Anyone who has ever hosted a party knows
this conundrum all too well: what kind of food is best to serve to your guests?
Or if your guests offer to bring food, what should you tell them to bring? What
makes a good party food?
First and foremost, it has to be
delicious. Next, it needs to be quick and easy to eat and shareable. People are
walking around, having conversations and carrying drinks in their hands. So,
the food cannot be anything too cumbersome, clunky or messy. Foods that require
several pieces of silverware, lots of napkins or two hands to eat are not ideal
party foods. On your end, party food should also be easy to make as you’re
going to be preparing it for lots of people. Here are some great ideas for easy
yet incredibly tasty dishes that you can serve at your next party.
Party Dips
Dips are some of the best party foods;
they are fun, easy and the ultimate crowd-pleasers. Just put out a bowl of dip
and surround it with chips, crackers, veggies, pita, pretzels or anything else
dippable. That way everyone can pass by and take as much as they please.
Whether it be salsa, guacamole, bruschetta, hummus or just some classic chip
dip, there is no shortage of incredibly easy, incredibly tasty dips that your
guests will be sure to love. Here are some delicious dips to try at your next
gathering.
French Onion Chip Dip
| Rating: 4.5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $13.00 |
| Prep Time: 20 Minutes | Cook Time: 20 Minutes | Additional Time: 15 Minutes | Total Time: 55 Minutes |
Everyone has had chip dip from a tub
before but making your own chip dip is easy and so much more delicious than
store-bought. This is a riff on the classic French Onion Chip Dip where deeply
caramelized onions are flavored with thyme, garlic, red wine and cracked pepper
before being folded into sour cream. Think of this dip as almost like a dry
French Onion Soup, rich and full of complex, profound flavors. Serve this with
your favorite brand of potato chips.
Ingredients:
2 ounces (56 grams) butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 large yellow onions, diced medium
4 cloves of garlic, minced
4 sprigs thyme
1/4 cup red wine
2 cups sour cream
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
potato chips for serving
Directions:
1. Heat butter and olive oil over medium
heat in a sauté pan. Add onions, garlic, and thyme. Cook for 15 minutes on
medium heat until onions are deep brown and caramelized.
2. Add the red wine to the pan and cook
until absorbed.
3. Remove the onions from the heat, take
out the thyme sprigs and allow the onions to cool for 15 minutes.
4. Mix the cooked onions with the sour
cream and Worcestershire sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Serve chilled with your favorite potato
chips.
Cream Cheese with Hot Pepper Jelly
| Rating: 5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $12.00 |
| Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Cook Time: 20 Minutes | Additional Time: 20 Minutes | Total Time: 55 Minutes |
Cream cheese with hot pepper jelly is a fun
and interactive party appetizer. To make your own delicious pepper jelly,
simply sauté some diced hot peppers, onions and garlic then add some sugar,
salt and vinegar and allow the mixture to cook down until it reaches a thick,
jelly-like consistency. Then pour this jelly over some softened cream cheese
and serve with a butter knife and some crackers. The jelly has an acidic,
tangy, sweet-spicy flavor that perfectly cuts through the rich, fatty cream
cheese. Some crunchy, buttery crackers bring all the flavors home for an
exceptional party food.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large red bell peppers, diced small
4 jalapenos, with seeds, diced small
1 large yellow onion, diced small
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup sugar
1 16 ounce (450 grams) brick of cream
cheese, softened
crackers for serving
Directions:
1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in
large pot.
2. Sauté the peppers, onions, and garlic
for 2 minutes until onions are translucent.
3. Add vinegar, salt, pepper, and
sugar.
4. Bring to a boil then reduce to a
simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the liquid cooks out and it reaches a
sticky, jam consistency.
5. Allow jelly to cool for 20
minutes.
6. Place softened cream cheese on a
serving platter and pour jelly over cream cheese. Serve with crackers.
S’mores Dip with Graham Crackers
| Rating: 5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $10.00 |
| Prep Time: 5 Minutes | Cook Time: 5 Minutes | Additional Time: n/a | Total Time: 10 Minutes |
If you’re looking for a fun, creative
party dip that is sure to satisfy a sweet tooth, look no further. This dip is a
riff on s’mores, the classic campfire treat. Milk chocolate is melted in a
skillet with heavy cream to make a smooth, decadent ganache. Then, this chocolate
is topped with melty, golden-brown, crispy toasted marshmallows. Use some
graham crackers to scoop up this delicious molten mixture. Bring this to your next cottage weekend or bring the
campfire party into your house party.
Ingredients:
1 16 ounce (450 grams) bag of milk
chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 bag large s’more marshmallows
graham crackers for serving
Directions:
1. Preheat the broiler on the oven.
2. Heat heavy cream over low heat in a
large cast iron or other oven-safe skillet.
