Weekend Entertaining: Outdoor Wine & Pizza Party

This weekend, invite friends over for a hands-on, grill-your-own pizza party. Pizza takes on an entirely new character when cooked on the grill or in a pizza oven outdoors, with a slightly smoky flavor and crisp, blistered crust. Paired with robust wines on a warm evening, this party menu is satisfying and simple to pull off — especially if you prep pizza dough and toppings the night before.

Begin with a simple spread of antipasti for snacking. Then, set out dough and toppings for the delicious pizzas on our menu, fill guests’ glasses and let the pizza making and wine tasting begin. Fire up the pizza in batches, and let everyone have fun trying all flavorful versions. Serve pizzas directly off the pizza peels or on wooden boards for a relaxed feel.

See the full menu below, and check out our wine pairing picks.

Antipasti Delicious starters don’t have to be time-consuming. Bocconcini and Tomato Skewers are a creative twist on the traditional caprese, and you can’t go wrong with easy, flavorful Marinated Olives.

Salsiccia Pizza with Broccoli Rabe Cook the sausage and broccoli rabe ahead, and the rest of the toppings come together in no time. For a stronger kick, use spicy Italian sausage instead of sweet.

Grilled Margherita Pizza This classic pizza is always a crowd-pleaser (and a great vegetarian option). The tomatoes and arugula are added fresh, minimizing prep time.

Grilled Asparagus and Prosciutto Pizza Delicate asparagus and savory prosciutto make a wonderful flavor combinations. Blanch the asparagus pieces quickly, then set them out with the other pizza toppings.

Grilled Pizza with Salami, Olives and Goat Cheese Pit a handful of marinated olives from your antipasti, and have them on hand for pizza toppings, too. Goat cheese adds tanginess to the milder mozzarella.

Grilled Potato and Pancetta Pizza with Arugula Potatoes on pizza? It may sound surprising, but this traditional Italian topping provides a nice contrast of textures.

Dessert Frozen desserts are ideal for outdoor entertaining — and gelato is perfect for a pizza party! Strawberries macerated in balsamic vinegar make a fresh, not-too-sweet accompaniment in this Olive Oil Gelato with Balsamic Strawberries.

About the author: Olivia Terenzio grew up in Mississippi, where she cultivated a love of sweet potatoes, crawfish and cloth napkins at a young age. A passion for sharing food with friends and family led her into the kitchen and later to culinary school, where she learned how to roast a chicken and decorate a cake like a pro. As a Williams-Sonoma blog editor, she’s now lucky enough to be talking, writing and thinking about food all day.