Whether you’re hosting a formal party or just throwing together snacks for drinks with friends, we’ve got ideas for transforming carryout into crowd-pleasing cuisine. Everyone will assume your sink is stacked with dirty pots and pans. (And if you keep them out of the kitchen, they’ll never know the truth.)

Tiny-Size Pizzas
Start with: A large cheese pizza. (Ask for it unsliced and, if possible, slightly underbaked.)

To make: Avoiding the crust, cut out mini pizzas with round cookie or biscuit cutters. Heat the rounds at 400º F for about 5 minutes. Top with slices of olives, marinated mushrooms, chopped prosciutto, an anchovy fillet, or fresh herbs (such as basil, flat-leaf parsley, rosemary, thyme, or oregano).