3. Add chocolate chips to the cream, cook
on low heat just until chocolate is melted while stirring constantly, be
careful not to burn the chocolate.
4. Remove from heat. Top the chocolate
with marshmallows, be sure that the marshmallows cover completely and there are
no gaps of chocolate. Place under the broiler and broil just until marshmallows
are golden brown and toasted.
5. Serve while hot with graham crackers.
Toothpick Party Foods
Nothing says fun and whimsical like eating
food off of a tiny stick. So many delicious foods can be put on a stick to
create sensational appetizers. Toothpick foods are wonderful for parties
because they give your guests quick, exciting bites of deliciousness without
any hassle. No forks, knives, napkins or plates required. Since toothpick foods
are just one or two bites, they’re simple and easy to put together.
Teriyaki Pineapple Bites
| Rating: 4.5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $10.00 |
| Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Cook Time: 35 Minutes | Additional Time: n/a | Total Time: 50 Minutes |
Bring some tropical flare to your party
spread with these simple, delicious teriyaki pineapple bites. Simply roast some
chunks of pineapple and toss them in a sticky teriyaki glaze for a delightful
snack. Roasting the pineapple concentrates and caramelizes the sugars, giving
it a toasted, caramelly sweetness that is delicious with the salty, tangy
teriyaki glaze. Lay these roasted chunks out on a platter, stick a toothpick in
them, and garnish them with toasted sesame seeds for an addictive party
treat.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1 large pineapple, diced into large
cubes
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups Teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425F (220C).
2. Coat pineapple chunks in the oil and
salt, place on a foil-lined sheet tray and roast for 20-25 minutes or until
soft.
3. Combine the Teriyaki, ginger, vinegar,
water, and sugar together in a pot. Bring to a boil and cook for 5-10 minutes
or until it reaches a sticky, glaze-like consistency.
4. Remove the pineapple from the oven,
pour half the glaze over the pineapple and stir to coat. Turn the oven onto
broil.
5. Return coated pineapple to the oven,
place under broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the pineapple chunks are slightly
charred.
6. Remove pineapple from the oven, put
onto a serving platter. Drizzle the remaining glaze on top of the pineapple.
Garnish with sesame seeds.
7. Place toothpicks into the pineapple
chunks and serve immediately.
Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates
| Rating: 5/5 | Serves: 16 Dates | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $12.00 |
| Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Cook Time: n/a | Additional Time: n/a | Total Time: 15 Minutes |
Blue cheese and dates are a classic
pairing. The combination is sweet, a little salty and deliciously funky. This
recipe is simple and fun to make. Mix your favorite blue cheese together with
some chives, a little lemon zest, some cream and some salt and pepper to make
the filling. Then, cut a slit in the dates, take out the pits, stuff and seal
them. That’s it, delicious party appetizer done. These wonderful little morsels
are terrific with white wine.
Ingredients:
6 ounces (170 grams) blue cheese
2 tablespoons heavy cream
6 chives, thinly sliced
zest of 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
16 dried dates, slit open and pitted
Directions:
1. Mix together the cheese, cream, chives,
and lemon until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Stuff a little bit of the filling into
each date and seal closed. Serve on a plate with toothpicks.
Caprese Salad Skewers with Balsamic Drizzle
| Rating: 4.5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $14.00 |
| Prep Time: 20 Minutes | Cook Time: 20 Minutes | Additional Time: n/a | Total Time: 40 Minutes |
These Caprese Salad skewers are a fun,
whimsical take on a classic dish. It’s got everything you love about caprese
salad: the tangy tomato, the fresh basil and the creamy mozzarella cheese all
on a little stick. Skewer little cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls, and
basil leaves together on a toothpick. Put these on a platter, dress them with
some salt, pepper, olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic reduction to have delightful
little bites of caprese salad goodness.
Ingredients:
1 16-ounce (450 grams) container mini
mozzarella balls
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (halved
depending size)
16 medium to small basil leaves
olive oil for dressing
salt and pepper for seasoning
1 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup water
Directions:
1. Combine vinegar, sugar, and water in a
pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 15-20 minutes or until
it reaches a syrupy, glaze-like consistency.
2. While the glaze is cooking, skewer one
mozzarella ball, one piece of tomato, and one basil leaf onto toothpicks.
3. Lay skewers out onto a platter and
sprinkle a little salt and pepper and drizzle a little olive oil over each
skewer.
4. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the
skewers and serve.
Herb-Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese Balls
| Rating: 5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $13.00 |
| Prep Time: 20 Minutes | Cook Time: n/a | Additional Time: 30 Minutes | Total Time: 50 Minutes |
This one is for the goat cheese lovers.
