I love throwing parties, but I also love knowing that my guests will have a good time. Food is an essential part of any party, and when you have the right combination of ingredients, it can make for some truly memorable moments. That’s why I’m bringing you my top ten favorite ideas for party food—that way you’ll be able to throw the best party ever!
Party food ideas
Party food ideas are a must for your next party. Let’s face it, the best way to make sure that your guests leave with a full belly is to serve delicious and fun food!
If you’re having a large gathering, you’ll want plenty of options. However, if you’re hosting a small get-together with close friends and family members, one dish should suffice. No matter what type of event you’re planning, there are plenty of options out there for everyone!
Here we’ve put together our top 10 favorite party foods that will be sure to please anyone—and they all happen to be easy recipes too!
You may also be interested in 10 Best Simple Engagement Party Ideas
1. Sausage and Pancake Dippers

- Sausage and Pancake Dippers
Serves: 10
- 5 cups pancake batter, prepared according to package directions (I like Aunt Jemima)
- 1 tablespoon butter or oil for frying the sausages in
- 1 pound ground sausage, browned and drained before serving (I used Italian sausage)
- ketchup, mustard and maple syrup or honey
1. Prep the pancake batter according to the directions on your package of choice. Heat a griddle or pan over medium heat and grease with butter or oil, as needed.
2. When the pan is hot, use a ladle to pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot surface. Cook until bubbles start to form on top, then flip and cook the other side for another minute or so. 3. Remove from heat and keep warm in an oven set at 200 degrees Fahrenheit if you’re making all pancakes at once.
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground sausage, breaking it apart with your spoon. When the sausage is cooked through and browned on all sides, remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. This step can also be done in advance if needed.
5. To serve, place a few pancakes on each plate and let everyone build their own dippers. Some options include spreading the pancake with ketchup or mustard, then dipping it in the sausage-flavored syrup you used to cook the meat in. Or spread some maple syrup or honey on the pancake, top with sausage and dip in ketchup or mustard.
2. Chicken Pasta Salad
- Chicken Pasta Salad
When you’re looking for an easy dish that can be made in advance and is versatile enough to be served at a party, look no further than chicken pasta salad! It’s got everything your guests will love: protein from the chicken, carbs from the pasta and cheese, plus fresh herbs and vegetables for added flavor.
- Here are some of the ingredients you’ll need:
- 1 pound cooked boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces (about 3/4 cup)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved lengthwise or quartered if large (about 10 or so)
- 4 ounces pepperoni slices thinly sliced (about 2-1/2 cups)
- To make this recipe even easier on yourself, use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken breast instead of cooking it yourself! If you’re feeling extra fancy, add some olives or capers to make this recipe even more flavorful – they’re both perfect additions when paired with other salty flavors like feta cheese as well as vinegar which helps balance out all that saltiness too 😉
3. Mummified Meatballs
To make Mummified Meatballs, wrap bacon around meatballs and secure with toothpicks. Bake for about 15 minutes at 400 degrees F until the bacon is crispy. Serve hot or cold!
4. Cheeseburger Sliders
- Cheeseburger Sliders
You’ll need:
- 1 pound ground beef, preferably 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat
- 1 small onion, sliced into rings
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic (4 to 5 cloves) or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons ketchup (plus more if needed)
If you want to make your cheeseburgers as low-fat as possible, you can substitute ground turkey for the beef in this recipe. Sliders typically use American cheese, but if that’s not your favorite or don’t have it on hand, Cheddar cheese will work just as well.
5. Pizza Pastry Puffs
- Make a pizza dough.
- Spread pizza sauce on the dough.
- Add your favorite toppings: cheese, sausage, pepperoni, green peppers and onions are great!
- Bake until golden brown (about 10 minutes). Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping!
6. Mummy Dogs

