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25 Best Snack Foods For Parties, With Three Tips For Hosting Hit Parties

December 22, 2021 by Food For Net
Home ‣ Delicious Food ‣ 25 Best Snack Foods For Parties, With Three Tips For Hosting Hit Parties
Snack Foods For Parties. photo collage of a spread of cold cuts, a bowl of pretzels, spread of cheese and crackers, and a plater of sliders; with text overlay "25 Best Snack Foods For Party People, With Three Tips For Hosting Hit Parties"

Any time of the year can be party time. There are currently eleven nationally celebrated holidays per year in the United States—almost one per month. There are also unsanctioned holidays, such as National Ice Cream Day or National Device Appreciation Day. Besides birthdays and other common celebrations, it seems like there’s always a reason to throw a party. Whatever the occasion, you’ll need some snack foods for parties to keep guests fed and talking about how good the food was when they leave.

But what do you serve? If you’re looking for easy appetizers and delicious desserts, the following list of the 25 best snack foods for party people could help you get into the right mindset for throwing brilliant parties. Read through it, and at the end, I’ll share three more tips for hosting hit parties.

Table of Contents

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  • Top Snack Foods For Parties (With Pictures!)
    • Chicken Wings
    • Crackers And Cheese
    • Mini Sausages
    • Glogg With Raisins And Almonds
    • Mini Tacos
    • Olive Bar
    • Chips And Salsa
    • Veggie Trays
    • Cold Cuts
    • Bars And Brownies
    • Pickled Foods
    • Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Cereal Mixes
    • Doughnuts And Hot Spiced Cider
    • Pretzels
    • Popcorn Shrimp
    • Chocolate Fountains
    • Fondue
    • Nuts
    • Fruit Salads
    • Sliders
    • Candy
    • Chips And Dips
    • Vegetable Salads
    • Popcorn
    • Three Tips For Hosting Hit Parties
      • Tip #1: Theme Your Party
      • Tip #2: Rely On Your Local Deli
      • Tip #3: Consider Your Guests

Top Snack Foods For Parties (With Pictures!)

Chicken Wings

A dish of chicken wings rests on a wooden surface near some celery sticks.
Chicken wings come in a variety of flavors.

Chicken wings are a must-have for football get-togethers, summer parties, and midwinter game nights. They come in a variety of flavors ranging from buffalo and honey garlic to sesame and Caribbean, and you can get boneless versions if you want to

If you buy chicken wings pre-packaged or frozen, they’re also convenient, but you can make your own, too. One of my favorite recipes for chicken wings is Crispy Baked Lemon Pepper Wings. Plus, chicken wings work well with many different sides.

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Crackers And Cheese

Stacks of round crackers and square slices of cheese rest on a dark surface near a brown cloth.
Crackers and cheese are savory appetizers that are good for small gatherings.

Crackers and cheese are a party stable because they’re as easy and quick to prepare as they are tasty and fun to eat. A simple way to serve them is on a rectangular tray, with sliced cheeses on one side and rows of crackers on the other side.

If you want something fancier, you could serve a cheese ball or cheese dip in the center of a round tray, with crackers arranged around them. You could also take the time to top each cracker with a fancy cheese dip and serve them on a plate.

One nice thing about cheese and crackers as a snack is that you can offer whole-wheat crackers and hard cheeses for guests who struggle to keep their blood sugar levels under control.

Mini Sausages

A green dish of brown mini sausages rests on a green plate that also holds bread slices with radishes and tomatoes on them.
Mini sausages are a versatile food for casual gatherings.

Mini sausages are fun because they’re so versatile. You can serve them cold or hot, as finger foods or with plates and forks. Like chicken wings, they can also come in a variety of flavors that you can play up or tone down with your own dressings and sauces.

One of my favorite super-easy ways to serve mini sausages is to put a package of them in a crock pot with a bottle of barbecue sauce. It’s a fabulous heat-and-serve appetizer for barbecues or game nights.

