19 Quick and Easy Party Food Ideas to Serve a Crowd (2024)

Your Guide to Hosting a Party with Light Appetizers Before Dinner

Sweet-Spicy Barbecue Chicken Sliders

Use leftover or deli chicken to jump-start this easy party food for a crowd. Better yet, you can even assemble them up to eight hours in advance. Then, pop them into the oven to bake while you're mixing up the party drinks.

Mini Bacon-Mushroom Quiches

It's hard to believe that these luscious mini-quiches can honestly rank as easy party food—but frozen puff pastry makes it so. While the hands-on time is only thirty minutes, they bake in twelve minutes. Prepare them to pop in the oven a few minutes before guests arrive.

Two-Tomato Bruschetta

You know that baguette bread freezes well, right? Keep it on hand, and you can make this easy party food without schlepping to the bakery. Just let the bread thaw as you're stirring together the rest of the ingredients.

Air Fryer Panko Coconut Shrimp

If you're looking for quick and simple hors d'oeuvres that can be made in your air fryer, check this one out! Our version combines a triple-hit of coconut—coconut, coconut milk, and coconut cooking spray—for an über-coconutty (and delightfully greaseless) version of the restaurant classic.

Herbed Chicken Parm Sliders

When you're looking for a quick and easy party food that can also stand in for dinner, sliders are just the ticket! Round out the menu with a generous vegetable tray and dips, cheeses, and crackers.

Ricotta, Gorgonzola, and Honey Spread

Keep Gorgonzola on hand—it adds rich, intense flavors to all kinds of appetizers. Here, sweet honey makes a wonderful complement to the sharp cheese.

Fruit Platter with Maple Mascarpone Dip

Appetizers can be made speedy when you count on a few convenience products. Case in point: While this recipe only takes twenty minutes, it will take even less time if you snag a selection of precut fruits from the produce department. The dip only requires two ingredients and takes about two minutes to make.

Fresh Arugula Bruschetta

Here's a quick and easy party food that takes just five ingredients (not including salt, pepper, and olive oil, which you likely have on hand). It's also one of our more elevated options with goat cheese and arugula. We call that a win-win.

Matcha-Cucumber Crostini

When trying to come up with appetizers that will turn heads, choose recipes with an unusual ingredient or two. That's the role of matcha powder here—it brings grassy, nutty, bittersweet notes that will delight your guests.

Pickle Poppers

We've given the ol' ham-cheese-pickle rollup a major makeover for this easy party food! Start with baby dill pickles (sometimes called cornichons), fill them with a spicy cheese mixture, wrap them in ham, and bake. The slather of jam is optional, but once you try it that way, there's no going back!

Grilled Strawberry Salsa Fresca

Strawberries make a luscious and ripe stand-in for tomatoes in this quick, easy party food. You'll be surprised (and delighted) at how well the fruit pairs with hallmark salsa ingredients of cilantro, jalapeno, and lime juice. The combo delivers that sweet-tart-salty-spicy appeal that always hits the spot!

Feta Honey-Date Spread

Dates generally have a long shelf life. So do the almonds, olives, and other ingredients in this easy party food recipe. Keep everything on hand in the fridge and pantry to get the party started pronto. P.S.: Here's how to toast nuts, in case you need a refresher.

Antipasto Pinwheels

When you want less work for your gathering, opting for a cheese platter or charcuterie board is tempting. Nothing wrong with that! But for a few seconds more of your time, you can roll up some of the same ingredients into an impressive (and easier-to-eat) package.

Bonanza Bean Dip

This multi-flavored dish has a lot going for it! The layered bean dip is loaded with taste, serves a crowd, and can be made up to twenty-four hours in advance. Use a purchased guacamole instead of making your own to shave off even more prep time.

Crab and Horseradish Havarti Dip

Our collection would hardly be complete without a hot dip! And when it comes to hot dips, you can't go wrong when there's some crab in the mix. This recipe is a great way to treat your guests to the luxury of shellfish without going over budget—a little goes a long way when combined with other rich ingredients.

Pea and Artichoke Toasts

We love how the sweetness of peas contrasts the salty, savory flavors of prosciutto in this easy party food recipe. While the eye-catching toasts make great appetizers, you can also serve them for dinner, with a salad in summer or a hearty soup in cooler months.

Lemon-Dill Artichoke Dip

It's not a party without an artichoke dip, and fortunately, they're one the most quick and simple appetizers around. But this isn't a boilerplate version! Instead, fennel, feta, dill, and lemon zest combine for a refresh—with an emphasis on fresh.

Air-Fryer Spiced Cashews

Every party needs a bowl of sweet, spicy, zesty nuts that guests can munch by the handful. But instead of roasting them, why not use your air fryer? You'll have this done in less than twenty minutes (though you'll want to let them stand for another twenty minutes to attain peak crunchy perfection).

Pretzel-Crusted Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Sure, you love serving party foods you can make in a flash, but you also want your guests to feel treated to something special. That's where these crab cakes come in! This version pairs the elegant shellfish with a clever pretzel crust for an easy party food recipe that's both elegant and fun.