Cocktail party food is one of those things where there are so many options, yet finding the best cocktail party appetizers to serve is easier said than done. You want appetizers that taste good, will be well-received by your guests, fit the theme of your party, and don’t put too much stress on the host.
We’ve thrown enough cocktail parties to know that finding the perfect appetizer isn’t like finding a magical unicorn. In our party planning experience, some tried and true with a few new twists here and there seem to be the real crowd pleasers. We gathered 40+ of our favorites and the best recipes we could find for them.
Key Takeaways
- There are delicious appetizers that go well with all cocktails for your next party.
- To make sure you have enough food, serve 6-10 appetizers per guest
- Don’t be afraid to switch up a classic recipe with a new twist
- Take advantage of your slow cooker to do the cooking for you and keep your food warm
- A good dip is wonderful, but be mindful of guests who might skip out on it due to hygienic concerns
The Secrets of Great Food for Cocktail Parties
Before we get into the list, let’s take a minute to talk about great party food. It’s easy to go over the top when planning hors d’oeuvres, but we’ve learned from experience that it’s often better to keep it simple.
If you’re having an intimate gathering with people you know well, it’s much easier to cater the menu to their tastes. But, when you’re working with a guest list that includes a lot of unknown variables in the food preferences department, simple and uncomplicated is best. The last thing you want is for a guest to pick up an appetizer, unsure of what it is, and then be stuck trying to swallow it down after they realize they hate it.
In other words, this isn’t the time to reinvent the wheel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a little creative and elevate some flavors.
This collection of party food ideas includes the appetizers everyone knows, some of them with safe new variations. Others are a little less well-known but feature tastes, textures, and presentations that most people are familiar with. There’s also a good variety of hot and cold options to choose from for your next cocktail party.
40+ Great Appetizer Ideas For Your Next Party
Easy Finger Foods
Easy finger food is appropriate for most cocktail parties. These types of appetizers can be elegant or casual, but they all share the common trait that guests can enjoy them without needing too much in the way of plates, cutlery…or a bib.
Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp: Air fryer coconut shrimp is a rare finger food that manages to be sweet, savory, and filling all at the same time.
Using an air fryer like Feel Good Foodie makes the preparation extra easy. Don’t forget to serve with dipping sauce and a little lemon juice or fresh lemon wedges.
Savory Profiteroles: You’re probably already familiar with the sweeter version of these, known as cream puffs. This savory version is a fun take that goes well with a variety of cocktails. There are different ways you could go with this, but we like the garlic & herb variety that Proportional Plate came up with.
The cream cheese is whipped and extra light, but you could easily use tangy goat cheese instead (we also like to add a few shreds of Swiss cheese to the mix). It calls for fresh herbs, with our favorites being chive and fresh rosemary.
Steak & Frite Bites: This dish is a favorite, especially among the steak and potatoes crowd, but Punchfork managed to condense the dish down into bite-sized nibbles.
Thinly cut fries are rolled up in a thin slice of tender steak. A toothpick through the center makes these easy to eat and qualifies them as finger foods in our book.
Here are a Few More Finger Food Ideas:
- Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
- Mini Calzones
- Mini Rubens
- Bacon Wrapped Pickles
Retro Cocktail Party Foods
Sometimes the classics really are the best. These are hors d’oeuvres that everyone knows and recognizes, which eliminates the element of surprise for guests with a pickier palate.
Rumaki: You might not want to pick up a piece of rumaki with your fingers, but the toothpicks used to hold it together make them easy to grab and enjoy with zero fuss or mess.
If you’re unfamiliar with rumaki, it’s pretty good stuff. It became popular during the tiki craze and was a popular dish at Trader Vics.
We like this rumaki recipe from Epicurious. To make this gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce or just eliminate it altogether.
Mini Cheese Balls: A cheese ball is a classic, retro appetizer, but a huge glob of cheese sitting in the middle of a table with some crackers doesn’t look very fun – especially once people start digging into it.
These mini cheese balls by Tastes Better From Scratch are a different story.
This recipe uses a cream cheese base, but you could use any soft cheese and mix it up. The tiny little cheese balls are rolled in different toppings and served pierced by a pretzel stick.
We think you could even make a cheesecake version of these and have it be delicious.
A Few More Retro Hors D’oeuvre Ideas
- Deviled Eggs
- Pigs in a Blanket
- Fondue
- Meatballs in grape jelly sauce
Best Appetizers with Wine
Cocktail parties that are centered on wine require a different type of appetizer – one with flavors that will complement the wines you’re serving. Of course, this will depend on if you’re serving whites, reds, blushes, or dessert wines, but the ones on this list go well with most varieties.
