Finger foods are the perfect appetizer for any party! They are small enough to be eaten with your hands, and they offer a little bit of everything. From chips and dip to breadsticks, pizza, and stuffed peppers, these sweet and savory easy finger foods for a party offer something for everyone. Plus, they are quick and easy to make and can be tailored to fit your party theme. So next time you host a party, be sure to serve some delicious finger foods!
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What is the best finger food for a party?
Let’s be real, the party rarely starts on time even if the guests start to arrive. This means that you have to keep your guests entertained during that waiting time. And what better way to entertain and distract a crowd than by serving them with platters of food? Specifically appetizers and finger foods!
Serving tasty finger foods can be inexpensive and a great conversation starter! Sometimes, an effective appetizer is something that mimics a traditional dinner menu.
This means mini quiches, meats and cheeses, cut veggies, pastries, sausage rolls, miniature meat pies, samosas, and more!
If you need a more diverse set of appetizers, here are some ideas:
- Protein: serve meat of fish meals such as meatballs, sushi, or chicken wings. You could also add in some eggs, cheese, or tofus. Grilled appetizers also work well!
- Garden: You can never go wrong with fresh and healthy appetizers consisting of fruits and veggies!
- Starch: Healthy, starchy appetizers such as finger sandwiches, pizzas, dumplings, bruschetta, breadsticks, crackers, and rolls are all crowd favorite!
- Snacks: easy appetizers to prepare are simple snacks such as nuts, chips, pretzels, popcorn, and other savory finger food ideas.
- Dips and spreads: You can introduce a pairing of snacks with various dips and spreads!
- Desserts: Who says you can’t have dessert first? Some famous sweet party appetizers include cookies, cake, candies, chocolates, and other bite-sized goodies!
Make-ahead appetizers that travel well
The best set of foods to bring on a road trip are those that are rich in protein and fiber. This can include both snacks and meals. Another good thing to note is that you can never go wrong with fruits. Fresh fruit is not only highly nutritious but also brings a great benefit when taking a long road trip: keeping your bowel movements regular. Since fruits are high-fiber foods, they will help prevent constipation caused by inactivity. Some fruits to bring on your road trip are strawberries, apples, and bananas.
And instead of being tempted to buy unhealthy chips to munch on, why not pack some dried fruit or veggie chips? You can also make your own trail mix which provides protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Just mix in some raw or roasted nuts and seeds, dried fruits, dried coconut, and dark chocolate chips!
For high-protein and fiber snacks, you can bring:
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Fruits (dried or fresh) such as apples, raisins, oranges, bananas, berries, grapes
- Veggies such as mini carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices
- Greek yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Protein bar
- Granola bar
- String cheese
- Nuts and seeds
- Jerky (can be beef, turkey, chicken, or fish)
- Hummus
- Whole-grain bread
- Whole-grain crackers
- Baked potato
- Popcorn
Easy finger food recipes for a crowd
A good party organizer won’t make their guests wait without presenting them with anything! With that said, here are finger food ideas perfect for a crowd so they can have something to munch on immediately after arriving!
Finger food recipes are always a delight to make for family and friends. It’s quick, easy, and delicious! I even do a lot of finger food appetizers because you can always experiment and explore.
Maybe you’re searching the internet for finger food snacks for parties, or you’re simply hungry, then you’re in the right place. Are you curious what recipes you can do? Stick around because I will be sharing finger food ideas.
Best finger food appetizers to do
There are many perfect finger food snacks to make ahead and keep in mind. I’ll be sharing some of them with you. I’ll be mentioning are my favorite finger foods. Be sure to take some notes!
Some of my favorite finger foods are baked mac and cheese bites and crispy bacon-wrapped brussels sprouts. I love how versatile they are, and they can even be breakfast finger food appetizers you can try out.
Finger foods are not limited to adults, and babies can also enjoy them too! If you have a baby, I also know some baby finger foods to try out. Keep on reading because I’ll be sharing them with you.