Goat cheese is wonderfully tasty on its own, but these goat cheese balls take
it to new delicious heights. To prepare these tasty little spheres, mix some
goat cheese in with a little softened cream cheese, season it up and roll it
into little balls. Let the mix chill for a bit to set, then roll these balls of
goat cheese in chopped toasted pecans and fresh chopped herbs. Stick a
toothpick in them, serve them chilled and watch the goat cheese lovers swoon.
Ingredients:
8 ounces goat cheese
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
6 sprigs thyme, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup toasted pecans, finely chopped
Directions:
1. Mix goat cheese, cream cheese, lemon
and herbs together until smooth. Allow the mixture to chill in the fridge for
twenty minutes.
2. Use a tablespoon to scoop out portions
of the cheese mixture, roll into smooth balls then roll in toasted
pecans.
3. Place a toothpick in the top of each
ball and allow to chill in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Serve
chilled.
Party Finger Foods
Some of the most rewarding foods are eaten
with the hands. When you’re at a party, you don’t want to fuss around with
plates and silverware. Finger foods are wonderful for serving at parties as
people can just pick them up with their hands and start eating. Since finger
foods are smaller, making them allows you to get creative and serve several
different dishes to dazzle your guests. While these foods are smaller, they’re
still just hearty enough that a few of them will ensure nobody leaves
hungry.
Spicy Indian Popcorn with Lime and Cilantro
| Rating: 5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $10.00 |
| Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Cook Time: 20 Minutes | Additional Time: n/a | Total Time: 20 Minutes |
When you have company over, putting out a
bowl of popcorn is an easy win. But to turn that win into a blowout, try
jazzing up your popcorn with some bold and exciting flavors. Toasted aromatic
spices like turmeric, ginger, chili powder and cumin will make this bowl of
popcorn taste like a buttery, crunchy bowl of curry. Top this popcorn with a
splash of fresh lime and some chopped cilantro for some bright, fresh flavors.
Ingredients:
10 cups cooked popcorn
6 ounces (170 grams) melted butter
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 ½ teaspoons salt
1 bunch cilantro, chopped fine
zest and juice of 1 lime
Directions:
1. Toast all the spices together in a
sauté pan.
2. Toss the popcorn together with the
butter, spices, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Top the popcorn with the lime and
cilantro.
Buffalo-Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs
| Rating: 4/5 | Serves: 24 Deviled Eggs | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $12.00 |
| Prep Time: 30 Minutes | Cook Time: n/a | Additional Time: n/a | Total Time: 30 Minutes |
Deviled eggs are a brunch staple, but they
can also be a dinnertime party favorite. This dish puts a tasty twist on
deviled eggs by combining them with the traditional flavors of buffalo wings.
Mix the egg yolks with a little blue cheese dressing, a couple dashes of hot
sauce and some chopped celery to create the perfect deviled egg–buffalo wing
crossover.
Ingredients:
1 dozen hard-boiled eggs, chilled and
peeled
3 tablespoons Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 ribs of celery, diced fine
salt and pepper to taste
chopped chives for garnish
Directions:
1. Cut the cooked eggs in half. Carefully
remove the cooked yolks from the eggs and set the whites aside.
2. Mix the yolks together with the hot
sauce, yogurt, cheese crumbles, mustard and celery. Season to taste with salt
and pepper.
3. Spoon a little of the egg yolk mixture
into the empty egg whites. Garnish with chopped chives and serve chilled.
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Dijon Dipping Sauce
| Rating: 4.5/5 | Serves: 8 Appetizer Servings | Difficulty: Easy | Approx. Cost: $13.00 |
| Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Cook Time: 25 Minutes | Additional Time: n'a | Total Time: 40 Minutes |
Fingerling potatoes have a rustic elegance
that makes them perfect to put on a party spread. They’re creamy, buttery and
delicious little potatoes that roast wonderfully. Here, just keep it simple by
roasting them with a little garlic and thyme and serving them with a tangy
Dijon mustard dipping sauce. These are almost like a classier version of French
fries to serve at your next gathering.
Ingredients:
1 pound fingerling potatoes (cut in half
lengthwise)
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
salt and pepper for seasoning
1/4 cup mayo
2/3 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425F (220C).
2. Toss the potatoes with the olive oil,
thyme, garlic, salt and pepper.
3. Place potatoes onto a sheet tray and
roast for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
4. Mix the mayo, mustard, honey and
vinegar together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Remove the potatoes from the oven.
Remove the garlic cloves and thyme.
6. Serve potatoes immediately while hot
with dipping sauce.
feature image: Kaboompics; image 1: Kelly Hau
