17 Easy Yet Impressive Party Food Ideas
Looking for some Easy Party Food Ideas for your next get-together? Whether it’s New Year’s Eve, a summer cookout, or any other occasion, you can’t go wrong with any of these easy yet impressive party food recipes!
The Best Party Food Ideas for All Occasions
Looking for some party appetizer recipes for your New Year’s Eve celebration? Here are 17 Easy Yet Impressive Party Food Ideas, featuring some of our favorite eats!
We like to gather friends and family together, spring, summer, fall, and winter. And I especially love this time of year, with all the holiday gatherings – when party food is a must. From Christmas to New Year’s – and then let’s not forget about all the football games, including the Super Bowl grand finale.
You’ll find a wide variety of recipes and flavors. And it’s true, some of the easiest party foods are the best ones!
Tips for Preparing Party Appetizers In Advance
If you’re hosting a party, chances are you’re hoping to get as many things prepared in advance as possible. While specific recipes have their own make-ahead instructions, here are some general tips:
- Prep ahead, bake before serving. In the case of baked dips and some other appetizers that should be served warm, you can do the prep in advance, then cover and refrigerate. Bring it back to room temperature, then bake before serving.
- Assemble in advance. In cases of things like charcuterie boards and salads, you can often assemble them in advance and cover them. Or, at the very least, cut, chop, and slice beforehand, and then assemble closer to party time.
- Bake desserts in advance. If your menu includes cookies, pies, cheesecakes, cakes, or most other desserts, you can likely bake it at least a day in advance. And many easy-to-make treats can be frozen and thawed with perfect success.
- Make a pitcher cocktail. When thinking about making appetizers in advance, also think about making cocktails in advance. If you’re serving cocktails to a group, a pitcher cocktail is often the way to go as it saves time and “mess” in the kitchen. Check out how to make margaritas for a crowd and my Prosecco Margaritas recipe. Many of my cocktail recipes also include pitcher measurements!
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17 Easy Yet Impressive Party Food Ideas
Looking for some easy party food ideas for your next get-together? Whether it's New Year's Eve, a summer cookout, or any other occasion, you can't go wrong with any of these easy yet impressive party food recipes!
These Bacon Wrapped Scallops are a simple yet elegant party appetizer. Perfect for New Year's Eve when you want something a little fancy and super delish, with minimal prep.
Creamy Buffalo chicken dip is always a party hit. This super easy recipe includes canned chicken, blue cheese, and Frank's Redhot - a fun dip with all the flavors of your favorite Buffalo chicken wings!
This Shrimp Dip is one of my all-time favorite savory party dips! It's especially perfect for the holidays, but we serve this all year long. The shrimp add an elegant touch, yet the dip is super simple + takes just a few minutes to prepare. ALSO! If you like shrimp, do check out this reader favorite, Margarita Grilled Shrimp. And Grilled Shrimp Cocktail is also super fun!
This Christmas Charcuterie board can be easily adapted for any holiday - from New Year's to Valentine's Day! Just change the Christmas tree shape to fit the holiday or occasion. Also check out my Holiday Charcuterie Board for even more ideas!
These Hot Honey Chicken Wings are the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. They're baked, not fried, with thin and crispy skin. These Crispy Baked Chicken Wings with Oyster Sauce have also been a longtime family favorite!
Made with Italian sausage and pepper jack cheese, this hearty Cheesy Corn and Sausage Dip is loaded with flavor. Serve with chips or crackers for a quick and easy party appetizer.
Armadillo Eggs are an unexpected addition to any party, with cheese-stuffed jalapenos wrapped in sausage and bacon. They're like jalapeno poppers...but better!
These Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza Rolls take turn two food favorites into party food. They're a hit with kids and adults alike, and super easy to customize to your own flavor preferences.
Bacon Wrapped Smokies - 3 Ways! Whether you choose the original bacon wrapped smokies with brown sugar, or shake things up by adding some pineapple or jalapeno slices, you can't go wrong with this easy cocktail weiner recipe. Also be sure to check out my Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket!
Sweet, salty, and perfect for sharing, these crunchy Homemade Beer Nuts are the perfect addition to any party. They're made with just 4 ingredients and are easy to prepare in advance.
My mom's Cheesy Beef Taco Dip recipe is always a hit! Made with ground beef, Rotel, taco seasoning, and cheddar cheese, this dip is easy to make and always disappears fast!
Million Dollar Dip is creamy, cheesy, and super easy to make. With cheddar cheese, bacon, and almonds, it’s a fun party dip that everyone will love. Enjoy with your favorite crackers or sturdy cut vegetables!
Bring this classic fair food to the party with just a few ingredients. These crunchy Fried Pickles are fun and easy to make. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping. If you like pickles, also check out my Dill Pickle Dip!
These Grilled Mini Sweet Peppers are one of our family's all-time favorite appetizers. They add a pop of fresh color and flavor to any gathering.
This Reuben Dip has all the flavors of the classic sandwich in dip form. It's baked to cheesy, ooey-gooey perfection. Irresistible! If you like hot dips, also check out my Spinach Artichoke Dip and my Ooey-Gooey Pizza Dip!
Flavorful Shrimp Ceviche features tender shrimp marinated in lime juice, along with fresh bell pepper, cucumber, jalapeno, onion, and cilantro. It comes together in just 30 minutes for a light and refreshing appetizer or meal!
With Italian sausage, cream cheese, Parmesan, and mozzarella, these Italian Stuffed Jalapenos are extra cheesy with just the right amount of heat. Such a great party app!