16. Pigs in a Blanket
Looking for an easy appetizer recipe that will wow your guests? Pigs in a Blanket are an easy to make recipe perfect for your next party! This dish is made with store bought crescent rolls and hot dogs, so it’s simple to prepare. Plus, the Crescent Roll Dogs are always a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients for pigs in a blanket recipe:
-1 can of crescent rolls
-8-10 small to medium-sized sausage links
-1 egg, beaten
-1 tablespoon water
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-Dash of black pepper
-1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet and set aside. In a large bowl, combine crescent rolls, sausage links, egg, water, salt and pepper. Mix well. Shape mixture into one large or eight small logs. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with butter. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
15.
This easy smoked salmon appetizer crostini recipe with cream cheese is a fantastic dish to serve for a party. These little bites are wonderful little canapés that your guests will love!
Check it here.
14.
These radishes and butter crostini appetizers are an easy recipe to serve at your next get-together. The crunch of the radish, paired with rich butter and a little flake salt is all you need to wow your party guests. It’s one of my favorite appetizers and I’m sure you’ll love it too!
Check it here.
13.
If you remember these yummy sausage cocktail rye bread appetizers from your childhood, you might just be a child of the 80s. Or the 90s. My favorite party appetizer ever!
Check it here.
12.
These cranberry cream cheese pinwheels are on repeat for us this holiday season. Tortilla roll ups with cranberries and cream cheese with a lovely dose of shredded cheddar, chopped pecans and green onion? What’s not to repeat?
Check it here.
11.
This chili con queso egg cup recipe is something you need to check out Making baked egg cups is a great way to whip up individual servings for a crowd.
Check it here.
10. Baked Mini Gluten-Free + Vegan Mac & Cheese Bites (Allergy-Free)
A healthy and snackable way to enjoy your favorite comfort food! These Baked Mini Gluten-Free + Vegan Mac & Cheese Bites are top 8 allergy-free, super kid-friendly, and act as a great side dish, snack, or even an appetizer recipe for your next gathering! Portable macaroni and cheese is never a bad idea!
Check it here.
9. Homemade Gluten-Free Vegan Copycat Pizza Bagel Bites (Allergy-Free)
A healthier, homemade version for your favorite childhood snack! Gluten-Free Vegan Copycat Pizza Bagel Bites! A mini, allergy-free, recipe that’s perfect for the kids, quick & easy to make, and great as a nostalgic adult appetizer and finger food!
Check it here.
8. Lamb and Polenta Bites
Braised lamb spiced with coffee and paprika on polenta rounds makes for tasty appetizers (or when you’re making a meal of small bites).
Check it here.
7. Savory Plum and Goat Cheese Tarts
These savory plum and goat cheese tarts are a great summer appetizer, including a spiced plum jam swirled with mild, whipped goat cheese blend in a nutty pastry case. Beautifully highlighted by a bit of mint and a drizzle of aromatic olive oil.
Check it here.
6. Best Bunless Burger Bites
These low carb burger bites are ready to serve in about 25 minutes. This easy appetizer recipe is a definite crowd-pleaser.
Check it here.
5.
Easy Cranberry Baked Brie Recipe: Fancy and delicious 15-minute holiday appetizer your guests would love. Creamy, gooey, runny-centered baked brie topped with cranberry sauce, roasted pecans and thyme. See more holiday appetizer recipes.
Check it here.
4.
Easy 15-minute Baked Figs with Goat Cheese, walnuts, honey and sage recipe. These roasted figs make for an easy appetizer your guests will love!
Check it here.
3. Tomato and Onion Bruschetta with Burrata
Looking for a fresh, inviting, YUMMY dinner party appertizer? Look no further! These caramelized tomato and onion bruschetta with burrata is the best part of tomato season right in one bite!
Check it here.
2. Bruschetta Turkey Meatballs
The meatballs quickly come together in one mixing bowl and scooped into a hot skillet to brown on each side, then popped in the oven to finish off.
Check it here.
1. Super Easy Veggie Pinwheels with Cream Cheese
Looking for a new party snack or holiday appetizer? Veggie Pinwheels with cream cheese go a long way with a crowd and will have them talking! Super easy to make festive in color, and are Weight Watchers friendly on all three plans! Plus these are vegetarian!
