Easy Party Food Ideas

Sharing is caring!

Inside: These easy party food ideas are sure to make your next get-together easier and they please both kids and adults alike.

So you decided to host a Christmas party this year. But now the party date is looming and you still haven’t decided on the menu.

Plus, you’ve got so many dietary restrictions to work around. What can you do? These easy party food ideas will help you plan the perfect Christmas party in a hurry.

First, anytime you have picky eaters or dietary restrictions to work around, serving food buffet-style is best.

People can pick and choose what works for them and pass on the food that doesn’t. The only consideration is to make sure there is no cross-contamination if you are dealing with allergies.

All of the ideas below lend themselves to buffet-style meals (with many items that can be prepped ahead) to make hosting your party so much easier.

Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you purchase something through a link. It will not change your cost. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my disclosures page.)

Burrito Bowls

Burrito bowls are always a hit at any gathering. Cook some rice and prepare some chicken, beef, or pork, and set out some condiments and you are ready.

You can prepare the rice in a rice cooker or Instant Pot to keep it warm. You can also keep the proteins warm in slow cookers too. Just be sure to add a bit of liquid so they don’t dry out.

And burrito bowls are suitable for almost everyone. The vegetarians can leave off the meat, but you’ve got beans for protein.

Even low-carbers can turn their bowl into a burrito salad by leaving off the rice. This list of ideas for a burrito bar is by no means exhaustive. As a bonus – most of it can be prepared ahead of time.

• Rice-white or brown, your choice.
• Chicken, beef, or pork, cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning.
• Shredded lettuce
• Chopped bell peppers or jalapenos (or both!)
• Black beans
• Corn
• Chopped tomatoes
• Salsa or barbeque sauce- We often make burrito bowls with leftover pulled pork.
• Cheddar cheese
• Sour cream
• Sliced avocado or guacamole
• Onions or pickled onions

Taco Bar

A taco bar uses many of the same ingredients as the burrito bar. Just switch out the rice for taco shells.

Or if you are inviting kids to the party, this is a kid-friendly option if they aren’t ready for burrito bowls. After all, it’s not much harder to set out some taco shells with the other ingredients.

Be prepared for some clean-up under the kid’s table though. Tacos are a bit messier to eat!

Baked Potato Bar

A baked potato bar is another option that allows you to serve ingredients buffet style. Cook the potatoes in the slow cooker, and they can stay warm for several hours.

• Baked potatoes
• Cooked broccoli – You can get a bag or two of the microwave kind to make it easy.
• Shredded cheese
• Chopped ham
• Chili
• Salsa
• Butter
• Sour cream
• Bacon bits
• Chopped onions
• Salt & pepper
• Chopped chives

Salad Bar

A regular salad bar is another great option. Set out several types of dressings (ranch, honey mustard, Italian) and many other toppings and you have an easy party that can be made ahead of time.

Suggested Ingredients to Make a Great Salad Bar

Lettuce and greens:

• romaine
• iceberg
• green or red leaf
• arugula
• spinach
• kale
• cabbage
• Swiss chard

Proteins:

• grilled chicken
• ham
• turkey
• salami
• grilled beef
• BBQ
• bacon
• hard-boiled eggs
• chickpeas
• beans

Veggies:

• cucumbers
• tomatoes
• peppers
• onions
• carrots
• olives
• mushrooms

Fruits:

• sliced or diced apples
• sliced or diced pears
• mandarin oranges

Toppings:

• croutons
• french fried onions
• sunflower seeds
• sesame seeds
• nuts-almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts
• chow mein noodles
• dried cranberries or raisins

Other add-ins:

• leftover cooked pasta

Salad dressings:

• ranch
• honey mustard
• blue cheese
• Italian
• balsamic vinaigrette
• French
• For other dressings, try this list of over 20 different kinds from the Food Network.

This list is meant to inspire, not overwhelm you. Pick one or two ingredients from each category and let everyone build their own salad. This is a great way to teach children to eat a variety of vegetables.

Pasta Salad Bar

A make-your-own pasta salad bar is a great party option for a ladies’ lunch. Cook some pasta (regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free) and add any number of the ideas below. Serve with some salad dressings to pour over the top and you have another quick party idea.

• Cooked pasta
• Chopped chicken, ham, or turkey
• Salami or pepperoni
• Chopped bell peppers
• Chopped red onion
• Black olives
• Cubed cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese
• Peas
• Corn
• Shredded carrots
• Salad dressings – ranch, honey mustard, Italian, or try pesto

Serve the pasta salad in large bowls so everyone can add what they like but still have room to stir the dressing in to evenly coat the ingredients.

Breakfast Bar

Another great idea would be a breakfast bar. But you don’t have to save this idea just for breakfast or brunch. Since people often don’t have time to sit down to a big breakfast, this makes a great idea for a buffet-style party too.

• Scrambled eggs for a crowd – This recipe will hold in a warm oven for a little while too.
• Oven-baked pancakes – This is a great way to cook lots of pancakes in a hurry.
• Homemade pancake syrup – So much better tasting than store-bought.
• Maple syrup
• Butter
• Homemade Muffins – This recipe lends itself to many different flavors.
• Cooked sausage or sausage balls
• Cooked bacon
• Three Cheese Quiche

No-Cook Easy Party Food Ideas

And if you’re really pressed for time, there are plenty of options that you can just pick up and set out at your local grocery store.

Charcuterie Board

Pick up several types of sliced sandwich meat from the deli. Add a couple of really good cheeses.

Hit up the pickle aisle for some olives and pickled vegetables. Pick up several varieties of good quality crackers.

Grab some grapes and maybe some apples, if you’ve got time to slice them. Pick up a pre-made vegetable tray and dip from the produce section.

Head to the beverage aisle and pick up some sodas for the non-drinkers and wine and/or beer and then get yourself home.

Arrange everything on a charcuterie board or a couple of cute platters or trays and you’ve got everything you need for an impromptu party.

Ice Cream Bar

An ice cream bar makes a great ending for a party. Most ice creams are gluten-free and they have recently come out with several kinds of dairy-free ice cream too.

You can provide lots of toppings to make a great ending to your party.

• Ice cream in a couple of flavors – I recommend vanilla and chocolate and maybe one specialty flavor. If you want to go all out, make your own no-churn ice cream.
• Chocolate syrup
• Caramel syrup
• Whipped cream
• Chopped cookies
• Chocolate chips or chunks
• M&M’s or Reese’s pieces
• Gummy candy
• Maraschino cherries
• Sliced bananas
• Sprinkles

These are a few of the easy party food ideas I have used when we’ve invited people over.

The beauty of these meals is that everyone can fix their meal the way they like and most of the components for these party food ideas can be made ahead of time, ensuring you can enjoy your guests instead of in the kitchen cooking.

Related Posts

• Need another party idea? Host a Progressive Dinner.
• Hosting a breakfast or brunch? These breakfast ideas for Christmas and Thanksgiving breakfasts will give you some more make-ahead ideas.
• This coffee cake with fruit filling is easy to make ahead and also makes a great dessert.

Sharing is caring!