and helmet shaped banners.

Don’t forget to thank your guests for being a pizza the party once your event is over. These promotional pizza slicers make wonderful party favors to commemorate the celebration.
 
Need an effective way to connect with clients, build relationships and convert leads? Personalize one of our patented pizza wheels today! Shop our line of branded promotional products now at Magnets USA® and LifeLong Gifts™. You can also subscribe to the Magnets USA® newsletter to stay up to date on current specials and promotions. Or  follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.