Glogg With Raisins And Almonds

A clear glass of glogg with cinnamon sticks and lemon wedges rests on a wooden table near spices and a dish of almonds and raisins.
Glogg is usually served with almonds and raisins.

One of my friends, who is deeply interested in Scandinavian cultures, recently introduced me to Glogg. Glogg is also known as mulled wine. It usually contains some citrus juices, as well as spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom.

Glogg is often served with raisins and almonds. There are non-alcoholic versions, so it can be a family-friendly addition to casual holiday get-togethers with neighbors.

Mini Tacos

A white plate holds a row of mini tacos and some lime slices.
Mini tacos can be decorated to enhance the ambiance of the holiday you’re celebrating.

Mini tacos may be one of the most fun appetizers I’ve ever tried. Besides being delicious and easy to make, they can be tweaked to become part of the party decorations. For example, one year a friend of mine served them decorated as monsters for her Halloween party, with enormous eyes made from sour cream and sliced olives.

If you don’t want to go to the trouble of making mini tacos, you could opt for frozen taquitos. Taquitos are tortillas rolled tightly around chicken, beef, or pork and then cooked. They’re another easy heat-and-serve option.

Olive Bar

Several types of olives and pimentos rest in white bowls on a wooden surface.
An olive bar can be a fun way to get guests talking about the types of foods they like and don’t like.

One of the most intriguing things I’ve ever seen at a holiday party was an olive bar. I was amazed at how many types of olives there are and how many different flavors they come in. Most people are used to green olives with pimentos or black table olives, but they may not know about purple or red olives.

Serving a small olive bar could be a great ice-breaker as people taste-test and discuss what they like and don’t like about different types of olives. Jars of unique olives, such as feta-cheese stuffed olives or lemon-stuffed olives could make great door prizes, too.

Chips And Salsa

A dark plate of tortilla chips with a small dish of salsa rests on a rustic wooden surface near some lime slices, more salsa, a cherry tomato, and an orange pepper.
Chips and salsa are great at southwest-themed parties.

Chips and salsa are wonderful appetizers for themed parties like Mexican Fiestas. Serving this appetizer is as easy as pouring a bag of tortilla chips into a large bowl and setting it near a smaller bowl of canned salsa.

If you want something a little different, you could make fresh salsa in a variety of flavors, such as Mango-Tomato salsa or Pico de Gallo. You could also serve a variety of tortilla chips, including ones made from blue corn or red and green holiday-themed chips.

Veggie Trays

A round tray of veggies, including cauliflower, baby carrots, celery sticks, and broccoli, rests on a white cloth near a dish of white salad dressing dip.
Vegetable trays can include the types of veggies that your guests like best, and they can be served with or without a dip.

Veggie trays are a nice addition to parties because they’re a healthy alternative to processed foods and sweets. Baby carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cauliflower florets are common components of veggie trays.

You could make them fancier by serving veggies on a kabob stick, and by including items like whole mushrooms or pepper strips. You could also serve them with a dip.

Cold Cuts

Several types of meats are layered and arranged in rows on a cold cut tray with olives, parsley, and a cherry tomato.
Cold cuts are an easy way to serve custom sandwiches that guests can build themselves.

When I picture cold cuts, I envision trays of sliced turkey, ham, roast beef, salami, and other meats. Guests can use these to make their own sandwiches, which saves time for the host and allows guests to get exactly what they want.

If you’re not sure how to get started with a cold cut tray, ask your local deli or someone in the deli section of your favorite supermarket to give you some suggestions. You could also have them make the trays for you rather than doing it yourself.

Bars And Brownies

Three cookie bars containing berries and cream cheese rest on a cutting board in front of a stack of a different type of cookie bars.
Cookie bars and brownies make great finger-food desserts, and there are many, many types of cookie bar treats to try.

Brownies come in a variety of flavors, ranging from plain chocolate to Mexican chocolate, peanut butter, cheesecake, and mint. Other types of bars have a similar flavor range. Simple chocolate chip bars are great for picnic-type parties, while cranberry-orange or white-chocolate-pecan bars make great holiday party treats. One of my favorite recipes for bars is the Slow Cooker Tangy & Sweet Lemon Cookie Bars.

