Parties are a wonderful opportunity to connect with people, have great conversations, and enjoy delicious food!
Celebrating special events with food is a long-standing tradition. The word “party” has been used to describe social events with food and drink since the 1700s.[1]
The word “potluck” was first used even earlier, in the 1500s. However, it originally meant a hastily-prepared meal for an unexpected guest. Now, it’s known as a party in which each guest brings a dish or snack to pass around.[2]
Before any of these terms existed, celebrations with food were popular. The oldest known party invitation was sent in the first century, inviting guests to celebrate a Roman woman’s birthday.[3]
Below is the list of party foods that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Scroll past the list for more information about planning the perfect party or potluck!
A
Alfredo lasagna cups
Antipasto
appetizer platter with olives, cheeses, and meats
Apple crisp
Apple turnovers
Angel food cake
Apple pie
Au gratin potatoes
Avocado toast
Apple tart
Antipasto salad
Alexander torte
iced shortcake with raspberry jam
B
Buffalo dip
Banana bread
Burgers
Buffalo wings
Bacon-wrapped pineapple
Breadsticks
Brownies
Bruschetta
Blondies
Brownie batter dip
Baked beans
Black-eyed peas
Bacon-wrapped dates
C
Cookies
Cake
Cowboy caviar
Cupcakes
Chips and dip
Chicken tenders
Chicken wings
Croquettes
Charcuterie board
Cheese dip
Collard and artichoke dip
Cheese ball
Chicken dip
Cheese pie
Churros
Crab cakes
Cheesecake
Cuban sliders
Cheese and crackers
Coleslaw
Collard greens
Cheddar biscuits
Candied apples
Cheese straws
Chocolate tart
Crab spread
Crostini
Cake pops
Cauliflower buffalo wings
Cheeseboard
Caprese salad
Chocolate truffles
D
Dumplings
Deviled eggs
Divinity candies
Donuts
Danish
Deep-fried Oreos
Donut holes
Dippin' Dots
Doritos
E
Eggplant rollatini
Elephant ears
Egg rolls
Eclairs
Empanadas
Egg salad tea sandwiches
Enchiladas
Eskimo pie
English trifle
Egg custard pie
Earl grey cookies
English muffins
F
French fries
Fruit and cheese board
Fudge
Fruit salsa
Falafel
Fried pickles
Fritters
Fruit salad
Flatbread
Frozen custard
Frybread
Frozen yogurt
G
Greek salad
Gelato
Guacamole
Griddle scones
Garlic bread
Garlic parmesan crisps
crispy baked parmesan cheese seasoned with garlic
Gorditas
masa dough filled with meat, cheese, and other fillings
Grilled skewers
Gingerbread cookies
Grilled cheese mini sandwiches
Green bean casserole
H
Hushpuppies
Hamburger pie
Hot dogs
Hummus and pita chips
Hamburgers
Honeydew melon and cantaloupe balls
Hoagies
Hasselback potatoes
Ham and cheese tea sandwiches
Hamburger casserole
Hand pies
I
Italian sausage bread
Ice cream
Ice pops
Icebox cake
Ice cream floats
Italian ice
Ice cream cake
J
Junket pudding cups
Jackfruit sliders
Jelly roll
Jerk chicken
Jordan almonds
Jalapeno poppers
Jell-O cups
K
Kebabs
Kale salad
Key lime pie
Kielbasa
Kimchi quesadillas
Kiwi sorbet
Kettle corn
Kimchi dumplings
L
Lettuce wraps
Latkes
potato pancakes
Lemon dessert squares
Loaded steak fries
thick-cut fries with melted cheese and bacon
Lollipops
Lemon pound cake
Lavash
Armenian flatbread
M
Mozzarella sticks
Meatballs
Mac and cheese balls
Mini quiche
Mediterranean layered dip
Mini bagel pizzas
Marinated shrimp
Mini tacos
Mousse cups
Muffins
Mushroom caps
Mini cheesecake
N
Nectarine cobbler
Nutella bars
Nutella-stuffed strawberries
Nachos
Naan
Nuggets
Nectarine crisp
Neapolitan ice cream
Nonpareils
Nutella and banana tea sandwiches
Nacho fries
O
Onion rings
Orzo salad
Opera cake
coffee-flavored almond sponge cake with ganache
Oreo mud pie
Oysters
Fried okra
P
Panna cotta
Potato skins
Pasta salad
Parfaits
Potato salad
Pizza
Popcorn
Peach cobbler
Pepperoni rolls
