Party Food Ideas: 60 Easy Crowd-Pleasers for Any Party

The best party food can be eaten standing up with a drink in the other hand, made ahead, and loved by everyone from toddlers to grandparents.

Here are 60 party food ideas, grouped so you can build a balanced spread: a few savoury favourites, something fresh, a vegetarian option or two, and something sweet.

Classic savoury finger food

  • Sausage rolls
  • Mini quiches
  • Cocktail sausages with honey and mustard
  • Scotch eggs, halved
  • Chicken skewers
  • Pigs in blankets
  • Cheese straws
  • Mini pork pies
  • Vol-au-vents
  • Crisps and dips

Sandwiches and wraps

  • Egg mayonnaise
  • Ham and mustard
  • Cheese and pickle
  • Coronation chicken
  • Tuna and sweetcorn
  • Smoked salmon and cream cheese
  • Hummus and roasted veg wraps
  • Pinwheel wraps
  • Mini bagels
  • Finger rolls

Vegetarian and vegan options

  • Falafel with dips
  • Vegetable samosas
  • Caprese skewers
  • Stuffed peppers
  • Spring rolls
  • Halloumi fries
  • Bruschetta
  • Crudités with hummus
  • Veggie sausage rolls
  • Pakoras

Fresh and light

  • Watermelon slices
  • Fruit skewers
  • Cherry tomatoes and mozzarella
  • Pasta salad
  • Coleslaw
  • Potato salad
  • Greek salad cups
  • Cucumber bites
  • Grapes and cheese
  • Prawn cocktail cups

Sweet treats

  • Cupcakes
  • Brownie bites
  • Millionaire's shortbread
  • Mini doughnuts
  • Chocolate-dipped strawberries
  • Rice crispy cakes
  • Mini pavlovas
  • Jam tarts
  • Cake pops
  • Fairy cakes

Make-ahead hot food

  • Chilli with rice or nachos
  • Pulled pork with rolls
  • Lasagne trays
  • Curry and rice
  • Jacket potatoes with toppings
  • Mac and cheese

Key things to remember

  • Aim for five or six savoury items, one or two fresh dishes and two or three sweet treats.
  • Label anything containing common allergens.
  • Make the hot food the day before and reheat; it tastes better anyway.
  • Use plenty of small plates and napkins, and put bins where people can find them.

Frequently asked questions

What food should you have at a party?

A mix of savoury finger food, sandwiches, a fresh option, a vegetarian choice and something sweet.

What party food can be made ahead?

Sausage rolls, quiches, pasta salad, brownies and chilli all make ahead well.

How much party food do I need?

See our food and drink per person guide: /blogs/news/how-much-food-and-drink-per-person-for-a-party

What is a good example of party food ideas?

"Cocktail sausages with honey and mustard" is one of 56 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.

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