Pickled Foods

Several open jars of pickled foods, including pickled cucumbers, purple cabbage, and kimchi, rest on a rustic white painted board.
Pickled foods provide a nice contrast to savory and sweet foods.

Pickled foods are often served on relish trays for Thanksgiving dinners, but you could incorporate them into almost any party. Beyond sweet gherkins or dill slices, you can serve up pickled radishes, red cabbage, boiled eggs, and ethnic dishes like sauerkraut or kimchi.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

A plate of chocolate chip cookies rests on a wooden surface.
Chocolate chip cookies have been a staple at parties in America since the 1930s.

If you’re having a party where kids are invited, chocolate chip cookies are a standard. They have been since around the 1930s, when they were created by accident and became a hit at a bed-and-breakfast in Massachusetts. Now, there are around 7 billion chocolate chip cookies eaten in the United States every year.

Cereal Mixes

A bowl of cereal mix and a spoon rest on a beige cloth on a wooden table near some loose pieces of the mix.
There are a variety of cereal mixes that can provide both savory and sweet snacking options for guests.

I remember one New Year’s Eve, several years ago, when I tried Chex Mix for the first time. My mother had made it for a party. The flavor was tangy and salty. Years later, I tried Muddy Buddies, a sweet chocolate cereal mix. These and other cereal mixes are easy to make (or buy) and serve buffet-style with other snacks.

Doughnuts And Hot Spiced Cider

A dark plate of sugar-coated doughnuts rests on a dark tile surface near a clear glass of hot apple cider.
Doughnuts and hot apple cider make a great snack for wintertime sledding parties.

Doughnuts and warm drinks like hot apple cider or hot cocoa are perfect for parties that require you to spend some time in winter weather. These treats can be served after an evening of caroling, a hayride, or an afternoon of sledding. One family I know has made a tradition of serving homemade doughnuts and cocoa to family and friends who stop by when they’re trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Pretzels

Three large pretzels rest on a blue and white napkin on a wooden table.
Pretzels can be large and soft, or small and crunchy–serve up what your guests like best!

You can buy pretzels and pretzel sticks in bags at the local grocery store, or order the large, softer pretzels from a pretzel specialty shop. You might opt to make your own, too, and sprinkle the pretzels with toppings like parmesan cheese or Himalayan Sea salt. Pretzels are great for parties because they’re easy, non-messy finger food.

Popcorn Shrimp

Piles of popcorn shrimp surround a clear glass bowl filled with cocktail sauce.
Popcorn shrimp is a great finger food for casual parties.

If you’re serving mini sausages or chicken wings, you might consider serving popcorn shrimp, too. These easy finger foods provide a different flavor and texture. You can usually buy them in the freezer section of your local grocery store. Many brands come with serving ideas that can make them fancier, too.

Chocolate Fountains

A strawberry on a wooden kabob stick is being dipped into a chocolate fountain.
Chocolate fountains are great for baby showers, wedding receptions, and other fancy get-togethers.

Chocolate fountains are great for girly parties like wedding receptions, baby showers, and tea parties, but they could be served at almost any party where you want to offer a sweet, do-it-yourself snack for guests. Prep a tray of fruit kabobs or plain cookies for guests to dip in the chocolate at will.

Fondue

Two toasted baguettes on steel kabob sticks are being dipped into a cheese fondue in a dark pan that's resting on a red and white cloth, on a rustic piece of wood on a wooden tabletop.
Fondue is a savory, fun way to get guests to mingle at a table.

Like chocolate fountains, fondue creates an easy air of elegance. Because fondues are made from cheese, they provide a savory option rather than a sweet one. You could serve cheese fondues with crackers, toasted bread, and vegetables or even cubed meats. As with the chocolate fountain, having kabob sticks or cracker trays ready for your guests could make things easier.

Nuts

A square wooden dish filled with a variety of nuts is surrounded by several types of loose nuts on a wooden table.
The American Diabetes Association has included nuts on its’ list of beneficial foods for diabetics, so they can make great snack foods at parties that diabetics will attend.