Potato chips
Pigs in a blanket
Pretzel bites
Pie
Pizza rolls
Popcorn shrimp
Pinwheels
Q
Quesadillas
Quiche
Queso dip
Qatayef
stuffed pancakes
Quinoa salad
Queen Elizabeth cake
made with sugar, flour, dates, eggs, butter, and coconut
R
Red velvet cake
Roasted cashews
Ribs
Rice pudding
Roasted vegetables
Rum cake
Raisin bread
Rice salad
Refried beans
Rhubarb pie
Risotto
S
Scalloped potatoes
Snack mix
Southwestern casserole
Spinach and artichoke dip
Shaved ice
Sausage rolls
Sundaes
Stuffed mushrooms
Scones
Seven-layer bean dip
Shrimp cocktail
Stuffed peppers
Sandwiches
T
Taco salad
Thumbprint cookies
Toasted ravioli
Tiramisu
Tacos
Tea sandwiches
Tarts
Tamales
Three bean salad
Tapenade
Turkey burgers
Tuna casserole
Tuscan sausage and bean dip
Tabbouleh
Turkey stuffing
Tortilla wraps
Tuna salad tea sandwiches
Tater tot casserole
U
Upside-down cake
Utah scones
Uszka
small Polish dumplings filled with mushrooms or meat
Uthappam
Indian flatbread topped with veggies and herbs
Udon noodle cups
V
Veggie platter
Vol-au-Vent
French stuffed pastries
Vanilla bean cheesecake
Veggie chips
Volcano cake
Vanilla souffle
Victoria sponge cake
Vanilla wafers
W
Walking tacos
taco filling added to a bag of Fritos or Doritos
Watermelon ice pops
Waffle cones
Watermelon
White chocolate s'mores bars
Waldorf salad
Water chestnuts wrapped with bacon
Waffle strips
Wontons
X
Xocolatl
spicy hot cocoa drink
Xiaolongbao
Chinese steamed buns
Xi gua lo
watermelon jelly
Xingren donfu
sweet Chinese dessert made with almond milk, sugar, agar-agar, and gelatin
Xoi
Vietnamese sticky rice
Xnipec salsa
salsa made with habanero peppers
Xiaodianxin
Chinese butter cookies; usually served during Chinese New Year
Y
Yakitori
Japanese chicken skewers
Yuca fries
Yorkshire teacakes
similar to scones
Yodel
cream-filled chocolate cake rolls
Yorkshire pudding
Yakisoba cups
single-serve Japanese noodles
Z
Zebra cakes
Zucchini boats
Zeppole
Italian fried dough balls with chocolate or powdered sugar
Zuccotto
chilled or semi-frozen, dome-shaped dessert
Zimtsterne
German star-shaped cinnamon cookies
Ziti
Zuppa Toscana
Tuscan soup with zucchini, kale, potatoes, and bacon
Zoodle cups
zucchini noodles with sauce in a single-serve cup
Zucchini and cheese roulades
Choosing the Perfect Party Menu
With various options available for every letter of the alphabet, it can be challenging to plan a great party or potluck menu that will satisfy all of the guests without overwhelming them with options!
Consider the following tips to choose the perfect party menu:
- Choose a theme. Whether or not your party has a theme, selecting a theme for the menu can make it easier to choose dishes that go well together. For example, you might decide to serve only Italian recipes, foods of a certain color, or dishes that highlight your favorite cheeses.
- Decide whether you’d prefer variety or cohesiveness. It can be fun to have a table full of very different foods at a party, but you might also want to consider whether the flavors of each dish will work together. A varied menu can provide something that will please all of your guests, while a cohesive menu can provide a curated dining experience. If hosting a potluck, it’s okay to ask the guests to choose from a curated list of dishes or stick with a certain style of food.
- Keep dietary restrictions and allergies in mind. No one wants their party ruined by an illness or allergic reaction! Be sure to gather information about your guests’ dietary needs before planning your menu. For example, if you have a guest who is lactose intolerant, you’ll want to plan a dairy-free menu or clearly note which dishes are dairy-free.
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