Throw a pizza party for friends and family

Who doesn’t love pizza? You may think that you’ve outgrown the classic pizza party, but with a little preparation and inspiration, you can bring back a classic event with a customized, homemade twist. This National Pizza Day, throw a memorable pizza party that will end with everyone asking, “when’s the next one?”.

Any excuse is a good one to throw a pizza party

Pizza parties aren't just about the slices; they're about the experience. Imagine the aroma of fresh dough baking in your oven, laughter filling the room, and the joy of creating customized pizzas together. It can be a memorable setting for a birthday or anniversary, a graduation party, or even just to celebrate your appreciation for the beloved and shareable food.

While making pizzas from scratch at home may seem daunting, you can save time and stress by learning to make dough ahead of time, preparing your favorite toppings, and using the right equipment to give everyone their personal pizza to customize, share, and devour. That way, you’ll have more time to enjoy with your guests.

Make your dough ahead of time

The most time-consuming process in making pizza is crafting your own dough: since it requires time to rise, this takes some planning. Fortunately, quick, and efficient pizza dough recipes are out there. After all, you only need four ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, and water and there are fantastic options that yield delicious results in under an hour.

This is all made simpler with help from AI-powered Copilot in the Microsoft Edge sidebar. Simply prompt it with something like, “I’m hosting 20 people for a party and we’ll all be making our own pizza. I want to prepare the dough before the party. What are some recipes I can follow?” Need a gluten-free option? You bet Copilot can help with that too.

Organize and prepare an array of toppings

One of the best aspects of a pizza party is the diverse range of toppings, something for everyone. From classic marinara and mozzarella to adventurous combinations like prosciutto and figs, the options are endless.

While the dough rests, prepare your sauces and toppings. A quick and easy marinara sauce takes little more than diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and spices such as oregano and garlic/onion powder.

Next, prepare your toppings: chop vegetables such as mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions into thin slices. Prepare your meats by crumbling or slicing Italian sausage, dicing sliced ham or chicken, or displaying pepperoni or salami slices on a charcuterie board. Encourage creativity and experimentation by offering unique ingredients like roasted garlic, artichoke hearts, fresh basil, pineapple, or anchovies—the more, the merrier!

Shredded mozzarella is a comforting base but consider cheese blends that you all can make yourselves: parmesan, cheddar, gorgonzola, or goat cheese, for example, which are perfect for a quattro formaggi pizza. Many of these cheeses will need to be grated, which you can do in advance or have your guests add directly onto their pizzas.

Inspire your friends and family to create their own pizza masterpiece

The real magic of a pizza party is in the creativity it can spark. Invite your guests to roll up their sleeves and unleash their inner pizza artist.

Provide each person with a ball of dough and let them stretch, toss, and shape it to their preference. Arrange your prepared toppings in colorful bowls. This not only adds a festive touch, but also makes it easier for everyone to experiment with different combinations, flavors, and presentation. This interactive element makes the gathering a fun-filled pizza-making extravaganza!

Use AI-powered Copilot for pizza recipe inspiration

Feeling stuck on what toppings to choose or how to inspire innovative pizza creations? Enter Copilot, your AI-powered kitchen companion that’s built right into your Microsoft Edge browser. With Copilot, you can explore a multitude of pizza recipes, find creative topping ideas, and even get suggestions based on your group’s preferences.

Just ask Copilot in the Microsoft Edge sidebar any pizza-related prompt, such as:

What ingredients are needed for white clam pizza?
What ingredients do I need for a fast homemade pizza sauce?
What is the difference between New Haven-style pizza and New York pizza?
Provide a recipe for a smoky, garlicky pizza sauce.
What are the most common cheeses used in four-cheese pizza?
What decorations do I need that embody the pizza party theme?

From the anticipation of crafting homemade dough to the excitement of creating custom pizzas, a pizza party is a delightful way to bond with friends and family. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, Copilot in Microsoft Edge can help you throw a crowd-pleasing event for guests of all ages. Try Microsoft Edge today, and with a little prep and a dash of creativity, spark new inspiration for your homemade pizza recipes.