16 Party Foods: Appetizers, Main Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks For The Perfect Buffet

Planning the ultimate party gathering begins with the menu. This guide to the best party foods includes some of our favorite recipes, ranging from creamy Dill Pickle Dip and spicy Chorizo Queso Fundido to easy main dishes like Hawaiian Roll Italian Sliders.

16 Food Ideas For Your Party Buffet

We have broken this list of favorites into appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Plus, we've added a few drink menus to really liven up your party!

Appetizers To Get The Party Started

Enjoy a handful of Spicy Chex Mix, grab an eggroll, or have a plate of crackers with slices of cheeseball... and there's more!

Dill Pickle Dip

If you love bold, crave-worthy snacks, this dill pickle dip needs to be on your must-try list. It’s cool, creamy, and packed with flavor. Basically everything a great party dip should be.

A skillet filled with queso fundido, topped with cooked ground beef and garnished with fresh cilantro, placed on a wooden surface.

Chorizo Queso Fundido

The best ingredient in this recipe is the chorizo. I love chorizo, and I add it to many of my recipes.

A bowl of creamy Original Knorr Spinach Dip is surrounded by square crackers on a red and white platter. The thick dip features visible spinach leaves mixed in for a classic party favorite.

Spinach Dip Recipe

Some people call this spinach dip, and some call it vegetable dip. Well, it is both I guess and it is good. We make ours without the breadbowl.

A white rectangular plate with five crispy, breaded zucchini sticks, served with a small bowl of dipping sauce and two lemon wedges in the background—perfect alongside savory bacon wrapped pickles for a tasty appetizer spread.

Baked Bacon Wrapped Pickle

Bacon-wrapped fried pickles seem to be the new favorite snack food—salty, crunchy, and bursting with bold flavor in every bite.

Beef Cream Cheese Ball

The cheese ball has to be the best party food ever invented. This recipe makes enough to divide the mixture into two cheese balls. Serve with Wheat Thins, Sociables, or your favorite crackers.

A white plate holds brown sugar bacon crackers, their sweet and savory topping glistening. In the background, more of these irresistible crackers rest on a cooling rack beside a striped cloth.

Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon Crackers

These crackers are a crowd-pleaser at family gatherings, office parties, holiday festivities, potlucks, and game day hangouts.

A pile of Ham and Swiss Ritz Party Sandwiches—round cracker sandwiches filled with ham and melted cheese, sprinkled with black pepper—rests on a wooden board with a red and white checkered cloth in the background.

Ham and Swiss Ritz Party Snacks

Made with flaky Ritz crackers, layers of savory ham and melty Swiss cheese, and brushed with a rich seasoned butter, they bake up golden and irresistible.

Spicy Corn Chex Party Mix

The traditional Chex mix with a twist. I use various ingredients and a secret spice.

Close-up of crispy, golden-brown taquitos being picked up with red tongs. The tightly rolled taquitos, reminiscent of chicken and vegetable spring rolls, reveal a crunchy exterior with some filling peeking out at the ends.

Chicken And Vegetable Spring Rolls

These spring rolls are made with chicken, marinated in salt, black pepper, and paprika.

A white plate with sliced vegetable egg rolls arranged in a circle around a small blue ramekin filled with dark dipping sauce, on a white wooden surface.

Southwestern Egg Rolls

They are full of vegetables, and the flavors are spectacular. Dip them in the sauce, and the flavors burst in your mouth.

A white gravy boat filled with creamy Spicy Mustard Sauce sits on a matching white plate, placed on a wooden table.

Spicy Mustard Sauce For Eggrolls

You can make hot, spicy mustard sauce at home in only 10 minutes.

Main Dishes For Your Buffet

Some of your appetizers can be added to the main dish table if you prefer. Pair them with sliders, chicken tacos, or maybe pimento and cheese.

Hawaiian Roll Italian Sliders

Italian Sliders with lots of cheese and a buttery topping are at the head of our favorite foods list.

A close-up of a dish with tater tots topped with shredded cheddar cheese and crispy bacon bits, inspired by the flavors of slow cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, served in a black bowl.

Slow Cooker Chicken And Tater Tot Casserole

This crockpot or slow-cooker dinner is a dump-and-forget, making it a double winner!

A white square bowl filled with cheesy ground beef pasta, reminiscent of Instant Pot Taco Casserole, is topped with shredded cheddar cheese and herbs. It sits on a wooden board with a fork beside it; tomatoes and green bell peppers blur in the background.

Instant Pot Taco Casserole With Pasta

The recipe combines ground beef, taco seasoning, pasta shells, and plenty of melted cheese

$A Tex Mex Pulled Pork sandwich topped with colorful coleslaw and diced tomatoes sits on a bun next to a halved lime. In the background, more sandwich buns and a bowl of shredded pork complete the scene.$

Tex Mex Pulled Pork

This slow cooker Tex Mex pulled pork is incredibly tender, full of bold flavor, and so easy to make. Use the meat in tacos, quesidillas, or sandwiches.

Spicy Shredded Chicken

You'll love this easy slow cooker recipe. The shredded chicken is perfect over rice or in a taco salad or tacos.

A blue bowl filled with creamy Pimento Cheese, made from shredded cheese and chopped red peppers, sits on a wooden table.

Pimento and Cheese

Homemade pimento and cheese is the best! Serve it with crackers, vegetable sticks, or just make a sandwich.

Close-up of Deviled Eggs on a plate, filled with a creamy yellow yolk mixture and garnished with fresh dill.

Pickle Relish Deviled Eggs

Everyone loves deviled eggs and you can serve them as an appetizer or with the main course.

Desserts For The Buffet

How about some handheld treats like our tangy Lemon Squares and the kid-favorite Cornflake Candy. My personal favorites are chocolate brownies and strawberry dump cake.