Fig & Goat Cheese Appetizer Pizza: In our minds, there are few things more delicious than chevrot goat cheese, caramelized onions, and the sweetness of figs.
Add the crispy element with this pizza by Garnish with Lemon, and we’re in pure heaven. Salty. Creamy. Sweet. It’s perfection.
Baked Brie: This is one of those appetizers that go well with most types of wine – it just depends on what accompanies the dish. You can go savory with fresh herbs or take our favorite recipe and drizzle it with a bit of honey.
We enjoy ours served with tiny toasts, crusty bread, and fruit. Simply Recipes offers a wonderful version for you to try at your next cocktail party.
More Appetizers To Enjoy with Wine
- Baked Feta Bites
- Bruschetta
- Smoked salmon, sliced thin with sour cream or creme fraiche
- Garlic Butter Steak Bites
- Blue Cheese Stuffed Shrimp
- Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Cheese Puffs
Gluten-Free Cocktail Party Foods
Some people avoid gluten because they just don’t want it in their lives, while others have a severe reaction to it. There are a lot of options for gluten-free party food that will keep everyone happy.
If you also serve foods that contain gluten, make sure you keep them separate and mark them so that your guests are aware of what’s safe for them to eat.
Shrimp Cocktail: The best shrimp cocktail is all about having the best, freshest cocktail sauce. There’s no reason to buy this classic dipping sauce when it’s so easy to make.
This recipe is as simple and classic as it gets. If you like yours a little spicier, try adding a few dashes of hot sauce to your cocktail sauce.
BLT Endive Bites: We love these BLT Endive Bites by Paleo Leap. First, we don’t need to say anything more than “BLT” to get our attention, but the filling of fresh tomatoes and crispy bacon with white pepper is too much to resist.
You could switch this recipe up and have it served with ground pork instead. We can’t think of a drink this wouldn’t go with.
Additional Gluten-Free Nibbles for Your Cocktail Party
- Steak Bites with Chimichurri Sauce
- Chorizo and Olive Skewers with Fresh Cilantro
- Baby Baked Potatoes
- Tzatziki Shrimp Cucumber Rounds
- Cherry Tomato Bites
Vegan Finger Foods
Don’t forget about the vegans at your next party! These options are delicious enough that you and your guests won’t notice the absence of dairy and meat.
Radish Crostini: We all enjoy a tasty snack with our cocktails, and this Radish Crostini should win an award for the best party appetizer of the year.
Although this recipe calls for anchovies, which makes it non-vegan, we made it without (we’re not fans of anchovies anyway!) and used vegan butter.
Mushroom Bruschetta: We love mushroom bruschetta, but many recipes call for dairy – like butter or a schmear of cream cheese. Then we found this recipe by FitFoodieNutter and were blissfully happy that not only were they dairy-free but also delicious!
More Vegan Goodness for Your Cocktail Party
- Caramelized Onion Dip
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Chickpea Pancakes
- Vegan Poppers
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Loaded Potato Skins
Summer Cocktail Party Foods
Summer is its own vibe, and we think summertime cocktail parties deserve a special selection of foods. These recipes are all lighter and feature the recognizable flavors of summer.
- Peach Bruschetta
- Mini prawn tacos
- Mini Crab Cakes
- Gazpacho Shooters
- Mini Bunless Burgers
- Melon Prosciutto Skewers
- Lemon Lavender Shrimp Cups
- Watermelon Pizza
- Blistered Shishito Peppers
FAQs
How many types of appetizers for a cocktail party?
It’s important to have a little variety so guests can nibble according to their preferences. If you have the opportunity to ask about food allergies beforehand, that’s great. If not, it’s always courteous to offer at least one appetizer that’s free of major allergens and hasn’t been cross-contaminated with other foods.
That said, for a small cocktail gathering, we plan on serving three to five different appetizers. For a larger party, bump it up to somewhere between five and ten.
How many hors d’oeuvres per person for a cocktail party
It depends on the type of appetizers you’re serving, what time the gathering is, and how long it will last. However, a good rule of thumb for how many appetizers to serve is 6-10 appetizers per guest.
Do you need to serve appetizers for cocktail hour?
You’re not required to serve food during cocktail hour – after all; it is mostly about the drinks. However, it’s nice to offer a few little nibbles. Nothing huge or complicated. But maybe something simple like a fruit and cheese board.
Should you serve appetizers before a dinner party?
A traditional dinner party should include a first course of hors d’oeuvres. You don’t need an elaborate spread, but just a few items to hold your guests over while they wait to sit down at the table. Good food also gives your guests something to talk about while they’re mingling before the meal.
