Pizza is the go-to party food for good reason. It feeds a crowd, it suits most tastes, it needs no cutlery and it arrives ready to eat. Still, a great pizza party takes a little planning. Order too little and you run out, choose the wrong toppings and half of it goes untouched, and leave the call too late and the food arrives after the guests get hungry.

Follow these six steps and your next pizza party will run smoothly.

Plan your pizzas in thirds: crowd-pleasers, something hearty and something vegetarian.

Step 1: Confirm Your Guest List and Timing

Start with the basics:

  • How many guests? Include adults who are coming along with children, and add one or two extra for last-minute arrivals.
  • Who are they? A team of hungry teenagers eats very differently from a group of young children or an office lunch.
  • When do you want to eat? Pick a time for the food to arrive, ideally a little after guests get there, so the pizza is hot when people are ready.
  • How long is the party? For longer events, consider ordering in two rounds so the second batch arrives fresh.

Step 2: Work Out How Much Pizza You Need

The basic formula is: number of guests multiplied by slices per person, divided by slices per pizza. Most adults eat two to three slices, young children one to two, and big appetites four or more. If you are serving plenty of sides, plan on about one slice less per person.

For a full breakdown with a planning table, read our guide on how much pizza to order for a party.

Step 3: Choose a Mix of Toppings

Variety keeps everyone happy. A simple way to plan is to split your order into thirds:

  • One third crowd-pleasers: cheese and pepperoni pizzas that almost everyone will eat, including kids.
  • One third hearty or specialty: a meat-lover's style pizza with sausage, bacon or ground beef, or a specialty such as the Spicy BBQ Chicken or Philly Cheese Steak.
  • One third vegetarian: mushrooms, green peppers, onions, olives and tomatoes, or the Mediterranean specialty pizza.

For a party of 20, that might look like three pepperoni pizzas, two hearty pizzas and two vegetarian pizzas. Keep spicy toppings, like hot peppers, to one pizza so guests can choose. Our guide to popular pizza toppings has more combination ideas.

Step 4: Plan for Dietary Needs

Ask about dietary needs when guests reply to your invitation. It is much easier to plan ahead than to scramble on the day.

  • Vegetarian guests: make sure at least one pizza has no meat, and keep it separate so slices do not get mixed. See our vegetarian pizza ideas.
  • Gluten-free guests: Franko's offers a small gluten-free pizza with up to 4 items. If someone has celiac disease, tell us when you order so we can talk about how it is prepared.
  • Lactose intolerance: lactose-free cheese is on our topping list.
  • Allergies: mention any food allergies when you place the order.

When the food arrives, label the boxes so guests know what is what.

Step 5: Add Sides and Drinks

Sides stretch the order and give guests choice. Popular party additions include:

  • Chicken wings in a mild and a hot flavour. Read our guide to pairing pizza and wings.
  • Garlic strips with cheese or garlic bread, which are easy to share.
  • Fries, onion rings or mozzarella sticks for snacking.
  • A salad for something fresh.

For drinks, a 2 litre pop pours about eight 250 mL glasses. Plan on at least one bottle for every four to six guests, plus water. Do not forget plates, napkins, cups and a few rolls of paper towels.

Step 6: Place Your Order Early

For any large order, call ahead instead of ordering at the last minute. When you call, have this ready:

  1. The number of pizzas, sizes and toppings.
  2. Any wings, sides and drinks.
  3. The time you need the food.
  4. Whether it is for pickup or delivery, and the address if it is being delivered.
  5. Any dietary needs or allergies.

Franko's menu notes that large quantity discounts are available, so ask about them when you call (519) 676-0777. Find out more on our party and group orders page. For delivery, check the in-town and out-of-town charges on our pizza delivery page.

Party Day Checklist

  • Order confirmed, with a pickup or delivery time
  • Plates, napkins, cups and paper towels ready
  • Space cleared on a table for the boxes
  • Labels or sticky notes for vegetarian and gluten-free pizzas
  • Drinks chilled
  • Containers ready for leftovers, refrigerated within two hours

With the planning done, you can relax and enjoy the party. The pizza will take care of itself.

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