Find some easy recipes for party finger foods to make party menu planning a breeze for your next gathering, regardless of the theme. Many options can be assembled from ingredients you may already have in your pantry.
Simple Recipes for Party Finger Foods
The key to making recipes for party finger foods is to have items that do not drip, fall apart or require any utensils whatsoever. Remember to provide serving spoons, toothpicks and napkins for your guests.
Tortilla Rollups
Tortilla rollups are a good finger food for a variety of parties. You can customize them to fit almost any palate by swapping out the seasonings, vegetables, cheeses and meats. The recipe for a taco rollup is listed below; use the ingredients in parentheses for a pizza version.
Ingredients
- 5 to 10 10-inch flour tortillas
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 8 oz. sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese)
- 1/2 package of taco seasoning (2 tsp. Italian seasoning)
- 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained (1 cup diced pepperoni)
Directions
Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream and seasoning. Fold in the cheese and diced tomatoes/chilies. Spread over flour tortillas. Roll up tortillas and place in refrigerator. After chilling for a few hours, slice them into 1-inch pieces.
Kabobs
Kabobs are the perfect party finger food. Virtually anything that isn't liquid-based can be put on a kabob. Kabobs are great luau party finger foods, but they can work for any occasion. You can skewer fruits such as:
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Orange sections
Put lamb, green peppers, tomatoes and onions on a kabob and marinate in a bottled Greek dressing before grilling for a Mediterranean twist. Grapes, strawberries and cheese cubes are perfect kabobs for a wine tasting party.
The best thing about kabobs is that you can make your own recipes even if there isn't a recipe available for something that fits your theme. You could bake kabobs with hot dog slices and French fries in the oven for a child's party or put tofu with raw vegetables on a kabob for a vegetarian twist.
Snack Mix
A handful of snack mix is a crowd-pleaser anytime of the year. Hundreds of versions are available, from sweet to salty to savory. This version has a spicy ranch flavored kick.
Ingredients
- 6 to 8 cups of plain white popped popcorn
- 2 teaspoons dry ranch flavored seasoning packet or dressing packet
- 2 cups of your favorite Chex cereal
- 4 tablespoons of crumbled bacon or real (not artificial) bacon bits
- 2 tablespoons of melted butter
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 brown paper bag
Directions
Put the popcorn and cereal in bag, stirring to combine evenly. Pour melted butter over popcorn, stirring slightly as you add it. Sprinkle the ranch dressing and bacon bits on top. Roll up the top of the bag and shake until the ingredients are mixed evenly. Add salt and pepper if you wish.
Pecan Mini Tarts
Skip the typical cookies and bars and put a unique twist on dessert by making pecan mini tarts. These tasty treats are similar to the pie, but without the mess.
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup melted butter or margarine
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 beaten eggs
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line mini-muffin pan with paper. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Mix butter and eggs. Add to dry ingredients and stir until just mixed (there may be small lumps). Bake for approximately 20 minutes (oven times may vary), until a toothpick in the center mini-muffin comes out clean. Place on wire racks to cool.
Skewered Tortellini
Try these skewers that are fun to eat and pretty to see. They require very little work and can be prepared in a snap.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds tortellini
- Basil leaves
- Olive oil
- Jarred sauces such as marinara, pesto and Alfredo
- Skewer sticks
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Drop in tortellini and cook until just tender. Drain and lightly toss in olive oil.
Place two tortellini on skewer along with one basil leaf. Arrange on a platter and serve with sauces.
Spicy Deviled Eggs
Eggs can be stuffed with a variety of fillings for the perfect party appetizer. Try this variation on the classic deviled egg:
Ingredients
- 12 large hard-boiled eggs with shells removed
- 1/4 cup of chopped sliced pimientos
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Fresh parsley
Directions
Slice eggs in half lengthwise and remove yolks. Reserve yolks in small bowl and mash with a fork. Stir in chopped pimientos, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, cayenne pepper, and salt until well mixed. Place egg halves on a pan and spoon mixture into each half. Garnish with fresh parsley. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Mini BLTs
These tasty bites will look as good as they taste and they are simple to create, making them the perfect party food for your next bash.
Ingredients
- 24 cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
- 1 pound of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Directions
Before assembling, cook bacon and crumble. Allow to cool then place in a bowl with mayonnaise, chopped green onions, and parsley. Mix well and set aside. Slice the top off of each tomato. Use a small spoon and scoop the filling into each cherry tomato. Refrigerate for an hour before serving.
Simple Spinach Dip
This easy dip can be served in a fancy bowl or in a hollowed out loaf of bread.
Ingredients
- 1 packet of dry vegetable dip mix
- 16 ounce container of sour cream
- 1 box of thawed spinach - well drained
- ¼ cup of green onions
Directions
Combine dip mix with sour cream. Stir in spinach and green onions. Chill for one hour before serving with vegetable and crackers.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
A perfect ending to any celebration is a sweet treat such as chocolate covered strawberries.
Ingredients
- 60 large fresh strawberries with stems intact
- 1 -12-ounce package of dark chocolate chips
Directions
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set aside. Place chocolate chips in a glass bowl and microwave for one minute or until melted. Remove and stir. Grab a strawberry by the stem and swirl in chocolate. Place dipped strawberry on lined sheet pan and continue with the rest. Place strawberries into refrigerator to allow the chocolate to harden, about 30 minutes.
Collect Good Recipes
Keep a selection of great party recipes on hand that you have cut out from magazines or received from friends and relatives. Newspapers occasionally run recipes in the lifestyle section, too. Online recipe sites also offer a way to search for finger food recipes quickly from your home computer.
Variety of Choices
Finger foods are a delicious and convenient addition to any event menu. When hosting a party, serve a variety of options so that there is something for everyone to enjoy.