Mummy dogs are super easy to make, and you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen right now. They’re also great because they can be made out of hot dogs or sausages, so they’re party-friendly no matter what kind of diet your guests are on!
- Take a hot dog or sausage and wrap it in a few strips of bacon (you may need more than one strip depending on the size). This will be the body for your mummy dog.
- Use toothpicks to make eyes on either side of the head—I suggest using two different sizes for an extra cute effect.
- Attach a piece of cheese (or any other small piece) as a nose between those eyes using another toothpick. You can use anything really—it’s just not edible beyond this stage, so try not to get too attached!
- Use another toothpick to attach some black pepper as hair along either side of its face.
Take this idea and run with it! You could use salami or pepperoni for the body, add ketchup eyes (or even guacamole), and experiment with different dips as well. Use canapes instead of hot dogs to make little mummy dogs on a stick! The possibilities are endless—just be sure to keep an eye out so none of these guys sneak up on you while they’re chilling at room temperature.
7. Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Balls
Cheese balls are great because they can be made quickly and easily. You can make them with any kind of cheese you have on hand, but if you want to get fancy, try an aged white cheddar or even some Parmesan cheese.
To make the balls: In a bowl add all ingredients except for the breadcrumbs (1/3 cup flour; 1/8 cup sugar; 1 egg white). Mix well until combined. Roll into small balls and place on a plate covered with plastic wrap until ready to serve.
Serve with crackers or chips for dipping into juices from melted cheese!
8. “Boo”-nana Pops
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of marshmallows
- 1 cup of chocolate chips or chunks, depending on how thick you want them (I prefer the latter)
Preparation: Once you have all your ingredients, simply follow this process:
- Melt your chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave until melted. Don’t let it burn! If you’re making little popsicles from this recipe and not just coating them with chocolate, then use a fork to stir the melted chocolate into the marshmallow mixture until smooth and creamy. You may need to add more milk if yours is too thick; add some if needed but don’t overdo it! 2. Pour out into small bowls or paper cups and let sit for about 10 minutes before serving so that they set up nicely (this will help prevent accidents). 3. When ready to eat them up—and who isn’t?!—remove from freezer by placing each pop on parchment paper lined baking sheet; then place another sheet underneath them so they don’t slide around while eating :).
9. Fruit Blood Bags

Fruit Blood Bags
- To make fruit blood bags, you will need (per person): 2 kiwis, 1 melon wedge, 1 banana and a handful of strawberries.
- Cut the kiwis into small pieces and remove the seeds from both sides using a spoon or knife. Place them in a bowl on a bed of ice cubes so that they don’t turn brown. Slice your melon wedge into thin slices and put some lemon juicer on top so it looks like it’s been bitten off by someone! Get creative with what kind of fruit goes inside your bag: try apples instead if you have them lying around at home! And don’t forget to add some fake blood for extra effect!
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10. Taco Graveyard Casserole
A casserole is a baked dish that contains layers of ingredients, such as meat and cheese. Taco Graveyard Casserole is a layered dish with taco meat, beans, corn and cheese. It’s also called taco lasagna. This dish is great for parties because it can be made ahead of time and reheated just before serving!
Taco Graveyard Casserole
You’ll Need:
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning mix (or homemade recipe)
¼ cup water or broth
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese (or Monterey Jack if you prefer)
2 cans refried beans (16 oz each), or 2 cups homemade refried beans (see note below)
3 cups frozen corn kernels
½ cup sour cream
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon butter
chopped fresh cilantro to garnish optional salsa to serve on the side optional toppings: guacamole or Pico de Gallo
1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain off any excess grease and return to the heat. Add the taco seasoning mix and water or broth to the pan, stirring well to combine. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the sour cream, milk and butter. Set aside.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Spread ½ cup of the refried beans in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with half of the taco meat mixture, then sprinkle with half of the corn and cheese. Repeat layers using remaining taco meat and corn, then top with remaining refried beans.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, until the casserole is cooked through and bubbling. Remove from oven, sprinkle with green onions and serve immediately. Serve with the sour cream mixture, salsa (if using) and guacamole or Pico de Gallo (if using).
FYI: If you prefer not to use refried beans from a can, you can make your own very easily in a slow cooker. Just add two cups of dried pinto beans plus 8 cups of water to a slow cooker. Cook on high for 8 hours, until the beans are very soft, then mash them. This will make about 6 cups of refried beans. Did you make this recipe?
Try out one of these ideas for your next party!
Try out one of these ideas for your next party!
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients or try new recipes—you never know what you’ll discover.
These 10 party food ideas are simple, fun food that everyone will love! They’re perfect for any occasion and can be made in advance so you don’t have to worry about cooking while your guests are around. Whether you’re having a Halloween party or just want to feed your family some yummy treats, these recipes should help you out. We hope they inspire some creative dishes of your own!
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