Check it here.
Examples of finger foods to try
Here are some perfect finger food snacks for babies that I’m hoping to bring wonders to your babies. It is ordinary, but an omelet is excellent finger food for your baby. It only requires an egg and other ingredients that can add nutritional value to the meal.
Soft fruits like bananas and watermelon can also be considered as finger food for babies. Make sure that they are soft and ripe. Just cut them up into small pieces before handing them out to your baby.
Another example of finger appetizers to try is Mozzarella bites. It’s probably the simplest food finger recipes out there, but it’s always a favorite. You only need to fry small Mozzarella cuts covered in breadcrumbs for about a few minutes before serving.
What do you put on a finger buffet?
In a finger buffet, you would want to have a lot of volume per finger food. Whatever you’re offering should serve at least 10 to 20 people. Include a lot of variation and consideration to the diets of the people around. Keep in mind that there might be people who are allergic to certain foods and diet preferences.
When you offer a lot of variation in your finger buffet, you’re creating an impression that you want everyone to enjoy the buffet. Offer finger foods that can include different types of vegetables or meat. You don’t want anyone feeling left out in fun!
Plate your finger buffet to its category group. You can group vegetable finger foods together or all chicken finger foods together. Organizing your finger buffet this way can be helpful to you when monitoring what’s left and to the guests when wanting to go back to their favorites.
A great addition to the finger buffet is to have labels placed in front of them. You can create small cards for each type of finger food that’s available. Tags in the finger buffet help people remember the name of the finger food that they like the most.
How do you make a finger food platter?
You can make various quick and easy party finger food ideas and present them on a pretty board or plate. The key here is variation! You’d want people to enjoy different kinds of finger snacks that they can go around.
You can include classic finger foods like cheese sticks and barbeque chicken wings. A great tip is also to have out-of-the-box choices bite-sized mozzarella corndogs or prosciutto tarts. Add dips to the platter like onion, cheese, and barbeque dips.
One particular finger food I always include in the platter is Hogs in a Blanket. What you’ll need are your preferred sausage and puff pastry. Just cut them into bite-sized pieces, put them in the oven, and it’s ready to be out at the party.
The magic happens when people get to try different finger foods and find their favorite out of the bunch. Who knows, you might be the star of your party next time? Try it out and see how people enjoy your presented finger food platter!
Can you serve finger foods for parties?
Finger food for a crowd is a way to impress them at a party. Finger foods are always a staple in gatherings. I’m going to talk about my favorite finger food for parties, be sure to continue reading!
Cheese Bomb Bread has the perfect amount of gooey and cheesy. The dish only requires your favorite cheese, bread, and butter. When you have these three and put them in the oven together for at least 10 minutes, then you’re done!
Friends and family are always impressed when I put this dish on the table. They always comment how cheesy and buttery my Cheese Bomb Bread is. When you’re going to a party next time, try serving them your Cheese Bomb Bread!
Children and adults love finger foods. You can even discover your signature finger food when trying to experiment with different ingredients. Parties, social gatherings, or meetings are always a great avenue when having finger foods.
Finger foods can also connect people better because you can converse with other people while enjoying your finger food. Always keep in mind that a great choice to have is bringing finger foods to your parties. Your plate is indeed cleaned by the end of the night.
Even if you don’t have parties, serve finger foods for yourself. It’s a great all-day snack to have, and most, if not all, are beginner-friendly to make. Reward yourself after a long day of work with some good finger foods.
It’s also great to share your finger foods with someone you love. Eat finger foods over some good movies or shows. Find a finger food that you both love and enjoy that special and intimate night together.
35 Best Finger Food Ideas for a Party
Here are easy finger food recipes perfect for a crowd so they can have something to munch on immediately after arriving!
Ingredients
- Greek yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Protein bar
- Granola bar
- String cheese
- Nuts and seeds
Instructions
- Choose any finger food recipes from the post that you like.
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best finger food recipes and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.