Holiday parties often include nuts, with good reason. They’re a savory option to sweets, and they provide protein and healthy fats, too. This makes them an excellent choice to serve at parties where many of your guests live the ketogenic lifestyle or struggle to keep their blood sugar levels in check.

Fruit Salads

This photo shows a closeup of a variety of cut fruit in a white bowl.
Fruit salads can be served with or without toppings, and with a variety of in-season fruits.

Fruit salads are great for parties because there are so many types to choose from. The simplest fruit salad is one where chopped fruit is mixed together and served plain. Other options include toppings such as whipped cream, cream cheese, sweetened yogurt, or gelatin desserts. Some fruit salad recipes call for other ingredients, such as nuts, cheeses, or marshmallows, too.

Sliders

A wooden board, resting on a wooden surface, holds 15 hamburger sliders against a dark background.
Sliders are great for football watch parties and game nights.

Sliders are a great option for football games or poker night. These tiny sandwiches are fun to make and serve. Once again, they come in a variety of types. You could make tiny burger sliders, ham and cheese sliders, or even chicken salad sliders. You could also make them yourself or buy them pre-made.

Candy

This photo shows a closeup of candy-coated chocolates.
Bright candies could help add to the ambiance of a party.

Some parties just need a bowl of candy on the table to be complete. Consider Halloween, with its bowls of fun-size chocolate bars, or Easter, with its pastel jelly beans. One of my favorites is holiday chocolate kisses, arranged under a sprig of mistletoe. Another party favorite is candy-coated chocolate-covered peanuts. They’re colorful, bright, and delicious.

Chips And Dips

A bowl of yellow potato chips rests on a dark surface near a white tub of white dip with green seasonings.
Chips and dips on a table can be a place for guests to gather and begin talking.

Chips and dips are an easy way to start any party. Just set out a variety of potato chips on a table, along with a variety of dips, and let your guests gather around to chat while they snack. Some fun dips to try to include French onion dip, bacon and bean dip, or ranch dressing dip.

Vegetable Salads

A square white bowl filled with green salad. red cherry tomatoes and purple onion rings rests on a white wooden surface.
You could serve a traditional green salad or shake things up with something like a carrot salad or pea salad.

Like fruit salads, vegetable salads are fun to play with for parties. Go beyond the traditional green salad to offer things like spinach strawberry salad, coleslaw, peas and bacon salad, or marinated bean salad. If you’re struggling for ideas, ask your local deli for advice.

Popcorn

Several varieties of popcorn in clear plastic bags rest in wicker baskets.
There are several types of popcorn that you could serve at parties.

Popcorn is a staple for movie parties. Buttered popcorn is always a hit, but since popcorn is so versatile, you might consider offering other flavors, too. Try serving cheddar popcorn, white chocolate popcorn, caramel popcorn, or siracha-coated popcorn. For some holidays, such as Halloween, you might consider making popcorn balls, too.

Three Tips For Hosting Hit Parties

Now that you’ve read through the list of the 25 best snack foods for party people, let’s talk about other ways you can throw exciting parties. These tips are quick and easy to use, but they can make a world of difference in your party-throwing prowess.

Tip #1: Theme Your Party

Having a theme, such as a Mexican Fiesta or a Football Watch Party, could help you decide which snacks to serve. It’s especially easy for little-known holidays like National Pie Day, where you could easily serve a variety of pies.

Tip #2: Rely On Your Local Deli

If you decide to go with cold cuts and salads, make sure to check in with your local deli. Even if you’re making the trays and salads yourself, they may have suggestions for you that will make each platter perfect. If you don’t have time to make the trays, many of them can make them for you, too.

Tip #3: Consider Your Guests

As you make your guest list, consider the health concerns and personal preferences of the people you’ll be inviting. If you’ve got diabetic guests, you might want to serve more veggies and less desserts. If someone is allergic to nuts, you’ll need to take that into account, too.

Category: Delicious FoodTag: Best Foods
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