A Grazer’s Guide To Feeding Your Friends
Whether you’re having a casual hang or a full-blown shindig, one of the most difficult aspects of party planning is choosing the snacks. To accommodate differing tastes, dietary restrictions, and allergies, we like to leave out a bunch of little trays of snacks for people to munch on at their own pace. For added convenience, we’ve included a mix of shelf-stable snacks and easy recipes.
1. Antipasto
If charcuterie has grown a little stale, we recommend trying an antipasto platter instead. A selection of small, savory bites designed to stimulate the appetite, antipasto adds a bit of color and brine to your typical meat and cheese combo. Ingredients can be purchased prepackaged or assembled based on what’s in your fridge.
2. Deviled Eggs
Nothing’s devilish about this deceptively easy party classic. Eggs can be difficult to include outside of breakfast, but deviled eggs are beloved for a reason. Garnish with smoked or Hungarian hot paprika for an extra kick.
3. Cheese Puffs
There’s a reason why you can buy these in tubs the size of your torso. In fact, you may not need to buy anything other than cheese puffs. Cheese puffs will bridge both halves of the crunchy vs. puffy cheesy divide with ease.
4. Soft Pretzels
Pretzel sticks are another classic, but they’re best enjoyed in massive handfuls, which can lead to dehydrated guests. If you want to impress your friends, you can buy pre-made soft pretzels in the frozen section and pop them in the oven right before people arrive. You can even lie and say they’re homemade; we promise not to tell!
5. Hummus & Veggies
Another staple for a good reason. Party foods tend to lean in one of two directions: sweet and savory. Both are delicious, but can leave you feeling weighed down. A unique hummus flavor such as roasted beet or caramelized onion can make eating your veggies all the easier.
6. Popcorn
You don’t have to be hosting a movie night to whip up a big batch of popcorn. Even if you throw a few bags in the microwave, guests will be impressed if you allow them to customize their munchies with flavored seasoning, melted butter, and even candy to their hearts’ content.
7. Shrimp Cocktail
The only people who don’t like shrimp cocktails are people with seafood allergies, and we can’t believe what they’re missing out on. A good shrimp cocktail can elevate even the most casual of hangs, making everything classy. This dish can also be a fun app for dry events when you want to break out the cocktail glasses you spent money on but want to include sober friends.
8. Chips & Guac
There’s no reason why you can’t also have salsa and queso for people’s dipping pleasure, but there’s a reason why guac is normally an extra charge at restaurants. An easy-peasy crowd pleaser, feel free to include a variety of chips so people can dip as they choose.
9. Pigs In A Blanket
Americans have been chowing down on pigs in a blanket since the Second World War, and we see no reason for stopping. A timeless treat that will delight every guest, pigs in a blanket are a low-risk, high-reward appetizer we’re always happy to see.
10. Roasted Chickpeas
The most work you’ll have to do for roasted chickpeas is peel them. After that, just toss with seasonings of your choice and pop those bad boys in the oven until crispy. Make sure to save some for your guests!
11. Frozen Cookie Dough
We weren’t aware of this hack beforehand, but a few geniuses on Reddit recommend portioning out a few balls of cookie dough to keep in the freezer. This hack will have your friends recommending you to MENSA for your foresight, and if you pick a dough that’s safe to eat raw, then you don’t even have to turn on the oven.
12. Olives
While olives are an essential part of any good antipasto, they can also shine by themselves. Having friends over for drinks? Leave out some briny little morsels for them to plop into their martinis. You could even whip up olive flights and have your guests rank their favorites.
13. Cheese & Crackers
You really cannot go wrong with cheese & crackers. If you leave a plate out, we guarantee it will be empty by the time your guests leave. Even if you slice up whatever cheddar or Monterey Jack you have in your fridge and buy a box of crackers the day of, people are unable to resist.
14. Caprese Skewers
Caprese is another classic dish that you can impress your guests with by just throwing together, but if you want to really impress them, turn your salad into skewers. Guests will be able to walk, talk, and eat—but hopefully not at the same time!
15. Fruit Kebabs
Further proof that food is more fun to eat when it’s speared on a stick, fruit kebabs can elevate a party where your average fruit platter can’t. Too lazy to make each individual kebab yourself? Leave the skewers out for your guests to pick and choose what they want.
16. Baked Brie
Brie is perhaps one of the most comforting foods ever produced, and baking it is like a warm hug in food form. If a cozy winter hang is in the cards, this ooey-gooey delight is a guaranteed hit.
17. Sheet Pan Nachos
Everyone loves nachos, but making them can be a little messy. Sheet pan nachos reduce both the mess and active cooking time. Don’t be surprised if people swarm around the pan like nacho-hungry vultures before they’ve even cooled.
18. Jalapeño Poppers
A staple bar eat, if you’re trying to save money with a BYOB policy rather than getting overcharged for a trendy cocktail, why not whip up some classic pub grub as well? Rich, cheesy, and spicy, jalapeño poppers will make your living room the hottest spot in town.
19. Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushrooms are chock-full of umami goodness, and stuffed mushrooms take that indescribable flavor to the next level. Jam-packed with fillings of your choice, stuffed mushrooms are also a great protein option for vegan or vegetarian friends.
20. French Onion Dip
We love soup as much as the next person, but it isn’t very conducive to sharing unless you have one of those big grocery store vats lying around. Even then, you risk staining clothes and couches. French onion dip, on the other hand, gives you all the flavors of the iconic soup with a fraction of the mess.
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