There’s a lot you have to do to prepare for a party, from making sure you have enough seating and learning the key tips for hosting cocktail parties to picking out the music and making sure you have enough food. Luckily, the latter can be pretty easy with a bit of research.
You’ll find some of the best and easiest-to-make party foods below, but bear in mind that there are tons more out there, and most are highly customizable and scalable. Basically, no matter which recipe you choose to make, there’s probably a way to make it work perfectly for you and your guests.
Sliders
A nice filling option that can easily be made in bulk is sliders. You choose your preferred type of bread, from buns for smaller groups to rolls for larger ones, a delicious meat like ham or roast beef, and then the perfect cheese like smoked provolone before assembling the sandwiches in a pan, coating them in a glaze or sauce and popping them into the oven.
One of the best parts about sliders outside of their simplicity is how customizable they are. Every single ingredient can be swapped for a different one and the result will be a savory, delicious treat. You could even forego the traditional filling completely and instead do something like pizza sliders. Your only limits are the size of your oven, pans and budget.
Chips and Dip
You can’t go wrong with the classic chips and dip. At its most basic, you buy both the chips and dip from the store and then just make sure each is in the appropriate serving bowl, though this may not work well for all dips. For example, many swear by homemade guacamole or salsa and refuse to touch store-bought stuff as a result. Luckily, the recipes for these dips are pretty simple and easy to follow.
Chips should always be bought from the store though since making them at home can be a time-consuming effort that may leave you running low pretty quick once snacking begins. In short, always buy chips from the store and at least make any guacamole from scratch. Any other dips like cheese can also be bought, though some may give you flack for not making the salsa yourself. Do what’s best for you, your budget and your time.
Cheese Balls
You may have seen massive cheese balls served alongside a ton of crackers at a party table, but you may have also seen mini ones with a pretzel stick poking out of the top.
Cheese balls are one of the most common party options because they’re simple to make and even easier to serve. All you need to do is combine cream cheese with some seasonings, nuts or even fruit; chill it in the fridge; and then roll it in more nuts before setting out to be admired and enjoyed.
Set it alongside some savory, buttery or just salty crackers for the best experience and let the smiles and compliments roll in. You can buy them pre-made from the store, but there are also tons of recipes to be found online that also include advice and variations to help you make the most delicious cheese balls possible.
Pigs in a Blanket
One of the simplest finger foods out there is pigs in a blanket. The savory hot dogs pair well with the more sweet flavor of crescent rolls, and since both can be bought from the store preparation is simple: roll the dogs up in the crescent roll and bake. This simplicity makes them both popular and easy to substitute.
You could easily replace the crescent roll with puffed pastry or even biscuit dough and get an entirely different experience. You could also replace the regular pork hot dogs with beef ones or even sausages to change the flavor and vibe they bring. You could even be a bit fancy and top them with cheese, bacon or both and serve them with a side of cheese dipping sauce. While they may seem simple and even quaint, you can easily change them to fit your needs and ingredients.
Chicken Nuggets
While chicken nuggets may not be the best addition to a more formal party, they can be a great addition to more casual gatherings. They’re not too dissimilar to chips and dip, though there are certainly many advantages to nuggets. For instance, no one will bat an eye if you purchase all of the most popular dips instead of making them by hand.
Ketchup, barbeque sauce, mayonnaise, ranch or even a mix of all of them are good options that are easy to find on store shelves. Chicken nuggets are similarly easy to find in the freezer aisle and no one will question them. However, if you want to impress some people and you have plenty of extra free time, then you can serve homemade nuggets instead.
The only downside is that it can be difficult to make the amount necessary to feed a party, but so long as you prepare and have many other options on offer or even keep an emergency store-bought bag in the freezer, it shouldn’t be a massive issue.
Breadsticks
While breadsticks work especially well when served alongside pizza, they can also be a great addition to just about any party’s snack table. They can be ordered alongside pizza, bought pre-made from the store or made at home and aren’t too complicated. You could cover them in garlic and cheese to make them even more enticing especially when next to a pizza, or you could serve plain ones with marinara sauce as a dip.
While it may seem boring to do this, if you have a lot of slaty, cheesy and greasy goodness also on offer then a plain breadstick could serve as a good palate cleanser. If you’d prefer them to stand out on their own a bit more, then you can find a recipe for mozzarella-stuffed breadsticks and add another cheesy delight to your snack menu.